The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-04-30
A CROWN or FAITH
Observation-Disclosures oooooooooooooooooooooo

rewarded She perceived little shop,
with teacups and loaves of bread and pats
of butter in the window, laid on clean.
white cloths, and covered with fresh,
green leaves.
Hot coffee and rasher, 3d. was print
ed on a card.
Ella, holding her pretty head aioft, and
feeling like a princess in disguise. en-
tered the small shop. The whole thing
seemed to her now like a page out of a
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 Wych-
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 l want some breakfast"
said Ella, with condescendng smile.
You can have what you pay for" said
the old woman. with an ugly sheer.
"Ol. of course. Do you think l would
eat your breakfast and not pay for it?"
asked the young heiress.
The color deepened on her 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 a 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 l see the color of your money,
I'll know whether you mean to pay. l
don't trust no strangers, 1 don't, what
ever the master may do"
strangers :"
| Ella drew herself up straight as
dart.
You are insolent, madam"
She WIS ON the point of adding: do
you know who l 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
produce1 her half crown
What do you charge for a cup Of
coffee, some bread and butter, and a fresh
boiled egg? and where can l have my
breakfast"
| You can have 'em for ninepence," said
the old crone, IF you'll pay first"
PAY frst!' said Ella, finging 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.
4 80. - Aol -bo II
if il is, I'll have ye in the lookup afore
you're half an hour older. ] 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.
IF you'll 20 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 kindly, rudy
face. He made 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 a
| specimen of when she had never seen. He
looked up and nodded to the young girl.
Hope l see We well, missi"
'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 rhe peasant
character, which it seemed that her hol-
| land dress and her loneliness represented
to these Eversholters.
II am looking for work." she said,
smiling.
And what sort, now? You don't look
like one for dairy farm; or else l do
know a 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. Il don't understand
dairy work well enough"
Maid of all work." suggested the old
man. because L have sister what keeps
a huckster's close round here, and, hav-
ing five small children, wants a girl to
look after them, and do bit of scrubbing
and sweeping; half a crown d week is
what she gives"
Il am not worth that, either" said
Ella, with laugh II should get out of
patience with FIVE small children. Why,
while l 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 tines
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 wheaton cake cut open, a pat of but
ter, and an egS. Thank you," said Ella.
You needn't thank me; tbs 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 growled something mar
ticulately, and Ella went On 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 a young stranger in
a brown holland dress, and not very
smoothly plated withdrawing all night
does not conduce to a 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
where?