Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-02-25
CHAPTER XVIII.

Ella Wycherly was Is her luxurious
chamber. 1t was her time of freedom
night. She believed that all the house
hold were wrapped in slumber. lamp
burned on her toilet table. Her long hair
was brushed and bound up for the night.
She wore a long, loose white dressing
Gown made of thin material.
The girl walked slowly up and down
the large room, her hands clasped before
her. her eyes cast on the ground, as II
they read a sad story in the richly pat
termed carpet. Her face was pale Dut
her eyes shone like stars.
81 shall have to make up ny nina at
last" she said slowly to herself, aiouu.
II must escape from this house. oush'
not to give my heart to teacher oi i'n
guages Have i hearth SOMETIMES
think the cruelty of those around me mas
crushed it out of existence. Love why
should love anybody? How do know
that there is any real love in the worlo
All! do not believe it. | am an helress.
At least, even if they make the boy the
heir, l shall have enough to make the
fortune of a poor professor. No; unless
i am assured of his love; besides, II is
BuCu IOlly--SuCu 0OuseuSe " Oc IL 49,
1 am not-no; l am not J"
Ella spoke to herself quite vehemently,
quite loudly. This PROUD. impetuous ma
ture hated to own curb. 1t had been
frozen and hardened by unkindness, until
1t had become in danger of losing its faith
In humanity.
Ella stamped her slppered foot upon
the carpet.
81 will go away and make my own for
tune"
Suddenly the door of her room burst
open. Ella had locked it, and, knowing
this-for the key lay on her toilet table
she uttered n cry of fear She expected
10 see ruffan enter. She thought OF
her jewel case, in which were rubies, anne
thysts and eneralds, though the Wycherly
diamonds were always in the possession OF
her mother. But it was no rufian who
entered Elias chamber. 1t was Mrs.
Wycherly pale, with compressed lips.
The lady wore dark travelling suit OF
cotton material-for the weather was
warm-a small, dark bonnet. She was
gloved and booted, and equipped for a
journey.
Mamma oh how you frightened me
l had locked the door?'
IL have a key which opens all the doors
In the house. Why do you scream? 1t is
III bred to scream. / do not think you
ever heard me scream in your life"
mo, mamma"
"Be silent now, and dress yourself as
quickly as possible in that braided holland
costume that was made for you to &c
~ t. g Il, tbaa
wardrobe. You have the keys. Lace
up your boots. Miss Worthington will
come in presently and pack your things
into that leather trunk. Marsh anc
Peterson will accompany u.s."
Where are we going, mammal"
ASK no questions. The time has
come for prompt obedience. No; leave
your jewels. You have done with them
Mamma"
pray don't talk; every moment is Of
value. We must be far from here before
daylight"
Mrs. Wycherly did not look at hel
daughter. Her eyes were fixed on the
gold and white of the wall oppos te. Ella
stood before her mother 5eseecbingly.
Mamma, are you going to take me to
1ldly-lO tHul mousse VI DUuudSe1
ITO that house, where your days will
be devoted to Heaven, not to the world
You are to wear sackcloth--to walk bare
foot-to expiate in your fresh young life
that which has gone before"
Mamma, know more than you thinl
do"
Ella drew herself up.
az refuse to expiate by my suffering
the crime of another. Ii cannot be don,
it is monstrous! Any priest of m,
creed would tell you So Besides, sac
riice should be voluntary, or it loses al
its value. | am young. and love tn,
pleasures Of life. l hate dullness, monot
ony, repression! You and Miss Worth
ington have made me hate it; and now
am to enter an unheard-of sisterhood
with a number of fanatic and ignoran
women-dissenters from every know
creed under the sum am to acknowl
edge Miss Worthington as my supreme
l will not J"
Then chains and the lash must fore
obedience" said Mrs. Wycherly, with tina
cold severity which appalled, most persons
81 planned this life for yol when vol
Law in the cradle; and, since no clergy
man of any creed would sanction my re
solve. have founded creed of my own.
Mamma, are you madT'
''No," the lady answered, with drear,
smile: though what / have endured
might easily have driven me so. Blu
now hurry dress yourself. Miss Worth
ington will pack. Here she comes"
And Miss Worthington entered Ella
-, So. NJ
Wycherly.
For moment Ella hesitated. During
the last six months she had made up he
mind firmly never to enter the terribl
prison house prepared for her by he
mother. She had made many appeals Z
this Impacable parent. She had Spoken
to her father; but the wooden colone
had always laughed off her entreaties.
MY dear. you are girl mad you beeI
a boy, | would have had the rule owe
you; but. being a girl, you must ODE
your mother"
Colonel wycherly had always SCENE
the coolest, the most stupid of men, New
er, in all Elias childhood, could she rec
ollect his once taking her on has knee o
caressing her.
Inc girl nhu FealAy uldue up ner min
to fee long before the time which he
mother had warned would be that chose
for taking her to Italy; but now the
had come TO her in strong force, In tn
dead Of night, and they commanded he
TO PACK and dress and accompany them o
this dread journay.
Should she scream and shout, an
rouse the house. appeal 10 Lionel Leig
and DIR. Dcndas, and throw herself upo
their protection? No. pride forbade.
81 viii dress and pack" said Ella
herself: "and then, during the journey
II will be easy for me TO escape"
Her mother may have OWNED her In
tention; for she watched her with lynn
eytd vigilance.
No jewels no money, not farthins
You have dora with all thosA forever "