The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-09-11

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 ar-
ranged that bespoke her of foreign
birth
"Woll, Mile, Annette" said Mr..
Blake, "and how do You like factory
lfe?"
"It is not disagrecable," she answers
ed. slight accent clinging to her tones,
like fragrance to q flower, as she exN
tended her hand for the money the
foreman was counting out.
"You have given me but four dol
lars" she said, st wa. to be eight dol-
lars by the contract"
Mr.. Blake shrugged his shoulders
disagreeably.
"Humph," he grunted, lyon amt
much accustomed to our way of doing
things, are you, mademoisclle? Eight
of course; but we deduct two for a
fee"
"a fee! For what" Annette demand
ed, with flushed cheek and sparkling
eyes.
"For getting you the situation, mad
emoisel!e, to be sure" said Mr.. Blake
in superior sort of way. "Such
places don't grow on every bush. And
folks naturally expect to pay something
for the privilege"
II did not.' flushed out Annette
Duvele.
"Oh-weil-all right. Because. you
know, you amt abliged to stay unless
you choose"
"Do you mean" hesitated Annette,
chat if l do not pay you this mon
ey-"
"You can't expect to stay in the
works." and Mr. Blake, hitching up
his collar.
"But the other two dollars?'
ooh" said Mr.. Blake, "that's a per-
centage the girls all pay"
"But what is it for?''
Mr. Blake laughed.
"Well, it helps ont my salary. OF
course, you know, the girls all expect to
pay something every week for keeping
their situations in place where there
ls so many anxious to get in."
"And Mr.. Elderslie!'
ooh, Mr.. Elderslie, D." repeated Blake.
"He hasn't much to do with it. l am
master at the Dapplevale Calico Works. :"
"Mr Ederslie owns it, I believe"
"Well, yes, be owns it. But I man
age everything. Mr.. EIderslie reposes
the utmost confidence in my capacity,
ability. and-and-responsibilty Mr.
EIderslie is good business man. He
understands his own enterest. And
now if you've any more questions to
| ask
"I have none" said Annette wistfnlly.
"But-I need this money myself. ]
worked hard for it. / earned it right
eonsly. I cannot afford any more than
the others among these poor laboring
girls, TO pay it to your greed -
"Eh, ejecn'ated Mr. Blake, jumping
from his seat as if some insect had
stung him.
"And will not pay it, calmly con-
clu4ed Nile. Annette.
VERY well-very well. Just as yon
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 rs if it were 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 ave-
stricken fnces at Annette as she came
ont with four dollars which she had re-
ceived from the cashier in her hand.
You've lost your place, mademois-
eile," whispered Jennie Purton, pale,
dark>eyed little thing who supported
crippled mother and two little sisters
out of her mulcted earnings.
"And he'll never let you in again"
added Mary Rice. "He's as vindictlve
as possibIe!'
'Tt matters not" said Annette.
"Ho's rogue, and rogues sometimes
out-geueral themselves
"But you cant starve," said Jennie.
'Look here, mademoiselle. come home
with me- It's a poor place. but we'll
make you welcome till-till you can
write to your friends"
Annette turned and impulsively KISS
ed Jennie on her lips.
II thank you," she said; "but do
not need your kindness. My friends
are nearer than you think"
And Annette Duvelle went back to
the little red brick cottage, all thatch
ed with the growth of the woodbine
where she lodged with the wife of the
man who tended the engine in the Dap
plevale Works.
"Does he cheat you, too, of your
money!" she asked, when Simon Pet
tengill came home, smoke stained and
grlmy, to eat his supper.
Zone sixth I have to pay to HIM,
SAID Simon with an involuntary groan
as he looked at the five little ones
o.o,,l L., l1,,1 SsVoo Nice hos