The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1881-08-11
- q le ct II aIe .
The Factory Girl.

earet Wilder gave little sigh Of re.
lief as she folded her apron aud
donned her hat, preparatory for
starting for home.
A modest little home IL was. two
rooms, where her sister Ida, q deli-
cate girl OF sixteen, was waiting her
return Ida was cripple A fall
several years before had injured her
hip, 30 that now she moved about
with the aid of crutch.
These two girls were alone in the
world, aud lovel each other devot-
'edly. Margrot, the eldef, now twen.
ty, was a tall, serious, darkeyed girl,
while Ida was tiny aud fair, like
their dead m)ther. Mar garot visa
thread winder in the mill, and Ida
IN ,de wax flowers. aud knitted pret-
ty fancy articles for tho shop. when
she was strong enough. But ther
were many days when tho poor
child lay upon the lounge in par
oxysms Of pain, unable to do any
thing. Those were dreary days yet
in spite of her suffering, Ida always
had smile for Margaret when she
came in Mt night.
To night tho rent was due; 30
Margaret appeared at the agents
office to pay it, Two pounds She
counted the balance rs she left the
Office. She had just two pounds left
aud there were 50 many things to
get with the money. She sighed as
the possibility of years of such life
lay before her. Working and work.
ing day after day for the barest ne.
cessities
She walked on in sort of brown
study, trying mentally to make the
two ponds do the duty of five, when
she was started by the sound Of
cherry voice behind her.
"Really, Hiss Margaret. You move
like n watch. For three minutes |
have been trying to overts!;e y,u."
A faint color tinsei Margaret's
rather pale cheek, as she greeted the
overseer Of the factory.
He was large man. with q kind
honorable looking face. The
sort OF a man that one would feel like
trusting forever.
He had a handsome white fores
head, honest brown eyes and thick
brown hair which, when confused or
troubled, he had u fashion of rump.
ling up until it stood out like a por,
cupines qnills.
Tonight he carried q basket on
his arm.
ii have some fruit here" ho said.
"which was brought in from the
country to day. wonder if your
sister would not enjoy some of it,"
"0h, thank you Ida is gr eat
lover OF fruit"
$50 is my little Charlie aud
these will make him open his eyes"
Margaret looked up inquiringly.
"Have I never told you of Char.
lie?" he said, with a proud smile. |
ooh, well, ] must bring him to the
shop some day, aud you will soc if
he is not boy to gladden. his faith
er's heart.
Margaret forced smile, but she
was conscious of a sudden keen pain.
Stephen Adams had been a very
pleasant friend to her, aud she had
thought at times that his manner
implied something warmer than
friendship. She had never thought
of him asa married man, and this
matter Of course mention OF child
his child-struck her like q cruel
blow, for in her bewilderment she
took il for granted that the mother
was living, II she had deceived her.
self by any foolish notion that he
was in love with her, this was just
punishment, she thought. Stephen
Adams was q noble and honorable |
man, who was sorry for her poor,
plain life and the little attention
which he had offered to her and to
Ida sprang from the desire of a kind |
heart to brighten their dull routine.
"Ithink yoy must love children,
he was saying, "and Charlie is dear
little fellow"
"Yes, am very fond Of children"
murmured poor Margaret, with that |
set, unnatural smile which Stephen
Adams noticed with feeling of dis.
appointment for he had particular
ly admired Margaret's frank and un-
30