Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-03-03

"Hot coffee and rasher, Cd, was print
ed on card.
Ella, holding her pretty head aioft, and
feeling ike princess in disguise, en-
tered the small shop. The whole thing
seemed to her now like a page out of
romance which she was enacting herself
A very cross-looking old woman, wear
ing large poke bonnet, came out from
the small parlor behind the shop, and
looked at Ella as if she suspected her of
the wish to steal something.
1t will be remembered that Miss Wycr-
erly wore the plainest of brown holland
travelling suits, and the old vender of hot
breakfasts had not keenness enough to
penetrate the disguise, and recognize the
girls air of distinction
If you please, want some breakfast"
said Ella, with condescending smile.
"You can have what you pay for" said
the old woman, with an ugly sheer.
''Oh of course. Do you think l would
eat your breakfast and not pay for it?"
asked the young heiress.
The color deepened on he: cheek. 1t
was the first time one of the humber
classes had ever spoken to Miss Wycherly,
save with subservience and submission.
She could hardly believe her cars when
the ancient crone, with peculiar grin,
which showed sharp yellow fangs-a grin
that really seemed to extend from one
side of the black bonnet to the other, OBJ
served:
when | see the color of your money,
I'll know whether you mean TO pay.
don't trust no strangers, / don't, what
ever the master may do"
Strangers !''
Ella drew herself up straight as a
dart.
You are insolent, madam"
She was on the point of adding: do
you know who | ann" but she checked
herself. Was not that exactly what she
wished to conceal?
Nevertheless, ella was in a towering
passion with this horrible old woman. She
produced her half crown.
what do you charge for a cup of
coffee, some bread and butter, and fresh
boiled egg? and where can 1 have my
breakfast
"You can have 'em for ninepence," said
the old crone, "if you'll pay first"
PAY first ~ said Ella, ainging down
the half crown in a rage. Pay yourself
and give me my breakfast at once"
The old creature took up the half
crown, and peered at it curiously.
us it bad one?" she asked "'Cause
if it is, I'll have We in the lookup afore
you're half an hour older. 1 know what
it is; sharpers coming in with the early
trains, and swindling we tradefolks."
She tried to bend the coin; but finding
it genuine she tossed it into the till, and
gave one and ninepence to Ella.
eff you'll 90 and sit at the table in the
back room, I'll bring you the breakfast
in five minutes" she said
Ella walked through the shop and into
the aforesaid back room. 1t was a car
petless little den, with two not over-clean
deal tables, and four wooden benches, two
to each square table. At one table sat
man in a smock, eating cold fat bacon
and brown bread. BY his side was
bowl of hot tea. He was an old man,
with white hair, and a kindly, ruddy
face He made a great noise over his
bacon, and drank up his tea with
mighty rushing sound.
The dainty heiress watched him as she
would have watched some new and curl
Gus animal of which she had read, but
specimen of which she had never seen. He
looked up and nodded to the young girl.
Hope l see We well, miss?''
Quite well, thank you," said Ella, try
ing to smile affably
BE come to Eversholt to look for
place, miss, or to visit a friend if
might be so bold as to ask
Decidedly. the manners of Eversholt
require improving" thought Ella; but
she resolved to be true to the peasant
character, which it seemed that her hol-
land dress and her loneliness represented
to these Eyersholters.
Il am looking for work." she said
smiling.
And what sort, now? You don't look
like one for a dairy farm or else | do
know farm not two miles from here
where they would give nine pounds, and
all found, to young girl to help in the
dairy. Wages is riz about here"
"Ah! that's more than | am WORTH
cried Ella. entering suddenly into the
fun of the thing. II don't understand
QdlTl WOEh hcit CHOuSis
Maid of all work." suggested the cid
man. because have sister what keeps
huckste-'s close rouit here. and, hay-
ing FIVE small children. wants a girl TO
look after them, and do bit of scrubbing
and sweeping; half a crown week is
what she gives"
II am not worth that, either" said
Ella, with a laugh: II should get out of
patience with five small children. Why,
while | was scrubbing the kitchen. some
of them would climb on my back, and
tumble in the scrubbing pail. I've seen
that happen lots of times
And so she had in the cottage kitchens
of the poor at Wycherly.
Here comes my breakfast" she ex-
claimed joyfully, as the cross old woman
appeared with cup of coffee. a round
of wheaten cake cut open, pat of but
ter. and an egg. Thank you," said Ella
You needn't thank me: It's paid for,
else you wouldn't get it,"
That's true said Ella. beginning raw
enously upon the bread and butter; so
l won't thank you any more"
The old dame growied something mar
| ticulately, and Ella went oa with her
breakfast. When she had finished. she
went out into the street. Signs of life
were many in the town of Eversholt. BY
this time shops were open, carts were roll
ing. few people were afoot. The little
| town was waking up to the morning sun
shine and the business of the day.
Ella Wycherly knew that her mother,
Miss Worthington and the coacnman were
searching for her all over the town. If
she walked about as young stranger in
brown holland dress, and not very
smoothly plated withdrawing all night
does not conduce TO fresh and neat APP
pearance-she must inevitably be pounc-
ed on by some of those who were search
ing for her.
Wherefore, Ella resolved she would
hide for the remainder of the day But
whereg
All, I viii go on: I viii get out of
this town; l will find high road and
some fields. and l viii go and sleep I'M
der some trees. l feel horribly sleepy ;
it must be delicious TO sleep out in the
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