The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-10-30

SiOulu your ITO" SllOulu you Ue 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 embroidery work and ta-
pestry stitch; and II ain expected to
learn Arabic and Sanscrift, and nobody
KNOWS What else, anu ignore our
wretched poverty. But can'tl Who
could2
Mr.. Crofton looked pityingly at the
glrl's sparkling eyes, and pale, excited
face.
III am sorry to hear this" said he.
Gan nothing be done?"
Yes said Miss Monteagle brus-
qucly, 'Something can be done-and |
am doing it, in 50 far as | can. But
papa and mamma must not be allowed
to suspect it. l am-learning Il
tradel''
"Youl' he echoed GA tradc!n
"There's a factory near by here" "
she said. calmly. "rhe country girls
earn little pocket money there sewing
on shirts. | am TO have u machine as
soon as l have learned to manage it. |
go every evening while papa fancies |
am at the Greek and Latin. to farmer
Pelham's whose wife teaches me the
use Of the machine. | am learning
house work, too. | made the mlyon-
naise for your salad today, and baked
The bread. Our servant can do moth
ing OF the sort. But it would kill
mamma to think that | had stopped !,
as she would call it, to mental labor"
You are quite right" said Mr..
Crofton.
That is what wanted to know"
said Mary, hastily. because, living
here all by myself, in such a strange,
unnatural atmosphere, | sometimes get
confused, and scarcely know right
from wrong"
"But they will have to know it.,
when-''
'tWhen l really go into the factory"
said Mary. Eyes, know that. But
until then, | would fain spare them
the pang, L am to have dollar Il day,
Mrs. lelllam says, il operate the
machine skilfully. And a dollar Il day
Will buy mamma many Il little luxury,
and go toward paying the grocer alId
baker"
"You are noble girl" said Mr..
Crofton, warmly; and in his eye, at
that moment, Mary Montcagle was
gloriiied with rare beauty, as she stood
there, the fresh wind blowing her ietty
curlS about, the reflection of orange
sunset deepening the color on her
cheek, and the grave, far away sparkle
of her eyes half veilcd beneath the long
lashes. And if [ could be of any as.
sistance to you in this task-''
"You cam" said the girl, abruptly,
"you can stay here and amuse para so
that he shall not suspect what occupies
my time. You can divert his attention
from Sanscrit and Arabic and all these
mysteries.
And for the first time in his expert
ence or her, Mary Montcagle laughed
Il mellow, birdlike laugh.
II WILL" said Mr. Croiton, heartily.
And so the compact was sealed be-
tween them.
Instead of Il week he had promised
his father to sltnu with old Col,
Momteag!e, the sojomrm was extended to
three.
At the end of that period, he gravely
addressed himself to the dark-eyetl
daughter Of the house.
no" IS Tho tradeI' SAID he.
~ am to have Il machine next w, elk, -
said Mary, with the conscious pride of
one who has conquered fate; "and then.
only think Of it, Mr.. Crofton, [ shall
earn dollar Il dayl' =.
"Mary," said Mr.. Crofton seriously,
III have been thinking of anoIher plan
foT yoU. Yo" tell me this farmers
wife has made Il first class housekceper
Of YOU"
II baked nice pies yesterday!' said
Mary, eXultanLly; land | have quilted
a quilt and made soft soap, within the
week."
81 don't like the idea Of your going
into factory" said Mfr. Cr0fton.
"Suppose now, by way of variety, you
were to---marry me?"
''But you are not in love with mcp'
said Mary, opening her bright black
eyes.
"But am" said Mr.. Crofton, with
great gravity. have deliberately
made up my mind that can't be happy
without you. And although | don't
profess to be rich man | believe | can
make you IL better allowance than six
dollars II week, while at the same time
Joi W III lOU w Colill'Cll 10 NOIk IeIl
hours day for it. That is the business
like view Of the question. Now to the
more personal one. Don't you think,
Mary, that you could love me? Because
love you very much mdeedl'
IL don't know" whispered Mary.
81 might try"
And then she bldshcd cfarmingly.
SO COLONEL Monteaglc's daughter
went to the fair .Floridlan plantation
Oh the shores Of the river ST. John, and
astonished every one with her thorough
knowledge Of housekeeping in all its
details. And the two old people, with
their burden Of insolvency and care
lifted off their lives, dwell quietly on
in the ancient tower-like house, and
talk to everybody who crosses theil
path Of 1.-THE excellent marriage which
my daughter Mary has contracted"
"A thorough Scholar" says Colonel
Monteagle, with dignity. "a m,lsi.
clan. Iinguist, thorough Hebrew
student, and a proficient in Latin and
Greek. | myself was her instructor,
1t is not singular that girl of such
intellectual power should marry well.'
But Colonel Monteagle, honest man
never dreamed that it was a sewing
machine and soft soap, the mayonnaise
dressing, and the vehement struggle tt
get free from debt, which conquered
Mr.. Crofton's heart. They are plenty