The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-01-27
THE FACTORY BELLE.

$50 that is the factory belle, IS 1t!
said Mr.. Payson. the new foreman OF
the Mellendale Works. "Well, must
confess that she has rather an attractive
face. with her large hazel eyes and that
profusion of red brown hair, although
her nose is not quite Grecian, and then,
too. the lines of her mouth are just a
trife out of drawing"
"Humph.'' said old Solomon Gilsey,
the engineer. s'She's been made so
much Of, Kitty Kelsey has, until she's
Just spoiled. And"
But here Kitty Kelsey herself came
saucily up to the forenan's desk.
'.Mr. Payson,' said she. tossing back
the cloud of red-gold hair that hung
over her dimpled face, ''for l suppose
You are Mr.. Payson.n
"At your SERVICE" said the young
man with commendable gravity.
sMy machine does not suit me at all,
and wish you would change it for an
other"
Doesn't suit you?" he repeated,
quite slowly.
mo, sir" replied Miss Kitty, as she
straighteued out the bow of ribbon at
her belt.
''ls it the custom to change machines
at the beck and call of every dissatisfied
damsel?' he asked, still without a
change OF countenance.
"My machine is always changed
whenever l ask for it," said Kitty Rel
sey, nonchalantly.
suppose you try and make it do"
SAID MIR. Payson. 81 dare say the turn
Of screw here, or the alteration of a
tension there will make it all right.
johnson" to the packer, "bring me
that list of the boxes that are to be sent
OF this morning."
Miss Kelsey stood in indignant sur
prise at this politely-cavalier treatment.
she-the spoiled beauty, the petted
iavorite of the whole establishment:
whose every whim had been humored,
whose caprices INDUCED, to be told to
try to make things do.
You will not change it?' said she.
coloring very red.
.,it is quite contrary to my rules"
said Mr.. Payson, firmly. That's right.
Johnson. Now l will look over the list
with you.'
MSS Kitty went back to her seat in a
genuine passion.
l.,,N was Anson Payson's first day in
Me Mellendale factory, aud of course it
proved rather fatiguing one.
Inc morning, bleak and cloudy, had
seesed down into a good, old-fashioned
SNOW storm before afternoon, and when
~ iast the throb of the engines had
cseased, the whiz of the numberless ma
snlhes was still, and the flock of GIRLS
aaa disappeared one by one; Mr.. Paw
soh locked his desk, pocketed the KEYS
I su;l; aiso sallled forth into the snowy
'H1llght OF the November night.
u' pat uhaccustomed as he was to the
sao @enenaaie roads and their windings. he
S iogn became disagreeably aware that he
mao missed his way.
1hey told me to turn off at an old
ssone mill, he pondered. "but | have
I'ea a. no stone mill; nor any fnger-post.
t,r; 10 believe" standing still and
of fag 10 peer through the wilderness
t;a nFing snowflakes, 'that | am des-
leo 10 be a modern Babe in the
,hs soooS' And the worst of it all is that
n.s ,aeie are such a number of awkward
r,sssiplces rass along the edge of this woody
sbs1, f ;. Maere one might walk Oft In this
lignt to h;n and never know how he came
SsS. H. a.s end. Stay! luckily there is a red
Img IN. gIeam'ng through the darkness.
w;nJ"" ND. ooilie from some farm house
Sanu Suow' and l am saved from NV
aao out as Anson Payson Knocked at the
felt ti ,ta. ol 'he little one-s,ory dwelling he
sns ,s.s .nat ne was very weary. with hands
sas saa ieet numbed by the bitinc blast
and garments garments wet through by the damp
A1r penetrating snow.
ehaass ms opening of the door revealed a
beuou bo',u little interior. which would
n,oe oeen no discredit to the pencil of
the eu heartI ar'lst-a blaze of pine logs on
seonoa m ~sar.h, a candle burning in its brass
the foo, red and blue rag carpet upon
for M sua uuor, round cherry table set out
eos;lSp pper' , and huge gray cat purring
upon the hearthstone.
door ,a,i to hlni white haired man opened the
chesrsno " :. MN and welcomed him after a
The o,a ISme in, stranger, come in.n said
yoa,ra 1a gentleman. "Well. l declare
On - got wet, amt YOU? Step riobt
,eem ~ .ae hre. Here's seat. [ don't