The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-06-09
ONLY A FACTORY GIRL.
BY BERNARD HERBERT.


"Mrs. Horace Archer! Ha, ha! Not
her; he may play with fire, but he's wise
enough not to burn his fingersY'
'Hush! she is here Don't look at her,
don't speak to her, girls!'
The object of the above venomous re-
marks came slowly up the sunny, slushy
road, her pale face bent upon her breast,
over which a thread bear shawl was
tightly drawn. She was very pretty this
factory Della Gray, with her deep,
dark, earnest eyes.
She came straight up the road, her
poorly-shod feet keeping time to the deaf
ening clang of the noon-bell which called
the employees of Archer & Sons mills
back from their hurried dinners.
As the girls foot touched the lowest
step upon which her enemies were con-
gregated, like flock of ill-omened birds,
she raised her eyes, ond as quickly low
cred them with a slight flush for those
cold, stony glances stuug her sensitive
soul to the quick.
On, up the well-worn, familiar stairs
she went, cast her shawl and hat aside
and took her accustomed place at her
loom.
Crash, bang, clatter.
This afternoons work had begun in
earnest and Della was soon lost to her
surroundings, lost to everything until
a hand touched her arm.
She glanced up and repressed shud-
der as her eyes rested upon the bold,
handsome face of Jim Burns, one of the
mill-hands.
"Will you go walking with me after
supper, Delia?" he asked.
The troubled look deepened upon the
girls sweet face.
''Please don't ask me, JIM" Della re-
piled: "Nettie is sick and 1 must stay
with her."
Jim Burns laughed viciously.
eyes, and be in in case your friend,
Horace Archer, calls to see you," he
said. ooh, I understand, Della, but
mark my words, yoau rue the day that
that young snob ever crossed your path.
What are you that he should pay you at
tention? Do you think he'd marry you?
Don't be such fool, for let me tell you
here that Horace Archer is no fool He
isn't going to ask the likes of you, q fac
tory girl, to live with his proud mothers
and sisters! Take my advice and send
him about his business, if you have any
respect for yourself"
Two crimson spots burned in Della 8
pale cheeks, and hot words struggled to
her lips for utterance, only to be
drowned by the crash of the machinery,
and besides. it would have been of no
use to speak, for Burns had gone back
TO his post.
When six o'clock came that evening,
Della fingered behind her departing
mates upon some pretense of oiling her
loom; she felt that she was not strong
enough to undergo another encounter
with Jim Burns, and by delaying she
hoped he would go home without her.
At last she could tarry no longer, and
putting on her hat and shawl, she glided
down the dark and silent staircase, and
was about to hurry out into the outside
gloom when the figure of q young man
came out of the offices and joined
her.
"May see you home, Mrs. Gray?'
and respectful voice.
Delia's heart quickened its beating
she knew without looking up that it
was Horace Archer, the junior partner
of the wealthy firm, and the man whom
she hopelessly loved.
"As you please" she murmured.
Upon reaching the humble home
which sheltered her little invalid sister
and herself, Della said good night alb
ruptly and bounded into the house.
Nettie was sitting up in bed radiant
with delight over splendid wax doll
and box of sweetmeats.
"Why, Nettiew exclaimed Della.
"where did you get all this?"
"Guess!
"Oh, / cannot"
"Well, then," laughed Nettie, ''Mr.
Horace Archer called here this after
noon, and the beautiful lady who came
with him brought me theseW
"Who was the lady, Nettie ?"
Ellis wife"
The room was in semi-gloom and
Nettie did not see the awful change
which swept over that dear sisters face.
His wife!
And, oh, heaven, how she had loved
him all these months!
What night it was which poor Della
passed and how unfit she was to 60 to
work ON the morrow!
But she went, and this day no one mo-
Tested her-not even Jim Burns.
But as she went home that night,
Horace Archer joined her again and beg
ced leave 10 be her escort.
Her blood boiled at the insult and she
was scarcely able to falter:
ar - - 1,v,no o1ono Mr. rchop