Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-03-10
CHApTER Wy

1Hey were unnarneSSed, ana seemed 10 NC
enjoying themselves thoroughly. A cou-
pie of lads, with very brown faces, sat
on sloping bank on the other side, de-
vouring huge pieces of bread and cheese
and now and then drinking cider from
stone bottle.
Immediately under the hedge sat TWO
women on the shady side OF htty' thes
were upon cane chairs; between thein
was a big drum turned UP on one eha'
and serving as a tea table. Some plue
delf cups and plates, a little black tea
Dot, loaf of crusty bread, piece OF
fresh butter. a basin of white sugar, ana
an odor, fragrant and pleasant IN the
fresh air of the summer afternoon, an
nounced that these ladies were partaklng
of tea.
As for the ladies, one was very stout,
and the other was very lean. The stout
one wore a scarlet handkerchief across
her breast, a sensible, brown holland
dress, and a black apron. This ladys
head was barred to the summer sky 1t
was not a handsome head. The hair upon
it was fast turning gray, and vas not ar
ranged with that nicely which is deslfa-
bic in the couture of a lady; but her
rudy face beamed, absolutely beamed,
with good nature. Perfect contentment
sat on the smiling lips, and the small
blue eyes twinkled merrily.
This was Miss Eliza -Dobson-Liza, as
she was called by her sister, Miss Ma
tilda. The sisters were the sole proprle-
tors, or proprietresses, of Doosons wax
works, which they had inherited from
their parents twenty years before. Ihey
were fast making their fortunes. and pur-
posed, in a years time, retiring to a rural
solitude, where Miss Matilda, the younger
and more genteel sister, hoped 10 cultivate
roses. chickens, chiffonierS and other ele-
gancies of polite life.
Miss Matilda had a long, thin, melan-
choly face; it was not unkind, but 1t
lacked the genial goodness Of her sisters
Tilda wore a muslin dress, and black
lace jacket, which the dust OF the roads
had whitened. She wore hat and black
feather. Her face was Drowned and
roughened by exposure to weather. lace
which assumed a poetical melancholy OF
that sort which provokes laughter IN the
fun-loving.
1--WE amt got no neighbors. That's
true, Tida for we carries our nome on
wheels with us. But, for my part, /
think gossiping neighbors handrance
when theres work to do. We've had
deal of change all our days, :nd seen
deal of things; had it in or power to
help a starving fellow critter now and
then, at a pinch; and next year we are TO
have a pretty little 'ome of our own,
where you shall keep chickens. and have
ever so many red geraniums in pots IN
the winders."
Il hope" said Miss Matilda, las we
shall have a sofa, such as | saw once at
birmingham, covered in crimson velvet,
and with a regular spring. All. when l
no longer has to walk in and tell the
public the sorrers of poor Queen Mary OF
Scotland, ! shall enjoy peace OF mind.
II trust you will, Tilda,' observed
stout Miss Eliza. cutting off nice piece
of crusty loaf and covering II with but
ter Now, Tilda, do eat this; just a
relish of potted shrimps. You don't eat
enough. my dear, to support you"
Il was always one as never cared for
the pleasures of the table" said Miss
Matilda: and she struck the impromptu
board-the circular top of the drum,
where the feast was spread--with her
parasol.
1t emitted a hollow sound; and the
effect of the whole scene and speech was
so droll that Ella Wycherly burst into a
loud and ringing laugh.
The Misses Dobson, looking up, beheld
with amazement the young and beautiful
l. II L., faaa ran IoDt with mpTFl-
ment. Both ladies smiled.
Dear me, what pretty creature :"
said Miss Matilda.
Bless me ~ observed Miss Eliza per
haps the young lady would like a cup Of
tea and n slice of the crusty loaf. If
she would. she's welcome"
Now it happened that Ella was excess
lively hungry. and this hospitable offer
was not displeasing to her. Ii seemed,
indeed, that Ella had lived several years
since the night before. She had learned
already something of the under strata of
humanity-those whom she had hitherto
classed indiscriminately in her own mind
as 'tbe lower orders"
The savage old woman at the cooked
meat shop. the inquisitive old man in the
smock, and now these sun-burned timer
ant show people-how different they all
we're from each other; and yet, they all
belonged to the lower orders"
The Misses Dobson were kindly, genial,
tender hea rted women. Ella coon got on
famously with them. The young heart
craved sympathy. Most of Elias hauteur
and pride were on the surface.
Before long she was actually seated
upon a chair before the drum" drinking
a strong and fragrant cup of tea, enrich
ed with cream, which Miss DobSon pour
ed out of bottle.
She was eating bread and butter and
potted shrimps with appetite. and laugh
ing at the oddly sentimental ana ungram-
NAUTICAL phrases Of Miss Matilda.
When tea was over, Miss Eliza washed
up the things very nicely in a blue delft
basin. One of the lads brought cold water
from a neighboring spring, which bub-
hled from under bank on the other side
of the road.
Ella offered to dry the teacups. which
office she performed deity, Miss Matilda
obliging her with clean. soft cloth.
Afterward. Miss Eliza packed them all
in a box with some clean straw.
And now" said Ella. Il suppose l
must say good evening, Miss DobSon; but
I'm sorry to say il. l wish, instead. |
was going away with you"
She said il without a thought: but the
Misses Dobson exchanged glanceS full of
meaning.
why, my dear, said Miss Eliza.
anybody could sec with half an eye as
You was a young lady born and bred, not
used TO living with people such as we
dre-T
Not but what" observed Miss Natilda,
with a sigh. I'VE 'ad a haunt as KEEP a
genteel bonnet and millinery establish
ment in Bristol, and kept two maid-ser-
wants ar the time of her death: but. being
single person, left all her money to
build chapel, forgetting her nearest of
kin"
'She did as she liked with her OWL"
observed Miss Eliza. land we have done
very well without her money. But about
yourself. my dear-are you out of situa-
ton. my dear? Wouldn't a place as a
EoverneSS suit you nowI"