Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-07-01
Whole No. 90.

"Mr. Elderslie owns it, L be-
lieve I"
"Well, yes, he owns it. But /
manage everything. Mr.. Elderslie
reposes the utmost confidence in
my capacity, ability and-and-
responsibility. Mr.. Elderslie is a
good business man. He under
stands his own interests. And now
Mademoselle, If you have any more
questions to ask"
81 have none," said Annette visit
fully. "But-I need this money
myself. / work hard for it. earn
it righteously. / cannot afford any
more than the others among these
poor laboring girls, to pay it to
your greed"
"Eh!" calculated Mr.. Blake,
jumping from his seat as if some
noxious insect had stung him.
"And l will not pay it," calmly
concluded Mademoselle Annette.
"Very well-very well. Just as
you can afford, Mademoselle," cried
the man, turning red in the face.
"Only if you won't conform to the
rules of the Dapplcvale Calico
Works"
"Are these the ruleS p scornfully
demanded Annette.
"Pray consider your name eros
sed off the books" went on Mr..
Blake. "You are no longer in my
employ. Go0d-evening, Mademo-
selle whatever you may-call your
self"
And Mr.. Blake slammed down
the cover of his desk as if it were
patent guillotine, and poor An
nette Duvelle's neck was under it.
Two or three of the factory girls,
who had hovered around the open
door to hear the discussion, looked
with awe-striken faces at Annette,
as she came out with the four dol
lars which she had received from
the cashier in her hand.
"You've lost your place, Ma'am-
selle," whispered Jenny Purple, q
pale, dark-eyed little thing, who
supported a crippled mother and
two little sisters out of her mulct,
ed earning.
"And he'll never let you in again,
added Mary Rice. "He's as vim
dictive as-as the old Evil One him
SELF"
at matters not" said Annette
"He is a rogue, and rogues some
times outgeneral themselves"
"But you can't starve," said Jen
ny. "Look here, Ma'amselle, come
home with me. It's a poor place
but wen make you welcome till
till you can write to your friends.
Annette turned and impulsively
kissed Jenney on the lips.
81 thank you," she said: ''but
do not need your kindness. My
friends are nearer than you think
And Annette Duvelle. went back
to the little red cottage, all thatched
with the growth of wood-bine and
trumpet-creeper, where she lodged
with the wife of the man who tend
cd the engine in the Dapplevale
Works.
"Does he cheat you, too, of your
money 2" she asked, when Simon
Pettengill came home, smolestained
and grimy, to eat his supper.
"One-siXth / pays to him." said
Simon, with an involuntary groan,
as he looked at the five little ones
around his board. "Yes, Miss, he's
a villain, but the world is full o
sich. And / finds it a pretty mid
dim hard world to get along with.
Mr.. Elderslie never comes here, or
may be things would be n bit diff
ferent. Mr.. Elderslie lives in Paris,
they say"
"Ie is in this country now,' said
Annette. II intend to write to
him."
Simon Pcttengill shrugged his
shoulders.
"Twon't do no good, Miss" said
he.
"Yes, it WILL" said Annette quiet
ly.
The petals of the June roses had
fallen, pink carpet all along the
edge of the woods, and the long
July days had come episs of sun
shine, jewclled at either end by dew
and moonlight. And the Dapple-
vale Works wore their holiday
guise, even down to Simon Petten-
gil's newly frightened steam-en-
gine, for Mr.. Elderslie and his
bride were to visit the works on
their wedding tour.
"It's a pity Mamselle Annette
went away so soon," said Simon to
his first assistant "'cause they say
the masters kind-hearted in the
main, and she might ha' spoke up
for herself"
Mr.. Gerard Blake, i'm his best
broadcloth suit, and mustache new
ly dyed, stood smiling in the broad
doorway, as the carriage drove up
to the door, and Mr.. Elderslie, a
handsome, blonde-browed man,
sprung out, and assisted a young
lady, in a dove-colored travelling
suit, to alight.
"Blake, how are youi" he said,
with the carelessness of conscious
superiority. "Annette, my love,
this is Blake, my foreman"
"Ma6emoselle Annette ~ M