South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-04-23
The Mill-Hand.

NHoett ralconer sat In his library,
surrounded by all the appurtenances of
weaith-he was the wcalthiest man in
Brinsley-but his attitude was listless,
his brows were drawn; sharp strug-
gle was going on between his heart and
pride.
What has come over me?' he mut.er.
Ell. Il am as infatuated as any old fool,
thinking, worrying, frctting. and for
what! a bcggar maid with a pair of
wnsome eyes-a beggar, low.born most
likely. What am thinking or-start-
ing up vehemently-'I, Gilbert Falcon
or, who could mate with the proudest in
the country. TO have fallen so low?
What would my proud mother say?
How naughty Beatrix Lenox would
snecr! I'll crush it out will I'm
no lovesick boy
But some things are easier said than
done. and this was one Of them, as Mr.
Falconer found to his cost, though she
was only an operator in one Of his mills
"a slender. dark-eyed maiden, who,
though 'beggar maid,' carried her
small head with the grace and pride of
aqueen.
lie could never forget the frs: time
he saw her. Some orders had been uis-
obeyed, but the consequences were
scarcely serious enough TO deserve tie
sharp rebuke the irate master gave /;
and, upon an attempt at defense, Mr..
Falconer laid his ri,ling-whp several
times over the mans shoulders.
GOT he shouted with an oath, land
never show your face i'm this yard a
gain !
IL was hard sentence, for the man
had Il wife and children, and the master
never broke his word or committed n
sentence.
As MIR. Falconcr turned away, still
flushed with anger. a slender figure pass
ell him, a pair Of dark eyes gazel full
into his eyes that were positively bla-
zing with anger; rapid glance ut the
unfortunate cplprit sku.king cut of the
gates, then at him, showed which way
her sympathy lay.
DO you know she said, suddenly
pausing, that that man has wife and
i've children, all dependent on what he
earns here? Surely you did not mean
what you said. The offence scarcely
deserves such severe punishment
Mr.. Falconer was fairly aghast at
such unparalleled aut,acity. Never i'll
his life had any one dared to call him
to account fer any Of his actions.
Il am not in the habit of consulting
the opinions of my employees when |
punish impertinence, lie said, sharply.
The small head went up in the air.
with gesture that would have done
credit TO Miss Lenox.
No. she answered, proudly but Mr..
Falconcr may have something to say a.
bout it when lie learns what a destitute
condition that man is in
i am Mr.. Falconer, lie answered.
Il am master Of this mill, and punish as
| please
'You-Mr. Falconcr.' Anger. sur
prise AMI contempt were pictured on
her face as plainly as on mirror
Then | have nothing moro TO say
And, with slight inclination of the
head, she passed on her way, Gilbert
noticed vaguely that her dress was Of
the humblest make.
who is she Such impertinonce
bending his brows at the recollection
that she had not asked his pardon for
tho first hasty word.
"A mill-hand with that naughty style !
Bah ! he cried, striding into his Office :;
she is not worth noticing. She NAV be
thankful | don't send her away.
For several days 1T happened that Mr.
Falconer was in his Office when the big
bell sounded release for all the tired
souls and bodies of his employ. and he
caught himself looking at slender Iig-
ure in worn dress then, meeting her
one morning coming in lie gate, was
enraged at himself for having bowed
particularly as the dark eyes were i'm
mediately averted. lie angrily asked
the manager who she wa.
Eleanor Elo. is the name she gave >
was the answer. She seems above her
position, however, and she does her
work very we'll
Mr.. Falconer almost said, Il don't
wish her here any longer : then some.
thing-an unleinable fteling-checI,ed
the words on his lips; lie had to 'dree
his fate
After awhile ho took TO coming 10 The
mill every day and occasionally walked
through the long room full of busy men
and women.
Once he stopped at Eleanor Eliors
side, and gravely discussed some fabric
with the manager, noticing abscntly tho
pretty contour of the small. bent head.
and the slender, ell-kcpt fingers.
An irresistible desire seized him TO
make her look up. Bending down. he
stretched ont bis hand, and sud Ienlv-
how it happened no one could tell
his hand was caught in tho machinery.
Ia an instant all was confusion tic
works were stopped, the wounded mem.
bcr eXtricated, but all bruised and
bleeding.
Eleanor's fingers bound up the LAGER,
eted hand in her own small handkor-
chief, the master thankinr her conrt-
eously; then he drove away in his zinc
carriage. and did not come to tho mill
for several days.
Some time after the mill operatives