Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-11-07
Only q Factory Girl.
BY BERNARD HERBERT.


"Here she comes! just look at her |!
You'd think she was Mrs. Horace Ar
cher already, and Queen of Millville!"
sMrs. Horace Archer Ha! ha! Not
her; he may play with fire, but he's
wise enough not to burn his fingers !"
"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.bare shawl was
tightly drawn. She was very pretty,
this factory girl, Della Gray, with her
lilly white complexion, her black hair,
and her deep dark, earnest eyes.
She came straight up the road, her
poorly shod feet keeping time to the
deafening clang of the noon-bell which
called the employees of Archer & Sons
mill 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, and as quickly low
cred them with slight flush, for those
cold, stony glances stung her sensitive
soul to the quick.
On, up the well.worn, familiar stairs
6uc Gcut, CesSt uOI 6u0W1 AuU u4t dSlu6
and took her accustomed place at her
loom.
Crash, bang, clatter.
The afternoons work had begun in
earnest, and Della was soon lost to her
surroundings, lost to everything, until q
hand touched her arm.
"Will you go walking with me after
supper, Della 2" he asked.
The troubled look deepened upon the
girls sweet face.
"Piease don't ask me, Jim," Della re
piled; "Nettie is sick and I must stay
with her."
Jim Burns laughed viciously.
Eyes, and be in, in case your friend,
Horace Archer, came to see you" he
said. "Oh, understand, Della, but
mark my words, you'll rue the day that
that young snob ever crossed your path.
What are you, that he should pay you
attention? Do you think he'd marry
you? Don't be such a fool, for let me
tell you here that Horace Archer is no
fool. He isn't going to ask the likes of
you, factory girl, to live with his
proud mother and sisters. Take my adj
vice, and send him about his business,
ify you have any respect for yourself"
Two crimson spots burned on Della
pale cheeks, and hot words struggled to
her lips for utterance, only to be drown.
ed by the crash of 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 mates upon
some pretense Of oiling her loom; she
felt she was not strong enough to under
60 another encounter with Jim Burns,
and by delaying she hoped he would 20
home without her.
AT last she could tarry no longer,
and putting on her hat and shawl, she
glided down the dark and silent stair
case, and was about to hurry into the
outside gloom, when the figure of a
young man came out of the office and
Joined her.
"May I see you home, Miss Gray Pr
said 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 she 30
hopelessly loved.
"As you please" she murmured.
Upon reaching the humble home
which sheltered her little invalid sister
and herself, Della said good night abb
ruptly and bounded into the house.
Nettie was sitting up in bed radiant
with delight over wax doll and box
of sweetmeats.
'Why, Nettie =" exclaimed Della,
"Guess y"
"Oh, I cannot"
"Well, then, )" laughed Nettie, "Mr.
Horace Archer came here this after
noon, and the beautiful lady who came
with him brought me these !"
"Who was the lady 2"
"His 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 a 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
molested her-not even Jim Burns.
But as she went home that night,
Horace Archer joined her again and
begged leave to be her escort.
Her blood boiled at the insult, and
she was scarcely able to falter:
II can 60 home alone, Mr.. Archer :"
Perhaps he did not hear her at all
events they were just at the loneliest
part of the road when he turned to her
and said, in voice that trembled with
emotion
miss Gray-Delia-how you repel
me! Can it be that you have not guess.
ed my secret ?"
She turned pair ofeyes flashing with
Indignation upon him.
~ fail TO understand you, "she replied.
"Delia, l love you !"
anger, and stood still.
"How dare you insult me ?" she
breathed.
"Insult you Della, why I would kill
the man who dared offer you an insult"
'Then how can you talk to me of
love, when you-what would your wife
my wife !"
He started back bewildered at first,
though almost instantly the absurdity
of the situation struck him with such
force that he burst into peal of ringing
laughter.
''Who told you I was married ?" he
cried.
my sister Nettie."
How did the child know that ?"
she said that your wife called with
you yesterday afternoon and brought
her"
.That was my brothers. wife. Nettie
is blessed somewhat with a powerful
imagination. $50, Della" and he took
her willing hands in his. "you see I
have no wife, and never shall have one
unless-unless you consent to be the
One."
But Della did not say yes that night,
she scarcely knew what to say, in fact
she did not realize her good fortune un-
til the clergy man pronounced thesacred