Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-06-19
A FACTORY GIRL.

1t was little studio, quite at the toI
of the house. Upon the easel that occu
pied the post of honor in the middle OF
the room was piece of canvas glowing
with soft tints of a spring landscape, and
Frank Seymour stood before it. palette il
hand, bis large eyes dreamy with a sort
of inspsration.
In comfortable easy chair by the dool
sat plump, rosy little female, in a lace
cap with plenty of narrow white satin
ribbon fiuttering from it, and silver
gray poplin dress-Mrs. Seymour, in fact
our artists mother, who had just come VI
from the very basement, "to see how
Frank was getting along"
Here, mother" said the young man
with an enthusiastic sparkle in his eye
'just see the way the sunset light touch
es the topmost branches of the old apple
trees. l like the brown subdued gold al
that tint; it somehow reminds me OF
Grace Tellers hair"
Mrs. Seymour moved little uneasily
in her chair.
Its very pretty, but it strikes me-
Frank, you are lately discovering a good
many similitudes between Miss Teller
and your pictures"
Frank laughed good humoredly.
We'll, mother, she is pretty"
~Yes, L don't deny that she is pretty
enough"
Now, mother, what's the meaning OF
that ambiguous tone?" demanded the
young artist, pleasantly. What have
you discovered about Miss Teller that
isn't charming and womanly and lovea-
ble9"
'Frank, do you know who she is?"
"Yes, | know that she is remal kaby
pretty girl, with voice that sounds ex-
actly like the soft low rivulet where |
used to play when was boy"
Nonsense" said Mrs. Seymour sharp
"Well. 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"
Frank! Franz. are you crazy?"
''Not that | know or" said Mr.. Sew
mour. composedly, squeezing a little
deep blue on his palette from dainty tin
tube and mixing it thoughtfully.
We know So little about her." thought
Mrs. seymour. To be sure she is. visiting
Mary Elton. and Mary belongs to very
good family, if she does live in half a
house and takes in fine embroidery for a
living. But then she has no style rs
compared with Cynthia Parker, and Gym
thia always did fancy our Frank. Then
moreover, she has five or six thousand
dollars of her own. But, dear me! d
young man in love is the most head
strong creature alive~
Mrs. Seymour mused aw bile longer. and
then put ON her mouse-coiored silk bon
net and gray shawl and set ont on a tou
of investigation.
''I1l find out about Miss Teller, or III
know the reason Why" thought the in
detatigable widow.
Miss Grace Teller was at home help>
ing Mary Elton on an elaborate piece of
embroidery. The room where the two
girls sat was very plain. carpeted with
the cheapest ingram, and curtained with
very ordinary piuk and white chintz, yet
it looked snug and CHEEKY, for the fat
blackbird was chirping in the window,
and a stand of mignonette and velvet
blossoned pansies gave delicate refine
ment to the detail of every day life.
Mary Elton was pale, thin, and not at
all pretty, though there was tremulous
sweetness about her mouth that seemed
to whisper that she might have been
very different under different circum-
stances. Grace Teller was lively blonde,
with large blue eyes, rOse-leaf skin, and
hair whose luminous gold fell over her
forehead like an aureola.
AS Mrs. Seymour entered deeper
shade of pink stole over Grace's beauti.
full cheeks. but otherwise she was calm
anv self-possessed, and readily parried
the old lady's interrogatories.
"Very warm this morning." said the