River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-09
THE FACTORY FOREMAN.

bluo groom cedais, with tnlrent t1un-
dering down deep gorge and falling in
pillows of foam; a river rejecting the
azure of 'he sky, and a knot of houses,
with a church spire at one end and a
thicket of factory chimneys at the other,
whose black smoke wrote ever-changing
hleroglyphics 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 be-
hind his car and his small, beady-black
eyes drawn back, as ii were, in the shei-
ter OF a precipice of shaggy eyebrows.
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 frettul, disconnected
faces, until the last one passed in front
of the high-railed desk.
She was slight and tall, with large,
velvety blue eyes, a complexion as deli
cately 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, ''and how do you like factory
life? ="
at is not disagreeable,'' she answered,
slight accent clinging to her tones like
fragrance to a flower, as she extended her
hand tor the money the foreman was
counting out.
'You have given me but four dollars, y
she said. at was to be eight dollars by
the contract.
Mr.. Blake shrugged his shoulders disa-
greeably.
"Humphl'' he grunted; "you amt
much accustomed to our way OF doing
things, are you, madamoiselle9 Eight
of course; but we deduct two for a
fee"
"a feet For what?" Annette demand
ed, with flushed cheeks and sparkling
eyes.
For getting you the situation madam
oiselle, to be sure" said Mr. Blake, in a
superior sort Of way ''Such places don't
grow on every bush. And folks natural
ly expect to pay something for the prlvil-
ege."
.sI did nutr' flashed out Annette Du-
velle.
"Oh-well-all light. Because, you
know you amt obliged to stay unless
you choose"
"Do you mean,' hesitated Annette,
''that if | do not pay you this money"
'You can't expect to stay in the works, F"
said Mr.. Blake, hitching up his collar.
''But the other$22"
"Oh," said Mr.. Blake, That's the per-
ccntage the girls all pay"
''But what is it for9"
Mr.. Blake laughed
"Well, it helps out my salary. OF
course you low, the girls all expect to
pay something every week, for keeping
their situations, in place where there's
so many anxious to get in
"And Mr.. Elderslie2"
'sOh, Mr.. Elderslie," 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 manage
everything. Mr.. Elderslie reposes the
utmost confidence in my capacity, ability
and and responsibility. Mr.. Elderslie
is good business man. He understands
his own interest. And now If you've any
more questions to ask -"
~ have none,;' said Annette, wistfully.
"But-I need the money myself. work
hard for it. | earn it righteously.
connot afford any more than the others
among these poor laboring girls, to pay
it to your greed"
"Eh2" calculated Mr.. Blake, jumping
from his seat as if some insect had stung
him.
"And will not pay it, calmly con-
cluded Mile. Annette.
every we'll very well. Just as you
ike, mademoiselle, cried the foreman,
turning red in the face. "Only if you
won't conform to the rules OF the Dapple
vale works
''Are these the ruless' scornfully de
manded Annette.
pray consider your name crossed off
the books, went on Mr.. Blake. you
are no longer in my employ. Good even
ing, Mademoiselle Whatever-yo u-may-
cali .yourself."
And Mr.. Blake slammed down the GOV
er Of his desk as if it were patent gull
lotinc and poor Annette Duveile'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 out with
four dollars which she had received from
the cashier in her hand.
"Yol've lost your place, ma'amselle,"
Whispered Jenny Purton, a pale, dark
eyed little thing who supported Grip
pied mother and two little sisters out Of
her nlulcted earnings.
"And he'll never let you in again.
added Mary Rice. Hes as vindictive
as possiblel"
lit matters not, said Annette. "He
is a rogue, and rogues sometimes out
general themselves"
''But you can't starye," 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"
Annett turned and impulsiyely kissed
Jenny on her lips.
L ilidDh NOOs sic sdius Out w ASt
need your kindness. Ny friends are
nearer than you think.
And Annett 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 tend
ed the engines in the Dapplevale works.
docs he cheat you, too of your mon
ey?' She asked, when Simon Pettengill
came home, smoke-stained and grimy, TO
eat his supper.
"One-sixth / have to pay to him, said
Simon with an involuntarily groan, as he
looked at the five little ones around his
board, Eyes, miss, he's william; but
the world Is full Of such. And find it
a pretty hard world TO get on with. Mr..
Elderslie never comes here or maybe
things would be a bit different. Mr..
Elderslie lives abroad; in Paris, they
say"
'sHe is in this country now, said An
nette. II intend to write to him.
s.Tson't do no good, mss
Yes it will, said Annette, quietly.
/. =
The petals Of the June roses had fallen,