The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-01-05

dren, singing kindergarten songs: lie
! was at that age breasting a 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-
vantages that many poor girl had
, wept bitter tears or because she could
not make them the basis Of earning an
honorable living and which would
have saved her from 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 a
grim resolution she started down the
street and on reaching a 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 maidY' asked
| Madge.
"She's 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 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 I 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 I will
call the police and have you put OUT"
Madge beat a hasty retreat.
| Before making another application
she resolved to try to gain a 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
|
reply.
| When at last she struck house
where a maid was wanted and was ad-
mitted to the lady's presence. the in
| terview was no longer than the first
one On being asked If she had
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 a 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 a better to get something to
strengthen her. Taking a seat at
table, a waiter handed her menu,
| but while she was looking to find the
price Of a 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 a 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. If
her experience thus far was so bitter
what would it 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
IT have no home"
"Well," he replied to this, 81 wish
you'd get off my beat. wouldn't like
to run in a nice lookin' girl like you
1 for vagrancy. but If you keep loiterin'
about here I'll have to do So"
This capped the climax. Madge had
tried her experiment of making liv-
ing with a brand upon her, and she
was quite satisfied as to the disadvan-
tages of such a situation. She was
faint for want of food and had failed
to obtain it even in second class res
taurant. She resolved to go home for
lunch and remain there.
"Call cab, she said to the pol1ce-
man.
"a cab!' was the astonished ex-
clamation.
Eyes, a cab"
Madge showed him a half dollar.
He whistled to a man nodding on the
drivers seat of taxi, who aroused
himself and drove his conveyance to
the curb before the vagrant. When
she entered, giving the chauffeur her
address. the policeman looked more
amazed than ever. In few moments
she was driven to her own door:
what" said Miss Wetmore, "home
alreadyT'
Eyes. Aunt Isabel. I'm satisfied as
to the preliminaries Now for the
work in hand"
In subsequent career Of usefulness
Madge Ellison found this practical ex-
perience as to the difficulties discharg-
ed prisoners meet on emerging again
| info tho world with n brand uDOn them