The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1880-04-28
MISCELLANY.
THE MIDLAND.

be was the wealthiest man ia Brinsley-but
his attitude was lstless, his brows were drawn,
a sharp struggle was going on between his
heart aud pride.
What has come over me pn be muttered.
am as infatuated as any old fool, thinking,
worrying and fretting, and for what ? A beg
gar maid with pair of winsome eyes-a
| oeggar, low-born most likely. What am
thinking of"--starting up vehemently-"I
Gilbert Falconer, 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 sneer. I'll
crush it QUIT will ! I'm no love- sick 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 on
orator in one of his mills--a slender. dark
eyed maiden, who, though a beggar maid, ,"
carried her small head with the grace and
pride of queen.
lie could never forget the first time he saw
her Some orders had been tiisobeyed, but
consequences were scarcely serious enough to
deserve the sharp rebuke the irate master
gave and, upon an attempt at defense, Mr..
Falconer laid his riding-whip several times
over the mans shoulders.
Go 20 he shouted, with an oath, " and
never show your face in this yard again %
1t was hard sentence, for the man had
wife and children, and the master never broke
his word or committed sentence.
AS Mr. Falconer turned away, still flushed
with anger, slender figure passed him, pair
of dark eyes gazed full into his--eyes that
were positively blazing with anger a rapid
glance at the unfortunate culprit skulking out
of the gate, then at him, showed which way
her sympathy lay. W
Do you know" she cried, suddenly paus-
ing, that man has a wife and five children,
all dependent on what he earns here Sure
ly you did not mean what you said. The Of
Tense scarcely deserved such severe punish
ment."
Mr.. Falconer was fairly agllast at such un-
paralleled audacity. Never in his life had any
one dared to call him to account for auy Of
his actions.
am not in the habit of consulting the
opinions of my employees when punish i'm
pertinence, I" he said sharply.
The small head went up into the air with a
gesture that would have done credit to Miss
Lenox.
No. she answered. proudly "but Mr..
Falcomer may have something to say about
1t when he learns what destitute condition
that man is in.s
am Mr.. Falconer," he answered. IT
am master Of this mill and punish as |
please"
You-Mr. Falconer." Anger, surprise
and contempt we're pictured ON her face as
plainly as on mirror. Then have moth
ing more to say" And, with a slight incl
nation of the head, she passed on her way,
Gilbert noting vaguely that her dress was of
the humblest make.
Who was she ! Such inpcrtinence bend
ing his brows at the recollection that she had
not asked his pardon for her first hasty word.
A mill-hand with that naughty style =
Bah !! /" he cried, striding into his Office 'tshe
is not worth noticing. She may be thankful
| don't send her away"
For several days it happened that Mr.. Fal-
coner was in his Office when the big bell
sounded release for all the tired souls and bod
les in his employ, and he caught himself look
ing for slender figure in worn dress then,
meeting her one morning coming in the gate,
was enraged at himself for having bowed,
particularly as the dark eyes were Immediate
ly averted. He angrily asked the manager
who she was
Eleanor Eliot 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, don't wish her
here any longer !" then something unde-
Unable feeling checked the words on his lips
be had to " dree his weird"
After awhile he took to coming to the mill
every day, and occasionally walked through
the long rooms full of busy men and women.
Once he stopped at Eleanor Eliots side,
and gravely discussed some fabric with the
manager, noticing absently the pretty contour
of the small, bent head, and the slender, we'll
kept fingers.
An irresistible desire seized him TO make
her look up. Bending down, he stretched
out his hand, and suddenly--how it happened
no one could tell--his hand was caught in the
machinery. In an instant-al was confusion
in an instant the works were stopped, the
wounded member was extricated, but all
bruised and bleeding.
Eleanor's fingers bound up the lacsrated
hand in her own small handkerchief, the mas
ter thanking her courtcously ;qthen he drove
away in his fine carriage, and did not come to
the mill for several days.
Some time after the mill operatives had a
half holiday. Mr. Falconer, riding slowly
through the woods near the house, noticed
the fiutter Of woman's dress, rode closer,
and saw the outline of wamans figure then
galloping to the stables, left his horse, and
walked rapidly in the direction of the light
dress
Nor was be mistaken. Under the shade of
a widespread tree, her hat off, her lap full Of
early wild flowers, the sunlight falling
through the leaves on her bonny brown hair,
sat Eleanor Eliot A small boy, about two
years old, lay with his head In her lap, laugh
ing and throwing bis legs about promiseus,
IA 4 4 l.