Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-02-25
A CROWN Or FAITH
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suit her BOOTS ana nat we're Oh, anu inc
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
rage and pair of horses, and another con-
fidential 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 AID 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 10 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-
stefan, and she would exert it to win her
bread. She would escape. 10 this Ella
made up her mind. coolly, firmly, posi-
lively. She had no direct plan; she re-
solved only to watch her opportunities,
and profit by them.
The carriage rolled on towards a vii
lage called Brookly, which lay about four
miles 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
was to be kept secret, them
| A complete silence was maintained by
the ladies during the journey to Brookly.
Neither of the servants spoke, and when
the picturesque village was reached, Ella
was almost appalled, at the stiffness which
| pervaded all things.
They descended and entered the little
waiting room. Only 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
the little wooden building, making the
beams and rafters ring. 1t was gone al
most Immediately, and then Miss Worth
ington walked up to the little window,
aud asked the clerk for four frst-class
| tickets Tor southampton.
He told her when and where and how
many times she would have to change on
the journey Ella listened to every word.
1t was not very long before the train
for Southampton came putting INTO Brook
| ly station. 1t was now nearly half-past
three o'clock, and the summer dawn was
breaking. Not a single passenger got
out at Brookly.
Soon Ella was seated between her
mother and Miss Worthington in a softly
cushioned carriage. One servant sat with
the ladies in the carriage, this was
Marsh, the muscular, brawny, confden-
tial coachman of Mrs. Wycheriy,
Ella was prisoner. She almost won
dered that her mother had not seen fit
to pinion her arms to her sides. But
the young girls mind was made up If
all other means failed, she would appeal
to the public on the first platform. where
she found herself surrounded by the rush
and voices of other human beings.
There were no other passengers in the
carriage. The first stage seemed interim
| Unable and all the while silence was main
tanned between Mrs. Wycherly and Miss
Worthington.
] Everything. however. comes to an end !;
and so did the first stage of most un-
pleasant journey.
''Eversholt" cried the porters on the
platform Change for Basingstoke and
Southampton "
Mrs. Wycherly arose. Already Marsh,
the coachman, stood outside to assist the
ladies' to descend. Ella came last.
1t was about FIVE o'clock of a lovely
summer morning. Ella, as she stood on
the platform, and looked opposite at the
red-tiled roofs OF houses, Swallowed by
thick trees, felt as if the place was the
very gate of freedom for her.
Free? She had never known freedom
since her birth she had never experienced
the least manifestation of a mothers
love. Sometimes she had questioned her
self whether she were indeed the daugh.
ter Of the Wycherlys. What marvel il
her nature had hardened little under
the training she had received!
She looked up the platform and down
it, and longed to escape, but could devise
no means, and she regretted bitterly all
the opportunities she had allowed to pass
without providing herself with a home
however humble, away from her parents
whose intention it had always been to
consign her to a living tomb.
Now and then she thought of appealing
to her mothers compassion; but compass
sion was dead in the heart Of Mrs. Colo
mel Wycherly.
Zone hour before the train starts. Lei
us rest in the waiting room"
1t was Miss Worthington Who spoke
and then, Cor the first time, 1t seemed &C
strike Mrs Wycherly that none of the
party had broken their fast for hours.
I'VE must have some breakfast" said
the lady shortly. ELLA, You will be re
quired to use abstinence in your new
abode therefore. begin now to eat spar
ingly; n cup of coffee and a plain bis
cult"
Mrs. Wycherly, meanwhile, had tea
with ham sandwiches. Miss Worthing
ton. like Ella, partook only of biscuit
and coffee.
refreshment room partaking of breakfast
Ella watched all with the keen-sighted
ness of detective. Miss Worthingtor
walked away 90 pay the bill.
Mamma, feel faint. 1 must get ou
to the air" said Ella suddenly.
1t was true that from fasting and ex
element she was faint. Mrs Wycherly
overcome with fatigue, had involuntaril,
closed her eyes. She opened them, and
seeing Ella look pale. said:
Tell Miss Worthington to 90 with
you"
But Ella only went very quickly from
the room and out upon the platform ant
down the steps, and so into the quain
| II Exo...h,lk