Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-12-23
LOIS BRANDS CHOICE.

Lois Brand stopped on the bridge and
leaned over the low railing, watching
the ripples on the water and the little
minuows darting about in that restless
fashion of theirs, which made her think
of the shuttles flying through the warp
in the weaving.rOom at the factory.
As she stood there on the old bridge,
thinking in an idle, spiritless kind Of
way of what a pleasant thing life must
be when there is no such drudgery, no
such terrible monotony in it as had
wrapped hers in from childhood, shut
ting out everything she had hoped for
most, like WALL q step upon the creak-
ing planks aroused her.
Sho turned and saw that her compan-
ion was Richard Evans.
To him she was the one woman in the
world.
"Good morning, Dick" she said, in
tired kind of way. "Are you going to
the mill2 What fool am to ask you,
though. might know that there's no
other place for such people as we are to
go to. When we get into the mills
once, We never get out. It's for life or
death, I don't know which. I don't
think. [ should care much, if it wasn't
for Fanny"
81 don t like to hear you talk in that
way, Lois" he said, N that grave,
gentle way of his. "There's no need Of
you killing yourself at the loom, as
you're doing. It's only for you to say
Yes, Lois, and you know there's moth.
ing I'd be more glad to hear"
81 know" she answered, a Iittlo
more tenderly, but with much bitterness
in her voice yet, I am sure 1 could be
happy, quite happy with you, but
there's Fanny. 1t wouldn't be right for
me to marry you, and bring you such q
load as two women, and one of them as
helpless as q baby would be. 1 could
help myself and you, but with me you'd
find your hands full; when you come to
think of poor Fanny, and yoa nothing
but your two hands. can't say 'YDs,
Dick, thinking of that. 1t wolldn't be
right for me to-"
Didn't / know all about Fanny
when asked you to marry me?" Dick
said, earnestly. " If I hadn't bee1 will.
ing to work for both of you, do you
s'pose I'd have asked you any such
question ? You know, better, Lois. I
understand the case, Lois, and am will
ing to run the risk of tho consequences.
Poor Fanny wouldn't be half the burden
TO me, if you were to marry me, that
she is to you. Besides, a man can worl,
80 much easier if he thinks he is work.
ing for some ono who loves him-if he
has q home of his own. Don't You
know that, Lois It puts life and
energy into him. II knew that you
were wai6ing for me, after the days
work was done, in home of our own,
the hardest job would be pleasant one.
The thought of the kiss you'd give me
when l got home would help me more
than the promise of better place OF
extra wages. You'd better say yes,
Lois"
There's the bell, she said, drawing
long sigh, as she turned. "I don't
think I'd better say 'Yes,' Dick. II
wouldn't be right"
"Think it all over, before YOU de.
cide," he said, walking along with hel
through the street leading up to the fac
tory. " Don't let the thought of Fanny,
or the hard work I'd have to do, keer
yon from saying Yes, if you love me,
Lois
It was toward noon when her en-
ployer, Ralph Leverson, came up to hel
loom.
Lois, I want to talk to you," young
Leverson said, by.and-bye. "I sup
pose you never thought of such thing
as my caring for you, butt do. Lois.
I've watched your face for long time,
and I've grown fond of it. It's O face
that tells how much your life lacks tc
make it pleasant. Let me bring the
lacking pleasure, Lois. Will you be my
wife?'
A confused vision of pictures and
flowers, of rich dresses and books, and
the sound of music went whirling and
surglng through her brain to the accom-.
paniment of the grinding, pitiless
wheels.
81 can't think now," she cried, put.
tirg up both her hands to her throb.
bing brow. "Don't ask mo to answer
you now; some other time I'll tel
you"
You are killing yourself here" he
said, tenderly. "Try to think favor.
ably, Lois"
She Put on her bonnet and shawl nd
went out into the cool air. Oh, which
to choose (which to choose9 The
words made little verse of themselves,
and set themselves to the monotonouf
hum of turning spindles and the click.
clacking of darting shuttles. She went
toward home in a slow, roundabout
way.
Suddenly the factory bell smote the
air, there was cry of fire, and all al
once a g eat black cloud of smoke broke
from the upper windows of the building.
She turned about and went back.
A great cry rung out from the crowd.
At the window OF his Office, up stairs,
was Leverson's frightened face. He
must have been asleep, and undermining
of the awful danger so near by
"Ill try to save him" cried voice
sho kuew--Dick's voice-and then she
saw him fighting his way through the
flames, and the last glimpse of his face
showed how brave he was, in tho wild
tempest OF fire and smoke. She held
her breath, pale and still, and waited,
while her heart kept saying over
Dear Dick, oh, God, save hin 70 in &
prayerful kind of way.
She knew then that the lover who was
risking his life so nobly was more to hel
than the lover he was risking his life
ao,41I n~ra,. ha