Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-02-06

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"Sure enough, / be losin' all my
wits I theenk;" she answered, with a
sickly laugh. THAT be another lass
that's coome to work, Measter Job,
an she be not like to stan it long, she
be so soft-like and white. She be not
like the Others"
As she ceased speaking, the subject
of her remarks entered, tall, slightly
built girl, with fair clear face, shad-
ed by heavy coils Of jetty hair. She
was attired in cheap calico dress, the
sleeves of which being too short, ex-
posed small but fnely-rounded arm.
The man raised his head, and scan ned
her closely with his sharp blue eyes,
wondering the while why one so beau
tiful should come here to drag out a
miserable existence. Surely she could
have obtained a position as lady's
maid
"This be Measter Job" said the
woman, nodding. "He be kind-heart-
ed mon, Anna. Measter job, this be
Anna Pland thee will be friends, 1
theenk."
The maiden blushed and curtsied in
an awkward way, thereby revealing
large foot encased in a large shoe
Mister Job, as he was called, arose
and came forward. Placing one hand
on the edge of her shoulder in an in.
nocent boyish way, he said:
"Thee be fair, lass, an it be a pity
to see thee come wan an thin like the
others. Thee had better 20 back, lass,
an find wark along the country some
where. / don't like to damp thy
spirits, lass, but tell .hee truth, an
thee can see enough, an moore, by
lookin' about thee a bit Coomc, lass,
tell Inc what sent thee here, for l be
afeard thee art running away from
hoome, lass, an that be not right"
"No," she rcjoined, dropping her
eyes. II be poor, an must live, you
know, an so | come here. / couldn't
get work in the country. Do you be-
lieve Inc ?"
"Ayc, lass, thee could not lie, with
them eyes in thy head. Thee speaks
book-like, lass. Thee have been in
school -
"Just little
singular, upon my word" thought
this man 70 liberal with his Lancashire
dialect. "She has a small hand, a
sweet voice, a refined face, but a very
rural foot. Heigho l suppose she is
some unhappy waif without kith or
kin. Poor child Earth has misery
sufficient for you and me. What am
L? Heir to fifteen thousand a year,
and drudging in the mills of Manches-
ter Well; have not yet begged,
stole or murdered o, my father
my father, if you could but soc me
now in the depth Of my humiliation r
He sank upon chair, pressed his
hands to his head and groancd aloud.
The woman gazed upon him an instant,
and then resumed her work. Pain
and suffering were her daily compan-
ions, and she gave them but little no
tice; the maiden, however, earnestly
inquired the cause of his exclamation,
and in such tender, musical voice
that he started up and looked at her
again. She retired bashfully, and did
not speak for full hour. The next
morning she accompanied him to the
mill, and was given loom very near
his. He watched her at intervals
during the day, and saw that she pro-
gressed with her work as we'll as could
be expected. At night they walked
home together, and she was compelled
to take his arm, for she was faint and
exhausted.
"Thee must stop this, lass" be- said.
"Thee will soon wear out, Nike the
child there. She'll never 90 into the
mill again; she be going 70 Heaven.
she be, and thee must not die yet;
thee must not. I'll lay off tomorrow,
an find thee place, lass a place to
do house-work. / be not going to see,
thee pine away; nop
"Why do you care so much for mee'
she quircd artlessly.
"She is lovely. Could I be- mad
enough to love her ?" he thought, aud
rejo'aed; II don't quite know, lass,
out it may be thy eyes be the rcsson;
Thee be not like any 1 see, an thee
be goodlrm sure"
The conversation was discontinued.
for they had arrived at the door of the
cot. As they entered they beheld the
housekeeper knecling at the side of the
couch and weeping, while around her
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