The Portland daily press., 1872-05-18

Win glance OF curiosity. He had heard OF
the genus factory-girl, but perhaps had never
before been knowingly in company with a
specimen. There was nothing rude in his
look; and the girl, observing, returned it with
steady, unabashed gaze in which there was
no shadow of holiness. 1t was more as one
man regards another; and Harvey's eye was
the first to fall.
The road was in frightful condition. Some
times the wheels on one side sank to the hubs
in soft mud, while those on the other were
tilted up on snow-drift. The jolts and
Iurches were as painful as alarming, and Har-
vey in his weak state could hardly endure
them. He leaned back and closed his eyes,
but the deadly pallor of his face betrayed his
suffering. In moment a pleasant voice ad-
dressed him. 1t was the factory-girl, who
said,
You do not seem well, Sir. Perhaps it is
disagreeable to you to ride backward. You
are welcome to my seat, if you like to change
\ you are very kind,' said Middleton, sur
prised. ''The seat is very well, I believe: on
ly have been ILL., and the road is rough"
why, it is dreadful for sick person.
Pray take this thick shawl of mine. l am
sure you could make yourself more comforta-
BILE with it." NE ~ WI BtFF- FLE
"Thank you very much; but would rath-
er not deprive you of it.''
do not need it, Sir: my cloak is very
warm; and you can make yourself pillow
Oi it. Please take it, and she leaned for
ward and arranged the shawl herself in a
manner so comfortable as to be its own rec
concentration.
l. The pale woman with the baby was ques-
tioning Miss Tucker concerning Lowell and
its factories. She had nervous, timid man
ner, and spoke softly, as if frightened at the
sound of her own voice. She had been pref
ty once, but now her face had weary, hope
less look, which touched Middleton's sympa-
thies. Miss Tucker answered her questions
with ready good nature, soon drawing from
her the fact that she was on her way to Low
ell in the hope of finding employment.
Have you any friend In that city," she
presently asked.
"No."
"But what will you do with your baby if
you work in the mills %
81 thought perhaps Icould get some one to
look after him, if had the luck to find
work" - az ~ ~
" Haven't you any friends where you come
from that would take him-your own folks ?''
"No"-rather hesitatingly. 81 haven't
any folks-at least they don't care for me
now"
"Where isy your husband?" was the next
abrupt question.
A fiery blush spread over the woman's face
and her lips contracted as if with sharp
spasm of pain, but she made no answer
Miss Tucker regarded her for an instant with
surprise; then a sudden, swift lifting of the
eyebrows showed that she comprehended the
case. She leaned forward and said, in low
tone, -" l understand: your husband is not
living. l am sorry spoke of it. What a
fine healthy baby yours sp'
There was gentle, womanly accent in her
voice, which did not escape Harvey's ear !;
and the ready tact with which she had COW
cred the poor creatures embarrassment, turn
ing instantly from the painful theme to that
which would naturally be most consoling,
pleased and touched him. He looked at the
overdressed, loud-voiced factory-girl with
more of genuine admiration than he had
often bestowed on any woman. Indeed, he
was not an admirer of women in general A
bachelor of forty, well born, good-looking,
and rich. he might well have been a mark for
managing mammas and designing daughters,
had he chosen to put himself IN their way,
But he was not partial to female society.
The truth was, he had in his youth, when not
so prosperous as now, been rather badly treat
ed by beautiful but worldly girl, who, after
encouraging his suit, suddenly Tilted him for
a wealthier rival. The experience had posi-
bly, somewhat shaken his faith in women in
general; at least, it had given him distaste
for their society. He had two married broth
ers, but their matrimonial luck was not of a
kind to make him envious. The wife of one
was very high-bred woman, model of
elegance and propriety in externals, but with
the temper of demon; the other was an
amiable fool. So, on the whole, Harvey was
content to remain as he was.
But discomfort and annoyance only seemed
to bring out Lymp Tucker in greater strength.
She laughed merrily at each fresh mishap,
rallied the old lady out of her fears, and helped
her to straighten her smashed bonnet, which
had come to grief from the jolting stage; she
joked away her brothers ill humor, and pro-
duced from her satchel an orange, which
quieted the crying baby, and gave its weary
mother brief rest. Her unfailing good
humor and cheerfulness had an effect upon
all even Harvey partly forgot his WEAKNESS,
in the lively talk in which she engaged him.
She chatted with perfect frankness and some
disregard OF grammar rules; but the quick
wit and the shrewd common-sense she dis
played made amends for much.
At last, in going down a long hill, the
catastrophe which the old lady had been
looking for came: the, stage sank with a
sudden lurch into a deep rut, and one of the
wheels snapped like reed Fortunately the
vehicle was not upset, only stuck fast; but
they could 60 no farther. Here was a cheer
full state of things! The nearest house was
half mile away, and they had the alter
native of walking to it through the mud or of
waiting there in the bleak March wind for an
indefinite time till another conveyance was
found. The former course was plainly the
wise one, and all scrambled out accordingly.
I1ymp Tucker drew up the skirt of her gay silk
dress, thereby making liberal display of ankles
and under-garments, but the comely shape of
the one and the spotless neatness of the other
made it excusable. Then, taking possession
of tho kipEinov hab v nd !, bro+ !,
give his assistance to Middleton, she led the
way across the fields, the whole company
taking up their line of march behind her.
Arrived, after considerable difficulty, at the
farm house, they had the satisfaction of learn
ing that they must wait at least two houIs
for the repair of the broken wheel, and that
they were still five miles short of the halfway
house where they had expected to take dinner.
Of course they were all nearly famished after
of the house seemed well disposed to supply
their wants, but she was alone, and her larder
somewhat lean. 81 don't suppose you'd want
fried pork" she said, obviously. 81 might
kill a couple of pullets. '.u vi.
''That would take too long altogether"
said Lymp Tucker. eve should eat the baby
before they would be ready a ,gas1 -.
well guess Jones's wife, down to the
corner, would let me have some ham; but
udl1 SOt uO DTtdu DdkcU Gn6Q.
''Oh, nevermind that. Givem me the things
to do it with, and Pll have the bread made by
lifetime you are back from Jones's."
" La, now, " said the hostess, looking
doubtfully at the fine apparel of her guest, ''do
you suppose you could T'
You bring me the things and see," repli-
ed the other, laying aside her velvet cloak
and light kid gloves. The woman obeyed at
once. Miss Tucker turned up the silken
sleeves from pair of large and handsome
white arms and tied on big check apron,
while the hostess flung a shawl over her
head and took her way across the fields to
"the corner''
The only fire in the house was in the kitch-
en-, so all of the passengers sat round it and
watched the preparation of their repast. The
mpromptu-bread-make f1irted four-sifter,
twirled spoon in pan, made several rapid
passes over board, and in an incredibly
short time ad.produced a large painful of bis
cults, which she set in tin baker before the OPP
en- fire The hostess soon returned, and present.
ly had ready smoaking dish of hot ham and
eggs which with biscuits like snow. flakes made
very inviting repast.
By the time the meal was well over the dri-
yer returned, with his wheel mended, and they
took the road again. Harvey, who had paid
his entertainer literally for his own dinner, no
ticed the pale young woman approach and of
fer to do the same.
"That is all settled said the hostess, and
motioned with her hand towards Miss Tucker.
Harvav fnlt rnorfifiad that ha ,bo,,ld NOT