The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-07-10
THE FACTORY.cIRL.
ny d. FRANK RUSSELL.


morning paper she had been intcntly
reading for the last fifteen minutes "it's
perfectly shocking, so it is p
"Why Bella !" languidly replied her
mother, show remarkably loud you do
speak. l really hope you will refrain
from reading the painful paragraph you
refer to. for am sure il must be some.
thing quite annoying; and my delicate
nerves canno' Withstand sh Ick )" and
she pressed the smelling salts she held in
her white aud jeweled hands to her nos
Ttrils, aud leaned back in her easy char.
"But, mother, it's about the Leonards,
and I'm sure il will interest you"
"Well. then, my dear, please read it, "
said the lady, with show Of some inter
est "but do not speak so loudly"
Thus permitted, Bella read
eve are sorry % announce, this morn
ing. the failure of another of our mcr.
cantile houses. The firm of Leonard &
Shaw have suspended. and rumor says
that both members of the firm are com.
pIe,cly ruined. The cause of this uucx.
pected event is the loss Of the steamer
Eagle. with valuable cargo, lately pur.
chased for the house in London"
allow fortuuate" exclaimed the moth
er, as Bella finish d reading.
"Why mamma how can you say so 2"
answered the daughter reprovingly |
am sure AIN sorry, aud, besides, Robert
is going to marry Lizzie Leonard, You
know, mother"
. Hs ta1
Hndlcy, rising "but of course this event
which only called fortunate in hap.
peninG at such tin.c-will prevent such
proceeding on his part"
But | am sure, mother, the fact of
Lizzie becoming poor will make no differ
cnce to brother Robert aud indeed il
ought not 10 aud hope it won't"
There, just as expected" replied the
mother, - aud the very cause of my first
remark | hope, however, your brother
will have more sense than you, after the
turn affairs have taken"
But, mamma, | am going over to Mr.
Lconard's to see how poor Lizzie feels, I"
remarked Bella, starting TO leave the
room.
Remain !" commanded the mother
Il forbid you visiting at Mr. Leonard 5
again. You forget that they will no
longer move in our circle. Bring me the
writing dcsk will at once dispatch a
letter 10 Germany TO your brother"
Bella turned, with poor grace, TO
obey her mothers command, while that
lady leaned her head upon her hand, FOR
a lew moments in thought She knew
that il her sou, who was at that time
travelling in Europe, vas 10 be Informed
Of the misfortune that had overtakcn the
faintly to which he was so ;endcrly al
,achci, hc would hasten home. and prob.
ably IT once cousummate the intended
marriage, even though he found the bride
peunile.s Mrs Hadley was ambitious.
and determined to break up the anticipa-
Jed match-a match, by the way, that
she sanctioned so long as Lizzie Leonard
was the expected heiress Of the wealth
her father WIS believed TO posscss-and
her knowledge Of her sons character az.
sured her that by straiagcm only could
she accomplish the desired result, and
her resolve was at once taken.
Bella brought the writing desk, and
Mrs. Hadley was soon engaged in writing
the following letter:
/ "MY DEAR Son Your announcement
of an early return home would have filled
US all with much pleasure had not an
event occurred to make it seem prudent,
in my mind, for you TO extend your tray-
els somewhat longer.
Il have long been aware of the rela.
tions existing between you and Miss Leo
nard. aud have noticed the deception
practiccd upon you by that lady. doubt
If she ever cherished any strong affection
for you. If so there has been a very
great change. and before you ever see her
again she will probably be married to an-
other Under these circumstances deem
it best that you prolong your absence at
least another year, and spare yourself the
pan of meeting Miss Lcouard aud ere
this hope you will have gotten over this
unfortunate attachment"
"Your sister sends her love, to which
is joined that of your affectionate Rf
"MoTHER."
"There !" exclaimed the lady to her
self as she folded the letter, Il think that
pretty cleverly done. Indeed she has
practiced deception, in leading him to
suppose Ter father had money, when, !
have no doubt, the artful thing knew he
was on the verge of ruin and as for a
change, there has been one, though differ
ent from what he will think; and if can
succeed in keeping him away, she will
probably be marrie to some one on her
own level before his return: pretty cleS.
erly done, | think" And she Ssoldod the
letter aud directed 1t IN as steady hand
as thonSsm she was not ruthlessly crushing
the hopes of two young hearts.
This letter was dispatched, aud received
by the young man just as he was on the
point of starting tor home. tie read it
through and was completely stunned by
the intelligence it contained.
On the morning succeeding the conver-
sation between the mother and daughter,
detailed above, Miss Leonard called at the
residence of the Hadlcys to communicate
the sad intelligence to her friends. But
though she saw Mrs. Hadley at the win.
dow 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 lon
ger desired at the home of the Hadleys.
OF course, 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 existing be-