Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-03-03
A CROWN OF FAITH
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CHAPTER XIX.


perceive, on account of the crowd, that
Ella had not joined that lady; and it
was thus that the young woman contriv-
ed to leave the station, and so found her
self in a suburb of the town of Evers-
holt before she was missed.
She feared that she must be discov-
cred unless she could contrive 10 put phy-
steal distance between herself and her
mother. The easiest and safest way TO
effect this was certainly the railway );
but, as it was, with her mother at the
Eversholt station, it seemed to her as II
all the lines in England were blocked
for her for surely Mrs. Wycherly would
soon set all the telegraph wires in the
kingdom vibrating with the story OF her
fight. Ella knew enough of the world
and Of the law to be aware that If she
applied to the authorities, her mother
would have no right to imprison her for
life, but until she was of age, her mother
would have the right to place her wher-
ever she pleased, and three years of irk-
some Imprisonment seemed inevitable.
Ella said to herself, fervently, that she
would rather work ss a housemaid, or
girl of all work, in some shabby-genteel
but had never met in the somber splendOr
of her life, than be found by her mother,
and conveyed to the Italian prison house.
She was in a narrow lane, with pretty.
old-fashioned houses of various sizes lying
back in gardens luxuriant with the fruit,
flowers and foliage of golden July. On
either side were verdant hedges of haw-
thorn, close-clipped, thick, impenetrable.
Trees waved their branches on the gar
den sides of these hedges.
Where Ella stood in the lane she could
see that the blinds were down in all the
front windows. As yet only a stray
housemaid or so was astir. No mistresses
or masters seemed to be awake in any of
the peaceful looking dwelling.
The instincts OF youth naturally prompt
the lad or the lass, cast for the first time
alone on the world, to suppose that world
a kindly patron, a benefcent friend, a
bountiful mother.
Hitherto, strangers and outsiders had
only shown smiling faces to Ella Wycher-
ly; she had no idea that sneers or frowns
are what the world emphatically deals to
the poor and the friendless.
Upon her the white-blinded windows
would have entered one of the pretty gar
dens and have knocked at on of the neat
hall doors if people had been astir but
as they were not, she just passed up the
road swiftly, and soon found herself in
the high street of the town.
1t was a pretty old high street, with a
market cross, an ancient town hall. which
dated from the reign of Elizabeth, and
numbers of gable-pointed roofs and pro-
tecting fronts, picturesque as en- engrav-
ing of some Norman street corner. No
shops were yet open, but the milk carts
were about, and a few dogs ran hither
and thther, and in the center OF the road
strutted golden breasted cock, and four
brown, demure hens.
1t was strange that feeling of secur-
ity had come to Ella since she left the
lane with the gardens and the pretty
houses She was not afraid that her
mother would find her now, and yet what
could have been easier than for he coach
man and three or four railway porters to
set off in quest of her, and find her?
1t so happened, however. that although
by this time Mrs. Wycherly and Miss
Worthington had missed Ella, they had
not mentioned the fact t. anybody except
their confidential servant, the coachman.
He and Miss Worthington had gone diff
ferent ways in search of Miss Wycherly,
but it happened that neither of them
had followed her up the pretty lane, or
into the quaint, old high street of Evers-
holt
Ella paused before a gate, on which
was brass plate. whereon the words
were engraved, Establishment for Young
Ladies'"
Beyond the gate was large, trim lawn.
foweress but verdant. \ number of
large evergreen shrubs grew III great,
circular bed in the center of tins lawn.
tall, square, red-brick house was at the
end-a house with many windows, green
Venetian blinds, white, clean steps lead
ing up to the door.
"A school, said Ella to herself, where
young ladies, so-called. are educated--the
daughters Of the country attorneys and
chief tradespeople, | suppose"
Ella turned up her pretty lip little.
She, with her mothers pride and her
fathers hauteur, inherited a something
warmer, and sweeter, and nober, of which
she was as yet ashamed. 1t was fine
thing TO be able TO trace the ancestors
back on both sides as far the Norman
Conquest, and TO know that all her faith
ers had been lords Of the sol for CEN
turtles. 1t was very fine thing, though
what good it was likely to do her on this
fine morning. when she stood before the
gate of Uck6eld House, it would be diff
cult TO say.
For instance, she could not ask to see
the lady principal, and then thus address
that individual:
Il am of good birth. | have Norman
blood in my veins. My father is a great
landowner; but l nave run away from
home. because my mother wishes to shut
me up for life-or, at least, until am of
ase-in a sort Of prison, and prefer to
work for my bread. Let me teach Ger
man and music in Your school,
II Fila said that, the lady principal
would ant TO know who the great land.
owner was or would not believe Elias
story: and if she knew. others would
know. and her mother would find her
again.
No. Ella must keep the secret of the
Norman ancestors and the blue blood tc
herself. She must not despIse young
persons whose parents were in trade.
If she wanted to teach music and Ger.
man she must hold her peace about her
antecedentS-that was certain.
Whenever a young lady is required
suddenly to supply herself with bread and
butter, she naturally thinks of becoming
governess, unless she is gifted as an
artist, who hopes TO sell her pictures
an authoreSs, who hopes to sell her
stories; or an actress, who desires TO &c
on the stage
1t seemed 10 Ella feasible that she
should live in a lodging in The town. cal
herself Miss Ctairmont. and give lessons
at two guineas week at Uekheld House
She knew LioEel Leigh was paid one
hundred year Tor being tutor to her
cousin. Why should not she gain halt
as much for teaching numbers of stupid
girls every day.
Ella nodded at the red-brick house ana
fha Drasn Eenetian blinds