The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-10-17
KENNETH SHIELDS.

iiiucto, Hcr august Indignation KNEW no
bounds when the mandatory of Mr..
Shields was erected just outside her gar
den, on the ground adjoining.
The village was village no longer, but
town, spreading its borders over the hills
to the East and West, to the North and
South; and down in the valley was the
people. Its factories and mills were being
erected in what had once been the suburbs
of a village.
My Aunt, Hester Stuart, and her daugh-
tiers, Geraldine and Clotilde, were ladies of
fashion, and all that the word implies they
were. The greatest ''catch'' of the season,
the newest opera, the latest pftm0 donna,
and the styles We're the sum total of their
conversation.
1t was conceded by all the household
that Miss Geraldine was the lady of the
house. Even her mamma called her Miss
Geraldine; and it was high misdemeanor
to omit the important prefix.
Miss Geraldine always had the first and
best of everything; and Clotilde was
obliged to submit to her, sometimes in a
very humiliating manner.
|, the poor dependent orphan niece, was
chided by one and upbraided by another, I'M
til, between them all, my lines were
hard ones. thought if my aunt possessed
such a thing as a conscience, surely it
would say to her, ''Sleep no more
When Mr.. Shields was building, and my
aunt was unacquainted with his personal
history, this sooty mandatory with its
smoky chimneys, was an eye-sore to her
fastidious taste.
1T ought to be declared a nuisance, this
grimy old factory and those greasy work
men! What a desirable view from our Sit
ting room window. 1t is outrageous
Thus would my aunt comment upon
Mr. Shield workshop.
But very soon it began to be generally
known that Mr.. Shields was bachelor
Then she began to cultivate his acquaint-
ance and to court his favor. He was rich;
he would be such a capital husband for
Miss Geraldine.
Siege was laid Immediately, and if cum
ming diplomacy was to be depended upon,
surely the citadel must surrender.
Mr.. Shields was reported to be perfectly
impervious to the arts and wiles spread
out for him by mammas and daughters
who were OH the lookout so to speak.
1t was generally supposed that he had been
through ''deep waters"
The gossips said that he had, when
journeyman and poor, loved lady whose
father would not consent to the match I'M
til he could produce stipulated sum. He
worked hard and began to amass fortune;
but the girl was tickle, and before he was
ready had married another. This embitter-
ed him. Now he was welded to his work.
Business was his idol; money his wife and
children. He scarcely gave second glance
to any woman.
My aunt and Miss Geraldine began to lay
their plans, and the distant, reserved Mr..
Shields was often invited to balls and din
IClS. <AlhicoO oiy oipSiiVcAA SOe' SNe'iN'
hear them laughing and exchanging merry
sallies from the window.
As the days went by often noticed him
looking intently at me as | performed my
daily work. Sometimes, when | was dust
ing the sitting room, | would chance to
look toward the mill and catch his glance.
/ often wondered what he thought of me,
if he thought of me at all. Perhaps he was
only meditating, lost in his speculations.
and his eyes happened to rest on me. l
tortured my brain to find solution to
this enigma, asking myself if l was vain
enough to suppose that Kenneth Shields
was thinking of me- This indifferent man
was only thinking of his gains and losses.
He had no possible interest in girl who
washed dishes and busted rooms i'll her
aunt's fine establishment.
Shall tell you how his appearance
struck me, and how deeply became inter
ested in him in those days? | cannot de-
scribe him quite as he appeared to me;
can tell you only of his sunny blonde hair
and his deep gray eyes, of the well-built
figure, standing perhaps five feet seven.
cannot tell you of a beautiful Apollo, tall
and beyond all men fair, but | can say in
pure trutlfulness that this calm, almost
grave face fascinated and drew me on with
powerful hold which other fairer faces
had no power to do. | felt my poor heart
fluttering when his eyes rested on me. L
crept away to chide myself with renewed
vigor in the privacy of my own apartment.
Thus | had grown familiar with him,
and his daily appearance began to watch
for. and when he failed to come | often
went to my room, and cried. out of sheer
loneliness His presence was solace; al
though he had never spoken to me, yet
was sad and disconsolate when he was alb
sent
One evening my aunt and cousins were
going out. | was assisting them, when
CHANGED to drop Miss Geraldine's ivory fan
and break the tiny mirror.
She tapped me smartly ON the ear, and
in bitter anger said: 'You awkward little
fool. Now my fan is in nice condition!
If YOU cannot be more careful hereafter,
YOU had better let things alone?"