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


1 nave 5OLle llOucy 4 cACiIdiSc Ill
heavy bracelet and watch. Somehow, l
do not feel a bit afraid. 1t is glorious
to be here"
Indeed, the sweet, fresh air of the sum
mer morning had an exhilaratipg effect
upon Ella. She felt strong enough, dar-
ing enough for anything only she was
hungry. She had been too much agi-
tated to eat her biscuit at the refresh
ment room, and she had not remembered
to put it into her pocket.
Il wish some of the shops would OPEN"
thought the young lady. Il believe l
have half a crown in my pccss."
So Ella walked Oh down the high street.
Soon her patience and perseverance were
rewarded. She perceived a 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, Cd" was print
cd on q 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 c~nacting herself.
A very cross-looking old woman, wear
ing a 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 ths plainest of brown holland
travelling suits, and the old ve1der 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 a condescending smile.
You can have what you pay for" said
the old woman, with an ugly sheer.
o 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 sne 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 I see the collar 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 SIS a
dart.
You ere insolent, madam"
She was 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
produced 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 r,y
breakfast?"
You can have 'em for ninepence," said
the old crone, .if you'll pay first"
PAY first - 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.
us It a bad one?" she asked. "'Cause
if it is, I'll have We in the lookup afore
you're half an hour older. l know what
it is sharpers coming in with the early
trains, and %swindling we tradefolks.'
She tried to bend the coin; hut hiding
it genuine she tossed it into the till, and
gave one and ninepence to Ella.
IF you'll go 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. It 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
a man in a smock, eating cold fat bacon
and brown bread. By his side was a
LcuI Nf h0f tna Ha uoc on old ,
with white hair, and a kindly, rudy
face. He made a great noise over his
bacon, and drank up his tea with a
mighty rushing sound.
The dainty heiress watched him as she
would nave watched some new and curl
Gus animal of which she had read, but a
specimen of which she had never seen. He
looked up and nodded to the young girl.
Hope I see We well, misS?"
"Quite well, thank you," said Ella, try
ing to smile affably.
"Be come to Eversholt to look for q
place, miss, or to visit a friend If I
might be so bold as to ask"
Decidedly, the me of Everpholt
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 Eversholters.
ct am looking for work." che said,
smiling.
And what sort, now? You don't look
like one for a dairy farm or else / do
know a farm not two miles from here
where they would give nine pounds, and
all found, to a young girl to help in tho
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
dairy work well enough"
Maid Of all work." suggested the old
man, because I have a sister what keeps
"a huckster's close round here, and, hav-
ing five small children, wants a girl to
look after them, and do a bit of %scrubbing
and sweeping; half a crown a 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 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 times"
And SO she had in the cottage kitchens
of the poor at Wycherly.
Here comes my breakfast" she ex-
claimed ioyfully, as the cross old woman
appeared with q cup of coffee, a round
IF wheaton cake cut opcn, q pat of but
ter. and IN egg. Thank you." said Ella.
VI - g.