McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-10-18

tradesmen bowling at the back doors
like pack of bowling wolves; you
don't know that the house is advertised
for sale for tax arrears. How should
your How should you be aware that
the very clothes we wear are not paid
for, nor the Goals that cook our dinner?
Papa smokes his cigars and talks about
the Mexican war; and mamma poses in
the great chair and dreams of embroid-
cry work and tapestry stitch; and II
am expected to learn Arabic and San
scrift, and nobody knows what else,and
ignore our wretched poverty. But 1
can't! Who couldp
Mr.. Crofton looked pityingly at the
girls sparkling eyes, and pale, excited
face.
81 am sorry to hear this" said he.
"Can nothing be doneP"
eyes," said Miss Monteagle brus-
quely, "Something can be done-and l
am doing it, in so far as l can. But
papa and mamma must not be allowed
to suspect it. am-learning trade.
"You!" he echoed. GA trade!"
s'There's a factory near by here, - she
said, calmly. "The country girls earn
little pocket money there sewing on
shirts. I am to have a machine as soon
have learned to manage it. l go
every evening while papa fancies am
at the Greek and Latin, to farmer Pei
hams whose wife teaches me the use of
the machine. I am learning house
work, too. l made the mayonnaise for
your salad to-day, and l baked the
bread. Our servant can do nothing OF
the sort. But it would kill mamma to
think that l had stopped, as she would
call it, to mental labor.''
"You are quite right" said Mr..
Crofton.
"That is what 1 wanted to know"
said Mary, hastily, because, living
here all by myself, in such strange,
unnatural atmosphere, | sometimes get
confused, and scarcely know right from
wrong"
"But they will have to know it,
when-''
"When 1 really 60 into the factory"
said Mary. eyes, 1 know that. But
until then, would fain spare them the
pang. 1 am to have a dollar day, Mrs.
Helham says, if l operate the machine
skillfully. And a dollar day will buy
mamma many little luxury, and go
toward paying the grocer and baker"
"You are noble GIRL" saidIMr.
Crofton, warmly; and in his eye, at that
Mary Monteagle was glorified
with rare beauty, as she stood there, the
fresh wind blowing her jetty curls
about, the reflection of orange sunset
the color on her cheek, and
the grave, far away sparkle of her eyes
half yelled beneath the long lashes.
And if [ could be of any assistance to
you in this task
s'You CAM said the girl, abruptly,
'syou can stay here and amuse papa so
that he shall not suspect what occupies
my time. You can divert his attention
from Sanscrit and Arabic and all these
And for the first time in his expert
ence of her, Mary Monteagle laughed
! mellow, birdike laugh.
81 WILL" said Mr.. Crofton, heartily.
And so the compact was sealed be-
,ween them.
Instead of the week he had promised
his father to spend with old Colonel
the sojourn was extended to
hree. At the end of that period he
,ravely addressed himself to the dark
eyed daughter of the house.
elbow is the trader" said he.
81 am to have machine next week."
aid Mary, with the conscious pride of
me who has conquered fate 'sand then,
,nly think of it, Mr.. Crofton, 1 shall
.arn a dollar a day!''
ssMary," said Mr.. Crofton seriously,
II have been thinking of another plan
or you. You tell me this farmers
wife has made first-class housekeeper
# you.''
81 baked nice pies yesterday!" said
Nary, exultantly; land [ have quilted
quilt and made soft soap, within the
veek!"
81 don't like the idea of your going
nto q factory" said Mr.. Crofton.
Suppose now, by way of variety, you
we're to-marry me?"
s'But you are not in love with mel"
aid Mary, opening her bright black
yes.
'sBut am,'' said Mr.. Crofton, with
,reat gravity. 1 have deliberately
made up my mind that can't be happy
Without you. And although I don't
'rofess to be rich man I believe I can
make you better allowance than six
ollars week, while at the same time
ou will not be compelled to work ten
ours day for it. That is the bust
view of the question. Now to
be more personal one. Don't you
hink, Mary, that you could love me?
Because [ love you very much in
eed!'
Ell don't know" whispered Mary.
I might try
And then she blushed charmingly.