The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-06-12

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"Do you mean" hesitated An
nette, "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. "Yes;
that's about the plain English OF
it, Mademoisellc."
"But the other two dollars9"
"Oh," said Mr.. Blake, "that's
percentage the girls all pay"
"But " hat is it for Z"
Mr.. Blake laughed.
"W ell, it kind O. helps my sal
ary along. OF course you know
the girls all expect to pay some.
thing every week for keeping
their situations in place where
there's 60 many anxious to get in.
You may consider yourself very
fortunate, Mademiselle Annette,
to secure so desirable a post"
All this MI. Blake uttered, in
slow, deliberate way, through his
nose. Annette Duvelle looked
scornfully at him.
"And Mr.. Eldersliel"
"Oh, Mr.. Elderslie," repeated
Blake. "He ha'n't nothing to do
with it. l run this little machine
of the Dapplevale Calico Works."
"Mr. Elderslie owns it, l be-
lievel"
"Well, yes, he owns it. But l
manage everything. Mr.. Elderlie
rcposes the utmost confidence in
my capacity, ability and-and-.
responsibility. Mr.. Elderslie is a
good business man. lie under
stands his own interest. Ard now
Mademoiselle, if you've any more
questions to ask"
"I have none," said Annette
wisttully. "But-I need this
money myself. l work hard for
it. I earn it righteously, l can
not afford, any more than the
others among these poor laboring
girls, to pay it to your greed"
"Eh!' calculated Mr.. Blake,
jumping from his scat as if some
noxious insect had slung him.
>"And l will not pay it," calmly
concluded Mademoiselle Annette.
"Very well-very well. Just
as you can afford, Mademoisclle,"
cried the foreman, turning red in
the race. "Only if You won't
conform to tue rules Of the Dap
plevale Works -"
care these the rukes?" scorn
fully demanded Annette,
pray consider your name
crossed off the books" went on
Mr.. Blake. "You are no longer
in my employ. Good-evening,
Madcmoiselle whatever-y ou may.
call.yourself."
And Mr.. Blake slammed down
the cover of his desk as if it were
patent guillotine, and poor An.
nette Duvelle's neck were under
it.
Two or three of the factory
gils, 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 re-
ceived from the cashier in her
hand.
"You've lost your place, Ma'am
selle," whispered Jenny Purple,
pale, dark.eyed little thing, who
supported crippled mother and
two little sisters out of her mulct-
ed earnings.
"And he'll never let you in
again." added Mary Rice. "He's
as vindictive as-as the old Evil
One himself"
"It matters not" said Annette.
"He is o rogue, and rogues some
times outgeneral themselves"
"But you can't starve," said
Jenny. "Look here, ma'amselle,
come home with me. It's u poor
place, but well make you vel
come till till you can write to
your friends"
Annette turned and impulsively
kissed Jenny on her lips.
"l thank you," she said: "but
do not need your kindness. My
friends are nearer than you think"
And Annette Duvclle went
back to the little red cottage, all
thatched with the growth Of wood.
bine and trumpct.creeper, where
she lodged with the wife of the
man who tended the engine in the |
Dapplevale Works.
"Does he cheat you, too, Of your