The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-09-11
THE NEW FACTORY GIRL.

utIluR dONh IL uCOp SOiSC anu As1AAAHS ~
pillows of foam; a river rejecting the
azure of the sky, and knot of houses,
with church spire at one end and a
thicket of factory chimneys at the other,
whose black smoke wrote ever-changing
hieroglyphics against the brilliancy of
the sky. This was Dapplevale. And in
the rosy sunset of this blossomy June
day the girls were all pouring out of the
broad doorway, while Gerald Blake, the
foreman, sat behind his desk, a pen
behind his ear and his small, beady
black eyes drawn back, as it were, in
the shelter of precipice of shaggy
eyebrow.
One by one the girls stopped and re-
ceived their pay for one weeks work,
for this was Saturday night. One by
one they filed out, with fretful, discon-
tented faces, until the last one paused in
front of the high-railed desk.
She was slight and tall, with large,
velvety blue eyes, complexion as deli
cateIy grained and transparent as rose
colored wax, and an abundance of glossy
hair of so dark brown that the casual
observer would have pronounced it
black, and there was something in the
way the blue ribbon at her throat was
tied and the manner in which the simple
details of her dress were arranged that
bespoke her of foreign birth.
''Well, Mile. Annette said Mr..
Blake, land how do you like factory
life?''
alt is not disagreeable, she answer
ed, slight accent clinging to her tones,
like fragrance to a flower, as she extend
ed her hand for the money the foreman
was counting out.
"You have given me but S4," she
said. at was to be IS by the con-
tract
Mr.. Blake shrugged his shoulders disa-
greeably.
Humph!" he grunted; "you amt
much accustomed to our way of doing
things, are you, mademOiselle? Eight
of course; but we deduct two for a
fee
"a fee! For what?'' Annette demand
ed, with flushed cheeks and sparkling
eyes.
"For getting you the situation, made
moiselle, to be sure" said Mr.. Blake in
a superior sort of way. ''Such places
don't grow on every bush. And folks
naturally expect to pay something for
the privilege"
~ did mott" flashed out Annette Du-
velle.
"Oh-well- right Because, you
know, you amt obliged to stay unless
you choose"
''Do you mean," hesitated Annette,
"that if do not pay you this mon
ey-n
"You can't expect to stay in the
works. said Mr.. Blake, hitching up his
collar.
But the other two dollars?''
"Oh,n said Mr.. Blake, that's a per-
centage the girls all pay
- But what is it for?''
Mr. Blake laughed.
"Well, it helps out my salary. Of
course, you know, the girls all expect to
pay something every week for keeping
their situations in place where there's
so mary anxious to get in"
And Mr.. Eldcrslie?''
ooh, Mr.. Elderslie,n repeated Blake.
/" He hasn't much to do with it. | am
master at the Dapplevale Calico Works"
"Mr. Elderslie owns it, | believer
"Well, yes, he owns it. But l man.
age every thing. Mr.. Elderslie reposes
the utmost confidence in my capacity,
ability, and-and responsibility. Mr..
Elderslie is a good business man. He
understands his own interest. And
now if you've any more questions to
ask
81 have none," said Annette visit
fully. Butt need this money myself
l work hard for it. learn it righteously.
L can not afford, any more than the
others among these poor laboring girls,
to pay it to your greed
"Eh?" calculated Mr.. Blake, jump
ing from his seat as if some insect had
stung him.
."And | will not pay it, calmly con-
Guided Mile. Annette.
every well-very well. Just as you
like, mademoiselle, cried the foreman,
turning red in the face. "Only if you
won't conform to the rules of the Dap
plevale Works.
'Are these the rules?'' scornfully de-
manded Annette.
"Pray consider your name crossed off
the books" went on Mr. Blake. "You
are no longer in my employ. Good
evening, Mademoiselle Whatever-you-
may-call-yourself."
And Mr.. Blake slammed down the
cover of his desk as if it were a patent
guillotine and poor Annette Duvelle's
neck were under it.
Two or three of the factory girls who
had lowered around the open door to
hear the discussion looked with awe
stricken faces at Annette as she came
ont with 81 which she had received from
the cashier in her hand.
"You've lost your place, ma 'amselle,"
whispered Jenny Purton, pale, dark
eyed little thing who supported a Grip
pied mother and two little sisters out of
her mulcted earnings.
"And he'll never let you in again."
added Mary Rice. "He's as vindictive
as possiblei"
alt matters not" said Annette. "He
is a rogue, and rogues sometimes out
general themselves.
"But you can't starve," said Jenny.
" Look here, ma 'amselle, come home
with me. It's poor place, but We'll
make you welcome till-till you can
write to your friends"
Annie turned and impulsively kissed
Jenny on her lips.
81 thank you," she said; g but do
not need your kindness. My friends are
nearer than Won Think
And Annette Duvelle went back to the
little red brick cottage, all matched with
the growth of the woodbine, where she
lodged with the wife of the man who
tended the engines in. the Dapplevale
Works.
Does he cheat You. too. of Yonr