The Virginia star., 1882-12-23

ly, something can be done, and am
doing it, as far as can"
'tBut papa and mamma must not be
allowed to suspect it.
81 am learning trade"
"You!' he echoed, ga trader
"There's factory near here" she
said calmly.
''The country girls earn little pocket
money there, sewing"
II am to have machine as soon as /
have learned to manage it"
II go every evening while papa fan
cies I am at the Greek and Latin, to
Farmer Pelham's, whose wife teaches
me the use of the machine.
81 am learning housework, too"
"I made the mayonnaise for your
salad to-day, and / baked the bread"
"Our servant can do nothing of the
sort"
"But it would kill mamma to think
that stopped. as she wound call it, to
menial labor"
"You are quite right" said Mr. Crof-
| ton.
''That is what wanted to know"
said Mary.
"Because living here all by myself,
i'll such a strange, unnatural atmosphere,
/ sometimes get confused, aud scarcely
know right from wrong"
''But they will have to know it, when
"When I really go into the factory, J"
said Mary.
eyes, I know that"
"But until then, I would spare them
the pang."
"I am to have five shillings a day,
Mrs. Pelham says, if I work tkt ma
chine skklfullyt and that WI buy Irna
many little laxury, and go far towards
paying the grocer and baker"
"You are a noble GIRL" said Mr..
Crofton warmly, and in his eye, at that
mement, Mary Monteagle was glorified
with rare beauty, as she stood there,
the fresh wind blowing her ietty curls
about, the reflection of the orange sum
set deepening the color on her cheek,
and the grave, far-away sparkle of her
eyes half-veiled beneath the long
lashes, "and if I could be of any as
sistance to you in this task
''You can, said the girl abruptly.
"You can stay here and amuse papa,
so that he shall not suspect what occu-
pies my time"
"You can divert his attention from
Sanscript and Arabic, and all these
mysteries.
And, for the first time in his expe-
rience of her, Mary Monteagle laughed
"a mellow, bird-like laugh.
ST WILL" said Mr.. Crofton heartily.
And so the compact was sealed be-
tween them.
Instead of the week he had promised
his father to spend with Colonel Mon
teagle his stay was extended to three.
At the end of that period he gravely
addressed himself to the dark-eyed
daughter of the house.
''How is the trade?" said he.
s'I am to have a machine next week,
said Mary, with the conscious pride OF
one who has conquered fate; "and then,
only think of it; Mr.. Crofton, / shall
earn five shillings day!"
"Mary," said Mr.. Crofton seriously,
81 have been thinking of another plan
for YOU"
"You tell me that this farmers wife
has made first-class housekeeper O
your"
81 baked mince pies yesterday" sale
Mary exultantly; land have quilted {
quilt within the week.
'sI don't like the idea of your goina
into factory" said MIR. Crofton.
Suppose. now. by way of variety
you were to marry me?"
"But you are not in love with mel
said Mary, opening her bright, blacl
eyes.
"But I am. said Mr.. Crofton, witt
great gravity.
II have deliberately made up m.
mind that cannot be happy withon
YOU"
, .'And although / don't profess to b
rich man. I believe can make you
better allowance than thirty shillings
week, while at the same time you vii
not be compelled to work ten hours
, day for it.
"That is the business-like view Of th
question.
"Now to the more persoal one,