The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-06-14
THE FACTORY GIRL.


In a comfortable easy chair by the
door sat a plump, rosy little female, in
lace cap with plenty of narrow white
satin ribbon fluttering from 1t, and a
silver gray poplin dress-Mrs- Seymour,
in fact, our artists mother, who had
Just come up from the very basement,
Ito see how Frank was getting along"
''Here, mother" said the young man,
with an enthusiastic sparkle in his eye,
'sjust see the way that sunset light
touches the topmost branches of the old
apple trees. like the brown subdued
gold at that tint; it somehow reminds
me of Grtce Teller's halr.n
Mrs. Seymour moved little uneasilv
in her chair,
sits very pretty, but it strikes me,
Frank, you are discovering a good
many simihtudes between Miss Teller
and your pictures"
Frank laughed good humoredly.
swell, mother, she is pretty"
eyes, l don't deny that she's pretty
enough"
SHOW, mother. what's the meaning
of that ambiguous toner" demanded
the young artist pleasantly. What have
you discovered about Miss Teller that
isn't charming and womanly and love-
able2"
Frank, do you know who she is2'
eyes, 1 know that she is a remark
ably pretty girl. with voice that sounds
exactly like the low soft rivulet where
/ used to play when l was boy.n
Nonsense" said Mrs. Seymour,
sharply.
swell, then, if you are not satisfied
with my description of her as she is,
would you like to know what she will
be?''
Mrs. Seymour looked puzzled.
"Mother, think one day she will be
my wifel"
''Frankl Frank are you crazypn
"Not that know of, f" said Mr.. Sey-
mour composedly squeezing little deep
blue ON his palate from dainty tin
tube and mixing 1t thoughtfully.
1--WE know SO little about her,
thought Mrs. Seymour. ITO be sure
she is visiting Mary Elton, and Mary
belongs to very good family, if she
does live in half house and takes in
fine embroidery for living. But then
she has no style as compared with Gym
thia Parker. and Cynthia always did
fancy our Frank. Then, moreover, she
has five or six thousand dollars of her
own. But, dear mel a Young man in
love IS the most headstrOng creature
alivel''
Mrs. Seymour unused while longer,
and then put on her mouse colored silk
bonnet and gray shawl and set out on
tour OF investigation.
"l'll find out about Miss Teller, or ]
will know the reason Why" thought
the interchangeable widow.
Miss CIR ce Teller Twas at home, y
helping Mary Elton on an elaborate
piece of embroidery. The room where
the two girls sat was very plain, car.
peted with the cheapest ingram, and
curtained with very ordinary pink and
white chintz. yet it looked snug and
CHEEKY, for the fat blackbird was chirp.
ing in the window, and stand of mig
nonette and velvet blOssOmed pansies
gave delicate refinement to the detail
of every day life.
Mary Elton Was pale, thin and not al
all pretty, though there was tremu
lous sweetness about her mouth that
seemed to whisper that she might have
been very different under different cir
cumstances. Grace Teller was a lively
blonde with large blue eyes, rose lea
skin, and hair whose luminous gold fel
over her forehead like an aureola.
AS Mrs. Seymour entered a deeper
shade of pink stole over Grace's beautl
full cheeks, but otherwise she was calm
and self possessed and readily parrieC
the old lads interrOgatOrieS.
'Very warm this morning." said thu
old lady tanning herself. ''Do they
have warm weather where you COM
from, Miss Teller"
II believe it's very sultry in Factory
ville," said Grace, cOmposedly taking
another needleful of white silk.
"Factoryville, is that your uativ
placer Perhaps, then. you know MI
Parker-Cynthia Parker's father-wh
is superintendent of the great Gallo
mills there2"
Every WE'LL have seen him."
''Are you acquainted with Cynthia2
mo, l believe Miss Parker spend
most OF her time in this city,"
That's very true" said Mrs. Sey
mour, eagerly.
'CynLhla often says there's no societ
worth having in Factoryvllle, only tn
girls that work in the factory, and Cyl
thia Is very genteel. But, excuse nj
curiosity, Miss Teller, how did you b.
come acquainted with Mr. Parker an
not his daughter2"
Grace cOlOred,
business brought me in contact fir
quently with the gentleman of who
you speak, but I never happened
meet Miss Parker"
Mrs. Seymour gave a little start
her chair, she was beginning to s.
through the mystery.
"Perhaps you have something TO {
with the factory"
81 have" said Grace, with calm di
nifty.
"a factory girlY" said Mrs. Seymou
growing red and white. :"
us there any disgrace in the title
quietly asked Grace, although her OF
cheeks were dYeing crimson.
disgrace? Oh, nO-certainly N
there's no harm III earning one's livi
in an honest way" returned Mrs. 81
mour, aDSently, Inc TACT was she v
thinking In her inmost mind, what v
Frank say2 and anticipating the flag
triumph she was about to wave o.
him.
II do not hesitate to confess'' W,
on Grace looking Mrs. Seymour full
the eye, ''that to the calico factor
owe my daily bread"
Every laudable, Pm sure,n said
old lady. growing little uneasy un
the blue clear gaze, only there are st
and grddatiUns in | society, you knt
and-and am little surprised to
you so intimate with Miss Elton, VIII
family is"
Mary came over to Grace's side |
stopped to kiss her cheek.
MY earest friend, my most pTeci
companion" she muImured, Il sho
be quite lost without her, Mrs. S
mour."
The old lady took her leave. stit