Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-07-26
The Factory Girl.
There was no other alternative.

CdCACO IOOAJ esuN 81 Ou0 AhiOhS oeA @A
gers to earn, by the toll of her hands,
little by little, the money that was to
pay for its redemption.
Her face was very pale, as she
spoke of this to her parents, but its
expression was firm and patient be-
meath that unusual pallor.
1t was new experience to them
all-this stern grapple with poverty.
Mr.. Burns, though originally well off,
had an easy disposition, and could
never say "no" to the friend that ask
ed him for pecuniary aid. He had
endorsed for the accommodation of two
trusted friends, and those same friends
had put their property out Of their
hands, and conveniently "failed." Mr..
BIS entire possessions would hardly
satisfy the claims of the creditors ;
and now in his old age-a confirmed
inyalid-with his wife and two child
ren, he found himself almost penniIess.
Elmstead-the family residence
with its dozen acres of fine land, was
mortgaged to liquidate the last claim
and if the amount Of this liability was
not paid within a given time, the
Burnses would be homeless.
To Annette alone could this help,
less family look for aid. Mr.. Burns
was confined to his room for the most
part; Mrs. Burns herself, slender in
health. was fully employed in attend
ing to her husband and Freddy, the
six year old boy; there was none
save Annette on whom they conld de.
pend.
And she? Reared tenderly, petted
and dattered, her life guarded from
all care, what could she do in this
struggle with life's cold realities p?
When the trial came, Annette prov
ed her worth. Elmstead was as deal
to her as her own hearts blood; she
could not see it pass into the hands
of strangers, and have her parents
and dear little Freddy homeless :
Never So long as there was strength
in her arm, and money could be OBJ
tanned by labor
And so she made her decision
She spoke Of it very calmly. She
would 90 to Milltown, the great man
ufacturing city, and secure a place il
tue factory.
How her fathers pale forehead
flushed, and how the crimson heat o
pride burned in her mothers cheek a
the thought! But the noble girl 81
fenced all objections.
at is for the best" she said f.; "
have lain awake all the past night t.
weep and pray over it. And now
am fixed. Nothing can change me.
But what will Blske Hammond
say ?" asked her mother.
\ soft shade of rose color swep
up the girls cheek.
"It he Is the true man | believe hin
to be, he will bid me God speed. l
he is less than that, his opinion cal
have no influence with me-
Scarcely had she finished speaking
} when the postman entered and laid {
note on the table Lo.ylo ner. Ever,
vestige Of color fled from her face a
she read the few words written there
then pressed her hand against he
side like one in pain.
Directly she went up to her chan
ber, and came down no more tha
5 day. Her sole earthly prop had fal
: en-
At breakfast she made her appear
5 auce, calm and emohonless as usua
: She kissed little blue eyed FREDDY
; stroked the white kitten that leape
D purring on her knee, and converse
= on different topics with her accustou
5 ed cheerfulness.
+ When breakfast was concluded, sh
!, laid two pieces of paper before he
t mother, and asked her to read th
contents aloud. One was the not
Y she had received the previous day
: the other was her reply.
a The first ran thus:
o Miss BURNS: Circumstances
v which you must be aware, render
4 expedient that the childish 'engag
Il ment, as We were pleased to term i
i made between US SO long ago, shoul
i be dissolved. Probably you will
n as ready to agree to this request ;
5 | am to make it. Let me hear fro
0 you soon. Yours truly,
= BLAKE HAMMOND.
r The answer was brief but concis
J: "A[R. HAMMOND: Consider you
;; self free. ANNETTE BURNS.
D. To all the surprised exclamation
e. of her parents, she returned but OF
n reply:
N at is better so; and let the su
5. ject never be renewed" :"
10 And from that day forth, the mar
t. of Blake Hammond was un8poken
IS Elmstead.
9, But despite her seeming serenit
IN it cost Annette no slight effort to 81
d. nit to the sundering of a tie whit
at for four happy years, had bound h
n Four years ago, when she was nil
teen and he twenty-five, she h
pledged her faith to Blake Hammor
y and they were to have been marri
:, " the coming Christmas day.
us Circumstances had occurred whiC
to the worldly mind of young Ha
ir mond, justified him in breaking
nd plighted word, and casting the tru
of ing girl from his heart.
is He was ambitious, though pot
a he aspired to wealth, his idol; a
ce how could he ever reach the glitt
i'm ing treasure, if he married an inso
de ent's daughter?
IN For five long months had Anne
Ia Burns toiled in the noisy factory.
10, Far from all her kindred, in a straE
re- city, and among unsympathizing str
i've gers, she went about her daily ia
lot From "cock-crow until starlight"
ter same weary monotonous round, un
ors ried by single kind word or frie
n." ly smile. Every thread that
be- wove in the senseless web was a !
eE- ord Of the death of some fair ho
Ia every desolate sunset marked the
g." ding out of little more brightn
re- from her young lite.