The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-02

one VI TluS VI uaihtiiy NiS
dren. singing kindergarten songs. lie
was at that age breasting cold world
selling newspapers. She remembered
with something like shame that she
had not even appreciated the advan'
tages she had enjoyed at college-ad-
yantages that many poor girl mad
wept bitter tears or because she could
not make them the basis of earning an
honorable living and which would
have saved her from a life Of toll.
But these thoughts served to bring
out all there was Of strength In
Madge's nature. ORA wing down the
corners Of her pretty mouth with
grim resolution she started down the
street and on reaching residential
district rang the doorbell of the first
respectable looking house she came to
A member of the family answered the
call.
Does the lady want maid?" asked
Madge.
shes always wanting maid. Maids
are not plentiful nowadays"
Leaving Madge In the vestibule. the
person went inside and returned with
an invitation for the applicant to come
in and see the lady. Madge found
her in a luxurious boudoir. She seem
ed struck by Madge's refined features.
Madam" Madge began. 81 beg of
you to employ me. have been very
unfortunate Accused of a crime OF
which | am innocent, ! have spent a
year in prison. have only this morn
ing been discharged with enough
money
The horror depicted on the woman's
face was appalling to the applicant.
II don't need any help at present.
she said, looking hard at the door.
81 beg of you not to turn me away.
promise you
Leave the house at once or will
call the police and have you put out"
Madge beat a hasty retreat.
Before making another application
she resolved to try to gain footing
in the employers good graces before
confessing the brand upon her. She
rang several bells In succession, to be
told that no maid was wanted, one
servant who answered her call shut
ting the door In her face without q
reply.
When at last she struck house
where maid was wanted and was ad-
mitted to the lady's presence. the in
terview was no longer than the f1rst
one. On being asked If she had q
recommendation from the last person
she had served she was forced to ad-
NIT that she had not and was dismiss
ed at once.
1t was 10 o'clock when Madge had
left the prison, and after three hours,
going from house to house in search
Of position, she became faint rather
than hungry and stepped into res
taurant of second grade that she had
once been obliged to put up with for
want Of better to get something to
strengthen her. Taking seat at a
table, waiter handed her menu,
but while she was looking to find the
price Of cup of tea and roll the
proprietor stepped up to her and, with
his eyes fixed meaningly on her coarse
garb, said:
Reckon you've got into the wrong
place. There's restaurant around the
corner that would suit you better"
Madge arose and left the restaurant
| Standing irresolutely on the sidewalk
she debated what she should do. II
her experience thus far was 30 bittel
what would 1t be when her little
money with which she had provided
herself had been spent? A policeman
seeing her standing thus forlorn, ap
preached her and asked her where she
belonged.
). Nowhere" replied Madge bitterly
~ have no home"
WELL" he replied to this. Il wisf
you'd get Off my beat wouldn't like
to run in nice lookin' girl like yor
for vagrancy. but if you keep loiterin
about here I'll have to do So"
This capped the climax. Madge ha(
tried her experiment of making a liv
ing with brand upon her. and sh,
was quite satisfied as to the disadvan
tages Of such a situation. She wa!
faint for want of food and had failet
to obtain 1t even in a second class res
taurant. She resolved to go home TO
lunch and remain there.
Call a cab" she said to the police
man.
"a cabr was the astonished ex
clamation.
Eyes, a cab"
Madge showed him a half dollar
He whistled to a man nodding on tn
drivers seat of a taxi, who arouset
. himself and drove his conveyance I,
the curb before the vagrant. whel
, she entered. giving the chauffeur he
address, the policeman looked NOR
/ amazed than ever In few moment
she was driven to her own door
j What" said Miss Wetmore, .'hom
already?'
Z yes. Aunt Isabel. I'm satisfied q
9 to the preliminaries. Now for tn
4 work In hand"
8 In a subsequent career of usefulnes