Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-06-18


as she came up the avenue, she was informed
by the servants that she was "not at home"
an implication she we'll understood, that her
company was no longer desired at tie home
of the Hadleys. Ofcourse, she knew that,
after such an unmistakable~ "cut" on the
part of Mrs. Hadley, that lady would use
her power to break off the engagement ex-
isting between herself and her son.
Urged on by conflicting emotions she hur-
ried home and wrote and dispatched the fol-
lowing note, ere she allowed herself to
think calmly on the subject:
"MR HADLEY: Circumstances of which
you will doubtless be made aware place me
under the necessity of at once releasing you
from your engagement to myself.
Yours ETC., g
LIZZIE LEONARD.
Scarcely had she dispatched it before she
regretted the step, but comforted herself by.
saying: IF the change in my fortunes will
cause him to wish to be released from his en-
gagement. this will give him the chance to
do so :; but I am sure he will allow this
change to make no difference in his feelings
toward me-"
By a singular coincidence, though leav
ing the city by the same mail, this letter did
not reach Robert until he had read his
mothers and its effect upon him can well be
imagined.
Now Robert Hadley did not "tear his
hair and pace the floor all night wrestling
with his great agony" as rejected lovers
in novels-are supposed to DO; nor did he
commit suicide, or kill himself with a butch
er-knife, or do any other of the terrible
things only heard Of in dime novels. Still
it must be confessed that the supposed fck-
leness of the girl he had so tenderly loved
was severe blow to him.
After fully considering the matter in his
own mind, he concluded the wisest course to
be to follow the advice his mother had given,
and, countermanding the orders which he
had already given for a return home, he
made preparations for visit to the East;
and two days afterwards he left Bremen on
his way to Asia Minor, without deeming it
necessary to make any reply to Miss Leon
ards note.
The sad catastrophe that had befallen Mr..
Leonard so wrought upon his previously
delicate health that he sank rapidly into a
decline; and three months after the failure
of the house, in which he was the senior
partner, he died, leaving his wife and daugh-
ter dependent upon the hard mercies of an
unsympathizing public. 80
Lizzie Leonard was girl of much energy );
and, as soon as the sad event depriving them
of protector brought the unwelcome truth
of their poverty home to them, she and her
mother held, as they termed it, ga council
of war" ,.3e
Unlike most heroines, Lizzie was not an
adept in the art of music, neither did she
consider herself as quite fitted for a govern
ess; besides which, she knew that the sala-
ry of a governess or music teacher would
not suffice to support herself and mother +;
and as a final alternative the needle was re-
sorted to. Lizzie took upon herself the hui
initiating task of going among her old ac-
quaintances solicitating needework. But
alas ! for sunny day friends-she met with
very poor success ; and day after day glided
by and brought the wolf nearer the door.
AT last, one day, late in December, she
came home from taking out some finished
work, and surprised her mother by saying
abruptly:
"Mother, am going into the factory to
work !"
''What DO you mean, child 7" exclaimed
the mother. t
"Simply, mother" she replied, ''that we
can not live in this way. The winter is up
on us, and this is the only alternative left. "
In vain the mother cxpostulated her
daughters resolve was taken, and at last
she obtained her parents reluctant consent.
"But where do you intend to 90 ?" ask
ed the latter, when it was finally decided
that 60 she should
II have thought of several Places" re-
piled Lizzie ''and as the one where I shall
be most likely to obtain employment, as well
as be spared the pain of meeting those who
once were called my friends, have chosen
Woonsocket, in the State of Rhode Island
There are quite number of mills there,
and [ have little doubt of obtaining situa-
ton in some of them.
''But the expense Of going there ? and if
you should only fail p still urged the moth
/ err
Il have thought of that" answered the
courageous girl; ''there are the bracelets
papa gave-I meant to have kept them; but,
[ am sure could he look down from heaven
and speak to us, he would say I should be
doing right to dispose of them to assist me
in obtaining means of support for yourself
and me, dear mother and as for failing, [
shall not fail, am sure of that" ..a.4..ss
And so it was settled: and so it was that
the young girl, all unused to work. found
her way to the great brick mill, at the $50
cial,' D one morning, and applied for work at
the Office.
| ''Have you ever worked in mill ?" in
CURED the superintendent, when she had
made known her wishes ID l5v
"No, sir" she replied, ''but think [
can soon be able to perform my duties sat
isfactorily"
Her tone was so confident that the super
intendent was at once prepossessed in her
favor and being at that time short of hands,
he engaged her. A fortnight after found
her busy at her looms, displaying much skill
and judgment in her management of them.
She had obtained board in the boarding
house belonging to the corporation, and
though little like the quiet she had been ac-
customed to at home, she had set her heart
upon being contented and to q certain ex-
tent she was SO. But still it was great
trial to her to mingle with the promiscuous
company that congregate in factories, and
listen to the sometimes coarse language she
was compelled to hear.
She found, however, the impression that
mill operatives are always devoid of culture
and education was a very erroneous one, for
she found ladies-yes, reader, do not smile