Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-09-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE FACTORY FOREMAN.
IN. ]. Mercury.


you SEQ in pictures. a background of
superb bold mountain, all clothed in blue.
green cedars, with a torrent laundering down
a gorge and falling in biliows of foam a
river rejecting the azure of the sky, and
knot of houses, with church spire at one
end, and thicket of factory chimneys at
the other, whose black smoke wrote ever
changing hireoglyphics against the brilliancy
of tho sky. This was Dapplevale. And in
the rosy sunset blosscming June day the
girls were all pouring out of the broad door
way, whilo General Blake, tho foreman, sat
behind the desk, a pen behind his car aud
his small, beady eyes drawn back, as it were,
in the shelter of precipicc of shaggy eyc>
brows.
One by one the girls stopped and received
their pay for one weeks work, for this was
Saturday night. One by one they filed out,
with frettul, disccntentcd faces. until tho
last ono paused in front of the high>railed
desk.
She was slight and tall. with large, volvet
eyes, a complexion delicately grained and
transparent as roso colorcd wax. and an
-Ahs.ndanee, Of glossy hair of SO dark q brown
that the casual observer would have pro>
nounced it black, and there was something
in the waJ the blue ribbon OF her throat was
tied aud the maunor in which the simple de>
tails of her dress were arranged that bespoke
her Of foreign birth.
"Well, Mile Annette" said Mr. Blake,
sand how do you like factory life 2"
ct is not disagrceable," she answered.
slight accent clinging to her tones, like ira
GRANGE to flower, she extended her hand
for the money tho foreman was counting out
"You have given me but 81" she said
'It was to be sS By the contract"
Mr.. Blacke shrugged his shoulders dis
agreeably.
"Humph ~ he grunted ''you amt much
ncoostumed to our way of doing things are
you, Madcmoisellc? Eight-of course but
We deduct two for fco"-
ga fee For what 2" Annette, demand
ed, with flushed checks and sparkling eyes.
"For getting you the situation, Mademoi>
selle, to be sure" said MI Blake in suPe-
rior sort of way. 'Such places don't grow
oD every bush. And folks naturally expect
to pay something for the privilege"
"I did not !" flashed out Aunet Duvelle
ooh well-all right. Because, you
know. you amt obliged to stay, unless you
choose"
"Do you mesn," hcsitated Annette, "that
if do not pay this money
"You can't expect to stay in the works."
said Nir. Blake. hitcbing up his collar.
"But the other two dollars
Mir. Blake laughed.
"Well, it helps out my salary. OF course
you know, the girls all expect to pay some-
thing every week for keeping their situation
in place where there's SO many anxious to
get in"
land Mr. Elderslie? ?"
"Oh, Mr. Elderslie," repeated Blake
"He hadn't much to do with it. am mas
ter ut the Dapplevalo Calico Works"
| 'Mr. Elderslie owns it, I believe"
"Well, yes he owns it, but manage
everything. Mr.. EIderslie reposes the ut.
most confidence in my capacity, ability, and
and-responsibiIity. Mr.. Elderslie is q
good business man. lie understands his Own
interest. And now, if you've any moro
| questions to ask
81 have none" said Annette wistfully.-
"But-I need this money myself. 1 work
hard for IL, earn it righteously. 1 cannot
afford, any moro than the others among
these poor laboring girls, to pay it for your
greed"-
"Eb7" calculated Mr.. Blake, jumping
from his scat as if some insect had stung
him.
"And will not pay" calmly concluded
every welI-very we'll. Just as you like,
Madenoiselle," cried the foreman, turning
red in the face. "OnIy,if you won't conform
to the rules of the Dapplevale Works.
care these the rules!" scornfulIy deman-
ded Annettee.
"Pray consider your name crossed off the
books" went on Mr.. Blake. "You are no
longer in my employ. Good evening Made
moiselle. Whatever you may call YOURSELF
And Mr Blake slammed down the cove,
of his desk as if it were patent guillotine,
and poor Annette Duveli's neck were under
It.
Two or three of the factory girls who bai
hovered around the open door to hear the
discussion, looked with awe-stEicken faces a
Annette, as she came out with 81 which shG
had received from the cashier in her hand.
"You've lost your place, Ma'amselle,
whispered Jenny Purton, q pale, dark-eJeC
little thing who supported crippled mOthel