The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-10-09

NUMBER s..
THE FACTORY FOREMAN.
1t was Just such an American village
as you see in pictures. A background of
superb bold mountain, all clothed in
blue-green cedals, with a torrent thun-
dering down deep gorge and falling in
billows of foam; river rejecting the
azure of 'he sky, and knot Of houses,
with church spire at one enQ and a
thicket of factory chimneys at the other,
whose black smoke wrote cver-chan ging
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 it were, in the shell
ter Of 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 bv one
they filed out with fIettul, 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 is 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.
swell, Mile. Annette" said Mr..
Blake, land how do you like factory
life?"
"1t 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, ~
she said. 1T was to be eight dollars by
the contract
Mr.. Blake shrugged his shoulders disa-
greeably.
"Humph!" he grunted; "you amt
much accustomed to our way of doing
things, are you, madamoiselle? 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. madam.
oiselle, to be sure," said Mr.. Blake, in q
superior sort of way "Such places don't
grow on every bush. And folks natural.
ly expect to pay something for the prlvil.
ege."
II did mott" flashed out Annette Du.
vellc.
| "Oh-well- light. Because, YOU
know you amt obliged to stay unless
you choose"
"Do you mean,' hesitatcd Annette
''that II do Lot pay you this money
"Iou can't expect to stay in the works,
said Mr. Blake, h;tching up his collar.
"But the otIle1$2!''
"Oh,' said Mr.. Blake, THAT'S the per
ccntagc the girls all pay"
"But what is it fory''
Mr.. Blake laughed.
swell, it helps out my salary. o.
course you k .ow, the girls all expect te
pay something every week, for keeping
their situations, in place where there:
so many anxious to get in
Sand Mr.. Elderslic?"
"Oh, Mr.. Elderslie," repeated Blake
"He hasn't much to do with it. am
master at the Dapplevale Calico Works.
"Mr. Elderslie owns it, bclieve:''
! swell, yes. he owns it, But manage
everything. Mr.. Eldcrslic rcposes til:
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
~ have none,' said Annette, wisttully
"But--1 need the money myself. Iwork
hard for it. earn it righteously.
connot afford any more than the Others
among these poor laboring girls, to pay
it to your greed"
"Eh?" 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 well-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 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 even
ing, Madcmoiselle Whatever you may
call. yourself"
And MIR. Blake slammed down the GOV
er of his desk as if it were a 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 te hear
the discussion, looked with awc-stricken
faces at Annette as she came out with
four dollars which she had received from
the cashier in her hand.
"You've lost your place, ma'amselle, -
whispered Jenny Purton, a 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, u
added Mary Rice. "He's as vindictive
as possible!'
"1t matters not" said Annette. "He
is 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"
Annett turned and impulsivcly kissed
Jenny on her lips.
81 thank you," she said, "but I do not
need your kindness. My friends are
nearer than you Think
| And Annett Duvelie 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 Darplevale works
"Does he cheat you, too Of your mon.
ey?" She asked, when Simon PcttengilI
came home, smoke~staincd and grimy, to
eat his supper.