The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-19
VOL. 1T.
THE FACTORY GIRL.


lows OF foam river rejecting the
azure of the sky; and knot of houses,
with church spire at one end, and a
th1cket of factory chimneys at the other,
whose black smoke wrote ever-changing
h1eroglyphics against the brilliancy of
the sky. This was Dapplevale. And
IN the rosy sunset of this blossomy June
day, the girls were all pouring out of
the broad doorway, while Gerard
Blake, the foreman, sat behind his desk,
a pen behind his ear, and his small
beady black eyes drawn back, as it
We're, in the shelter of precipice of
shaggy eyebrow.
One by one the girls stopped and re-
ceived their pay for the weeks work,
for this was Saturday night One by
contented faces, until the last one
passed in front of the high-railed desk.
She was slight and tall, with large
velvety blue eyes, complexion as deli
cately grained and transparent as rose
colored wax, and an abundance of glossy
halr OF so dark a brown that the casual
observer would have pronounced it
plack and there was something in the
way the blue ribbon at her throat was
tied, and the manner in which the sim
pie details of her dress were arranged,
that bespoke her of foreign birth.
Well, Mademoiselle Annette" said
Mr.. Blake, jocosely nodding, "and how
do you like factory life ?''
1t is not disagreeable, she ans
wered, slight accent clinging to her
tones, like fragrance to q flower, as she
extended her hand for the money the
foreman was counting out.
"You have given me but four dol
lars" she said. 1T was to be eight by
the contract"
Mr.. Blake shrugged his shoulders
disagreeably.
Humph!' grunted he; "you amt
much accustomed to our way of doing
things, are you, Mademoiselle Eight
of course but we deduct two for a
fee"
GA fee! For what ?" Mademoiselle
Annette demanded, with flushed cheeks
and sparkling eyes.
"For getting you the situation,
Mademoiselle, to be sure" said Mr..
Blake, in a superior sort of way. as if
he rather pitied her lack of information.
"Such places don't grow on every bush.
And folks naturally expect to pay SOME
thing for the privilege"
"I did not !" flashed out Annette
Duvelle.
"Oh-well-all right Because, you
know, you amt obliged to stay unless
you choose. There's plenty of girls
would be glad of the chance of getting
into the Dapplevale Calico Works."
"Do you mean," hesitated Annette,
"that if do not pay you this money"
"You can't expect to stay in the
works" said Mr.. Blake, easily hitching
up his collar. eyes; that's about the
plain English of it, Mademoiselle.
"But the other two dollars ?"
"Oh," said Mr.. Blake, "that's per-
centage the girls all pay"
"But what is it for ?"
Mr.. Blake laughed.
"Well, it kind O. helps my salary
along. Of course, you know, the girls
all expect to pay something every week
for keeping their situations in a place
where there's so many anxious to get
in. You may consider yourself very
fortunate, Mademoiselle Annette, to Sc
cure so desirable post"
All this Mr.. Blake uttered, in slow
deliberate way, through hisnose. An
nette Duville looked scornfully at him.
"And Mr.. Elderslie o.
"Oh, Mr.. Elderslie," repeated Blake.
"He han't nothing to do with it. ]
run this little machine of the Dapple-
vale Calico Works."
"Mr. Elderslie owns it, believer"
"Well, yes, he owns it. But 1 man
age everything. Mr.. Elderslie reposes
the utmost confidence in my capacity,
ability nd-and-responsibi Mr..
Elderslie is good business man. He
understands his own interest. And
now, Mademoiselle, if you've any more
questions to ask"
81 have none," said Annette wistful-
ly. "But need this money myself
1 work hard for it. 1 earn it righteous
ly. / cannot afford, any more than the
others among these poor laboring girls,
to pay it to your greed"
"Eh r' calculated Mr.. Blake, jump
ing from his seat as if some noxious in
sect had stung him.
"And 1 will not pay it," calmly con.
cluded Mademoiselle Annette.
every Well-very well. Just as you
can afford, Mademoiselle, "cried the fore
man, turning red in the face. "Only
if you won't conform to the rules of the
Dapplevale Works"
"Are these the rules ?" scornfully
demanded Annette.
Pray consider your name crossed
off the books" went on Mr.. Blake.
lOu liO lOhSSi III
Good evening, Mademoiselle Whatever
you-may-call- yourself.
And Mr.. Blake slammed down the
cover of his desk as if it were patent
guillotine, and poor Annette Duvelle's
neck were under it,
Two or three of the factory girls, who
had hovered around the open door to
hear the discussion, looked with awe
stricken faces at Annette, as she came
out with the four dollars which she
had received from the cashier in hel
hand.
"You've lost your place, Ma'amselle, .
whispered Jenny Purple, pale, dark
eyed little thing, who supported a Grip
pied mother and two little sisters out OF
her mulcted earnings.
And he'll never let you in again,
added Mary Rice. "He's as vindic,
tive as--as the old Evil One himself"
sit matters not" said Annettee. "He
is a rogue, and rogues sometimes out
general themselves.
But you can't starve," said Jenny
"IIook here, ma'amselle, come home
with me. It's a poor place, but vel
make you welcome till-til you cal
write to your friends.
Annette turned and impulsively kissed
Jenny on her lips.
81 thank you," she said i; "but l dc