The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-08-17

her chair--she was beginning to see
through the mystery.
Perhaps you have something to do
with the calico factory"
Il have" said Grace with calm
dignity,
"A factory girlr' gasped Mrs. Sey-
mour, growing red and white.
Is there any disgrace in the title?'
quietly asked Grace, although her own
cneeks were dyed crimson.
Disgrace! o no-certainly not;
there's no harm in earning ones living
in an honorable way" returned Mrs.
Seymour, absently. The fact was, she
was thinkingin her inmost mind: what
will Frank say?" and anticipating the
flag of triumph she was about to wave
over him.
Il do not hesitate to confess went
on Grace, looking Mrs. Seymour full in
the eyes, that to the calico factory l
owe my daily bread"
Very laudible, I'm sure" said
the old lady, growing a little uneasy
under the clear blue gaze, " comfy
there are steps and gradations in all
society, you know, and-I am a little
surprised to find you SO intimate with
Miss Elton, whose family is"
Mary came over to Grace's side, and
stopped to kiss her cheek.
MY dearest friend-my most pre-
cious companion" she murmured, Il
should be quite lost without her, Mrs.
Seymour"
The old lady took her leave stiffly,
and did not ask Grace to return her
call, although she extended an invita-
ton to Mary, couched in the politest
and most distant terms.
"Frankn' she calculated, never once
stopping to remove her shawl or bonnet,
and bursting into her sons studio like
an express messenger of life and death
news, ''who do you suppose your par
agon of Miss Teller is?''
The loveliest of her SEX returned
Frank, briefly and comprehensively.
"A factory girln' screamed the old
lady at the height of her lungs, "a
factory girl"
"Well what of that?''
What of that? Frank Seymour,
you never mean to say that you would
have anything to say to common
factory girln'
Il should pronounce her very I'M
common factory girl said the young
man with an agrgavating calmness.
Crank, don't jest with me-" plead
ed the poor little mother with tears in
her eyes. Tell me at once that you
will give up this fancy for girl that
is in no way your equal
"No-she is in no respect my equal, "
returned Frank, with reddening cheek
and sparkling eye. "but it is because
she is in every repect my superior. Grace
Teller is one of the noblest women
that ever breathed this terrestrial air,
as well as one of the beautiful. Mother,
l love her, and she has promised to be
my wife,
Mrs Seymour sat down, limp, lifeless
and despairing.
" Frank! Frank! | never thought to
see my son marry a common factory
girl"
And then the torrent of tears came to
her relief, while Frank went on quietly
touching up the scarlet foliage of a
splendid old maple in the foreground
OF his picture.
$50 you are determined to marry
me, Frank, in spite Of everything?"
Grace Teller had been crying-the
dew yet on her eye-lashes, and the I'M
natural crimson on her cheeks, as
Frank Seymour came in, and Mary
Elton considerably slipped out "to
look for a missing pattern"
Il should think 500 said Frank,
looking admiringly down on the gold
head that was STOPPING among the
pansies.
but your mother thinks me far be-
low you in social position"
''Social position be-ignored What
do | care for social position, as long as
my little Grace has consented to make
the sunshine of my own home"
"Yes, but Prank
"Well, but Grace?'
"Do you really love me?"
For answer he took both the fair del
icate little hands in his, and looked
steadily into her eyes.
Frank" said Grace, demurely,
"Tm afraid you will make a dread
fully strong-willed, obstinate sort of a
husband
| SHOulul WOHucr, Ufdcle.
And so the gold twilight faded into a
purple softer than the shadow of east
ern amethysts, and the stars came out
one by one, and still Mary Elton didn't
succeed in finding the pattern.
Mrs. Seymour was the first guest to
arrive at Mrs. Randall's select soiree
on the first Wednesday in July-the fact
was, she wanted chance to confde
her griefs to Mrs. RandalPs sympa-
thetic ear.
Crying? Yes, of course I've been
crying, Mrs. Randall; I've done moth
ing but cry for a week"
mercy on us!" said Mrs. Randall,
elevating her kid-gloved hands, "what
is the matter. hope Frank isn't in
any sort of trouble?n
My dear" said the Gid lady, in
mysterious whispers, Frank has been
entrapped, inveigled into the most
dreadful ENHANCEMENT. ID id you ever
fancy that he, the most fas tidious and
particular of created beings, could be
resolutely determined on margin ga
factory grip"
Mrs. Randall uttered an exclamation
of borritied surprise, and at the same