Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-06-12
A GROWN OF FAITH


piSb'hoo "a tuhiuS d uduuhelChlGl lOl
the pillow, contrived dexterousiy to hide
watch and bracelet in her bosom.
The spirit of adventure awoke now
suddenly and daringly in Ella. She felt
all at once self-reliant, courageous, deter
mined. She dressed herself, and assisted
Miss Worthington to pack such things as
thai lady considered necessary in her
tryak.
"She will wear the costume Of the
house before winter" said Mrs. Wycher-
ly coldly "a dress of gray SERGE"
Soon Ella was equipped in her holland
suit her houts and MAJ were on, and the
three ladies descended the great stair
case. In the passage were the confiden-
tial man and maid Of Mrs. Wycherly-
Every one was silent. The hall door
stood open, and before it stood a car
riage and pair of horses, and another con
fdcntial servant was on the box.
Mrs. Wycherly pointed imperiously to
Ella, and Ella entered the carriage. Mrs.
Wycherly and Miss Worthington follow
ed. All the while Elias mind was busy
with thoughts of escape.
On, on through the summer night they
went. The windows were open, and the
air blew fresh, cool, delicious, on the
heated brow and throbbing temples of
Ella. Her heart turned strangely against
her unnatural parents-turned as it had
never done before. All pride in her race
as a Wycherly seemed gone; it did not
seem to matter to her if she never saw
the grand old house, which had never
really been home to her, again. She only
desired freedom. She had skill as a mu-
onJ che -,nr1I aynrt e. T., ryr how
bread. She would escape. To this Ella
made up her mind, coolly, firmly, posi-
She had no direct plan she re-
solved only to watch her opportunities,
and profit by them.
The carriage rolled on towards a viii
lage called Brookly, which lay about four
to the west of Abbotshold. There
was a railway station there, and Ella
comprehended that her mother desired
she should start from a little obscure
place where she was not known, and so
could not be recognized. Her removal
to be kept secret, then!
A complete silence was maintained by
the ladies during the journey to Brookly.
of the servant spoke, and when
the picturesque village was reached, Ella
almost appalled, at the stiffness which
pervaded all things.
They descended and entered the little
room. Only a station clerk was
present. He hurried into the ticket office
when he saw the strangers.
An express from a large town in the
Midlands soon flashed and roared through
he little wooden building, making the
and ~rafters ring. 1t was gone al
most Immediately, and then Miss Worth
ngton walked up to the little window,
md asked the clerk for four first-class
tickets for Southampton.
He told her when and where and how
many times she would have to change on
he journey. Ella listened to every word.
1t was not very long before the train
or Southampton came putting into Brook
y station. 1t was now nearly half-past
:hree o'clock, and the summer dawn was
breaking. Not a single passenger got
,ut at Brookly. r4
Soon Ella was seated between her
and Miss Worthington in a softly
cushioned carriage. One servant sat with
he ladies in the carriage, this was
the muscular, ~brawny, confiden-
ial coachman of Mrs. Wycherly.
Ella was a prisoner. She almost won
that her mother had not seen fit
0 pinion her arms to her sides. But
he young girls mind was made up. If
IL other means failed, she would appeal
0 the public on the first platform, where
found herself surrounded by the Eush
voices of other human beings.
There were no other passengers in the
The first stage seemed interim
liable, and all the while silence was main
,f~aH hotvpaov, Ms yV-ohnr1, o-5 NIL
Everything, however, comes to an end /;
nd 50 did the first stage of a most I'M
journey.
'Eversholt !" cried the porters on. the
Change for Basinsstoke and
-
Mrs. Wycherly arose.. Already Marsh,
coachman, stood outside to assist the
dies to descend. Ella came last.
It was about FIVE o'clock Of a lovely
morning. Ella, as she stood on
lie platform, and looked opposite at the
roofs Of houses, Swallowed by
nick trees, felt as if the place was the
cry gate Of freedom for her.
Free? She had never known freedom
nee her birth she had never experienced
lie least manifestation of a mothers
Sometimes she had questioned her
IF whether she were indeed the daugh-
II Of the Wycherlys. What marvel If
er nature had hardened a little under
lie training she had received!
She looked up the platform and down
!, and longed to escape, but could devise
o means, and she regretted bitterly all
lie opportunities she had allowed to pass
ithout providing herself with a home,
humble, away from her parents,
hose intention it had always been to
her to a living tomb.
Now and then she thought of appealing
her mothers compassion but compass
on was dead in the heart of Mrs. Colo
Ell Wycherly.
"One hour before the train starts. Let
> rest in the waiting room"
1t was Miss Worthington who spoke
nd then, FOR the first time, it seemed 20
rike Mrs. Wycherly that none of the
arty had brokers their fast for hours.
I'VE must have some breakfast said
lie lady shortly. "Ella, you will be re-
to use abstinence in your new
'ode: therefore. begin now to eat spar
a cup of coffee and q plain bis
Mrs. Wycherly, meanwhile, had tea
it'll ham sandwiches. Miss Worthing-
III, Ike Ella, partook only of biscuit
I'd coffee.
There were many persons in the large
o partaking of breakfast.
lla watched all with the k~een-sighted-
,ss of a detective. Miss Worthington |