The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1880-08-28
THE FACTORY BELLE.

$50 that is the factory belle, is itpn
said Mr.. Payson, the new foreman of
the Mellendale works. "Well, 1 must
confess that she has rather an attractive
face, with her large hazel eyes and that
profusion of red brown hair, although
her nose isn't quite Grecian, and the
lines of her mouth are just trife out of
drawing"
Humph!" said old Solomon Gilsey,
the engineer. "She's been made much
of, Kitty Kesley has, until she's Just
spoiled. And"
Here Kitty Kesley herself came saucily
up to the foreman's desk.
Mr.. Payson," said she, tossing back
the cloud of red-gold hair that hung
over her dimpled face for suppose
you are Mr.. Payscnp"
At your SERVICE" said the young
man. with commendable gravity.
My machine doesn't suit me. I
wish you would have it changed for
another"
Doesn't suit your" he repeated,
slowly.
mo, said Miss Kitty, Strengthening
out the bow of ribbon at her belt.
SIS it the custom at Mellendale to
change machines at the beck and call Of
every dissatisfied damsel?" he asked,
still without change of countenance.
"My machine is always changed
whenever ask for it," said Kitty Kes.
ley, nonchalantly.
Suppose you try and make it do"
said Mr.. Payson. 81 dare say turn of
ascrew here, or the alteration of a ten
sion there, will make it all right. John
SOC, " to the packer, bring me that list
of the boxes that are to be sent off this
morning!"
Miss Kesley stood in indignant sur
prise at.this politely cavalier treatment.
She-the spoiled beauty, the petted IA
vorite of the whole esta blishment, whose
every whim had been huEaored, whose
caprices indulged-to be told to try and
make things do!
"You will not change it?" she said,
coloring very red.
1T is quite contrary to my rules
said Mr.. Payson. "That's light, John
son. Now l will look over the list with
you"
Miss Kitty went back to her seat, in
genuine passion.
1t was Arson Paysons first day in
the Mellendale factory, and of course it
proved rather a fatiguing one.
The morning, bleak and cloudy, had
settled down into a good old fashioned
snow-storm, before the afternoon; and
when at last the throb of the engines
had ceased, the whiz of the numberless
machines was still, and the flock of
girls had disappeared one by one, Mr..
Payson locked his desk, pocketed the
keys, and also sailed forth into the
snowy twilight OF the November
night.
But, unaccustomed as he was to the
Mellendale roads and their windings,
he soon became disagreeably aware
that he had somehow missed his way.
"They told me to turn off at an old
stone MILL" he pondered, but have
seen no stone mill; nor any finger post
I do believe" standing still, and trying
to peer through the white wilderness OF
flying snowfakes, "tnat I am destined
to be a modern Babe in-the- Woods. And
the worst of it all is that there are such
a number of awkward precipices along
the edge of this woody road. where one
might walk off, in this hals-light, and
never know how he came to his end
Stay! luckily there is red light gleam-
ing through the darkness. 1t must come
from some farmhouse window, and am
saved from my doom!"
But as Arson Payson knocked at the
door OF the little one. story dwelling, he
felt that be was very weary, with hands
and feet numbed from the biting blast,
and garments wet through by the damp
and penetrating snow.
The opening of the door revealed
cheerful little " Interior" which would
have done no discl edit to the pencil of a
Dutch artist "a blaze of pine logs on the
hearth, candle burning in its brass
sconce, red-and-blue ragcarpet on the
floor, round cherry table set out for