The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-11-03
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IN THE DARK.

be time keeper left his seat by
the door as the whistle sounded from
the roof of the boiler house and the
echoes of its booming shrek came
back from the hills across the ravine
through which the Black River found
its way He had handed in his re-
port at the office before the slacken-
ing speed of band and wheel and
shaftIng had softened the elamorous
whir CT the spindles and the rumb-
ling Of the mules to a whisper and
then to silence: when down the stair
cases of the great central tower, past
the now unguarded door, and out in-
to the gray darkness of the late twi-
light, LusIled a crowd in calico,
dividing into three streams as it
flashed over the threshold, one going
north to the corporation boarding
house, another taking the opposite
direction toward the meaner part Of
the small village, and third cross
ing the canal directly to the tene-
ments dimly seen on its bank. The
hundred windows of the huge mill
shone yellow. To travellers on the
down express" that stood by the
station platform, the pump of its safe
ty brake painting as if impatient of
the delay, those lights seemed gold
en- flecks in mine of prosperous in
dustry, and their distant gleam sug-
gested pleasant thoughts of a busy
multitude Near to the walls the
slaniing rays lighted up iEdistinct
figures, hustling away in long pro-
cessions that broke into knots or sep
| arated into individuals. They were
mainly those of women Some wore
showls drawn over their heads, Others
were still sheltered by the straw hats
that had seen service under the heat
of the summer sun; some stepped
along with g SOC. of sorry jauntiness
in feathers and feminine trappings
THAT futtered and swung in the
glanciDg reflections from above.
With cling OF the bell the rain
moved on toward the great city.
The lights disappeared by sections
from the front Of the mill-a score of
windows being blot,ed out at once,
like wink Of Agus-aud the few
hurryiag feet that sped away lhrot e .
the gathering darkness left behind
them a towering black monument,
whose broad stony exparse was re-
lieved only by the glimmer of a
lantern here and there as it passed
window after window at the pace of a
mans walk.
The mills had closed for the night.
But before the last row Of lights went
o1t, there stepped through the va
cant doorway yet another figure in
calico, not hastily, but With al ex-
pectapt air, as ii the delay lad been
With purpose. Even in the dim
Hight, and clothed 10 mean ana
ma,odorous factory dress. IL could
be seen IS that of q young woman,
tdil OAQ GStsi
and graceful in movement. The girl
came slowly out aud paused at the
bottom of the eranita steps. i
quick hut shutting football was heard
upon the path of cinders leading up
from the canal. 1t came nearer, and
a mans form appeared IN the gloom.
The girl stepped out toward it.
! "Joe!' she said
The man, who was in working
dIess, and carried tin pail, With e
cup of the sane material set on the
top like the turret of monitor,
turned quickly and peered at the
speaker.
why. Maryln he said. with some
thing like annoyance in bis tone; 81
ddn't want you to wait form tonight
I I'm late nov, and the boss II be
Lad enough. You'd better go right
home