Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-06-17

M ..Hred, as she took it up and noticed
til. ingram, M" stamped on the
cilNe pc.
h.,;. as she read the signature at the
boi' Of the note, she gave utterance
TO - exclamation Of surprise, and
with wondering eyes, she perused its
contents, which were brief.
Can have a few moments CONVEX
satIon with you this EVENING"" ran the
note. 81 have been endeavorlng to
speak to you during the last few days,
but find 1t necessary to request quiet
interview. If you are disengaged
leave word with Mrs. johnson.
'Yours with respect,
"IENRY MASON, JR.n
Nellie read the words over two or
three times, AID her wonderment in
creased.
NV hat can this wealthy mill.owner
have to say to me:" she murmurod
And he desires an interview here"
She did not know this man only as
the son of friend to ho:.. her Young
uncle Richard was greatly attached
had never seen him before she came to
his Office in search of employment
then why should she grant this odd
request for an interview.
No, she decided that she would not
do so.
Mrs. Johnson" she said, as that
lady passed her room on her way down
stairs, Just before supper, ssshould
young MIR. Mason, of the factory. call
here this evening, you may tell him
that was not feeling well and retired
at once to rest.
Mrs. Johnson gave her new boarder
sharp look, nodded and went on.
Mr.. Mason did call and was, of
course, sent away.
Inc next evening as Nellie left the
factory, she saw Mr.. Mason standing
oy the ONCE door. smoking cigar.
bowed, respectfully.
Nellie merely inclined her head and
drawing her shawl about her should
ers, walked rapidly in the direction of
her home. She had scarcely got out
OF sight of the immense building and
its outpOuring crowd, when quick
step sounded on the hard road behind
her, and, turning, she saw Mr.. Mason.
"Good evening, Miss Ruthven,' he
said, politely.
Nellie returned his salutation coldly.
Forgive me, if intrude upon YOU"
he continued, "but you seem to avoid
me, and am forced to put myself in
your way"
You need not do so, sir, am sure,
returned the wondering girl. "What-
ever you have to say to me can be said
in your Office"
"You are wrong, Miss Ruthven;
tnere are TOO many about, and desire
yourself"
Nellie made no answer. She walked
faster and looked straight before her,
II have been thinking since YOU
came into our employment that YOU
seem terribly out Of place in factory
among those who have all their lives
worked for living and grown used to
it. You are not all fitted for the work
IN which you are engaged and desire
to say chat you will not, l am sure, be
able to stand it for any length of time,
l don't care to know under what cir.
cumstances you are here, alone and
unprotected, for presume, if he sees
TT, your friend, Mr.. Martin, will in
future let me into the secret, but I do
desire to see you change your occupa.
ton, or at once give it up"
HIS manner was gentlemanly and his
words fill of sympathy:
Mr.: Mason" said Nellie. hating
suddenly, you presume considerably
~A~A wv AAsCACSt JOuTSelI Ill
the affairs of one of your factory
hands-and she poor, almost friend
less girl. l amnot SO ignorant as YOU
suppose, and can tell when am inn
posed upon. Pray allow me to pass,
and do not attempt to again speak to
me, unless it be on business"
The young man drew aside at once.
"Miss Ruthven," he said, as cour-
teously as before, "you fail to COM
prehend my meaning-entirely fail. I
am not q coward, to insult a woman.
l have other employment for YOU, and
if you will allow me to call at your
residence, l will explain the matter to
your satisfaction. Please allow me-"
'Nellie had gone ahead few PAGES
and left him standing in the road, but
she had halted almost Immediately,
struck with the idea that she might
have been too hasty in condemning her
young employer.
.'you may call. Perhaps you do mean
asked you"
With that she went on.
She had scarcely finished her tea
when Mrs. johnson announced that
Mr.. Henry Mason wished to see her in
the parlor.
$50 she is acquainted with him,
ehT' muttered the landlady under her
breath. "Well, that's nothing to her
credit. If he amt vicious, he's too
extravagant to know the use of
The little parlor, with its overloaded
mantel and rusty hair-cloth furniture
gaping at every pore, was not very in
viting to man of taste, but Mr.. Ma
son seemed to entirely overlook these
minor defects and concentrate his at.
tention upon the lady boarder, who
entered the room with half-pleasant,
half-displeased look.
81 am ready, Mr.. Mason, to hear
what you have to say" she remarked,
s "Ah. tia. is right. Thank you.
have already said, to give YOU better
employment and q hi CHER rate Of wages.
My father leaves all these matters to
me-in fact, have control of the money
of the firm-and he has authorized me
to do as best judge in engaging
lady to take charge of the vari-
GUS little matters in connection with
the Office. There is everything agree
able about the work, and nothing dis
agreeable. You could not do better
than accept it,"
Nellie tapped the floor with her foot
and fumbled with . button on her
dress.
She was thinking what q fine look.
ing man Mr.. Mason was, and how
pleasant.
His manner was beginning to force
her to the conclusion that she was act
ing very rude, and she felt somewhat
ashamed.
"Mr. Mason" she said, rather en-
barrassed, 81 trust you will not think
! have acted rudely, but I am SO dis
turbed that can scarcely find it in my
nature to be either friendly or courte-
Gus with any one. thank you for
your generous offer, though you may
doubt my sincerity, since it comes so
late. ! will accept the position-that
is, will try it, and hope to give entire
satisfaction"
The young mans face beamed with
pleasure.