The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-04-23


bound with sudden, grateful Joy by
telling her he had seen her leave the
shop" rstht after night, but would
not Join her for fear of giving annoy
ance by exposing her to the remarks
of her companions.
After this, however, she often
found him waiting for her at some
point further from the establishment
and always so respectful and courte
Gus that she was glad for his protec-
ton in her long walk.
But he 6as going to marry an
helress on the 9th, only a week
away. so he had but trifed with her
after all.
Poor little Doliie, crouching
among the shawls and cloaks, felt as
if all sunshine was gone cut of her
life forever, as if her cup of humilia
ton and agony was full to overflow
ing.
But the dinner hour was over, the
girls coming in or sauntering from
resting places in the work room, and
the hum of work commenced again,
as it must, whatever aching hearts
or weary hands crave rest.
Dollie worked with the rest, her
feelings so numbed by the sudden
blow that she scarcely heard Mays
lamentations over a sudden food of
order work that wonld keep many
of them in the room till midnight
We'll have all day tomorrow if
we can finish these dresses tonight, "
said one OF the small squad of girls
told off for the extra work. Miss
Brown says so. But these must be
ready to deliver in the morning"
Talk, talk, talk Whir, whir,
whir! Dollie folded and basted,
working with rapid mechanical pre-
cision, hearing the noises of voices
and machines, feeling the dull,
heavy beating of her own heart and
the throbs of pain in her weary
head, but speaking no words of
repining, excusing her pallid face by
the plea of headache.
1t was after ii o'clock when the
last stitch was set in the hurried
work and the girls ran down the
long flight of stairs to plod home
through a drilling rain, following
the late snOwstorm.
As Dollie passed down the stair
case she saw in the counting-house
her recreant lover, busy over some
account books.
But for the heavy news she had
heard that morning she would have
felt sure that this sudden spasm of
Industry was to furnish an excuse
for escorting her home at the unus
ualIv late hour.
But, If so, Dolly felt it but an sd
ded insult to his di honorable con-
duct, and she hurried on, hoping he
had not heard her step.
She had gone some few streets
from the shop, when passing a !
she slipped upon a Teacher
Gus piece of ice and twisted her an
kle.
The sudden pain made her faint
for moment and she sat down up
on the stonework supporting the
railing to recover herself. Beside
her. not stones throw away, a
dark, narrow alleyway ran along the
high brick wall of the church yard. |
and the girls heart sank with chill |
Of terror as she heard a mans voice
in the alley say:
Didn't you hear a step, Bill?'
"A woman. She's turned off
He ANT come yet,
was the answer.
Hes late to-night," said the first
voice, in a gruff undertone.
You are sure he's taking the dia
monds home ?"
Sure as death. | was Ats
when he gave the order. Send
them to my shop at nine o'clock,
says he, and | will take them hone
with me- And he gave the address
of Bainbridge & Son."
But are you sure he will pas.
here?"
"Of course he will. He lives in
the next street He'll come
Suppose he shows fght?"
You hold him. and III soon stop
his fight"
Every word fell on Dollie's ears
clear and distinct in the silence of
the night.
They would rob him, these dread
ful men, if nobody warned him.
They would spring upon him as he
passed. and strike him down before
he knew there was danger.
He must not come along, unpre-
pared False lover, false friend, as
she felt he was, she could not go on
her way and leave him to death.
When she stood up the pain of
her ankle was almost uncomfortable
but she clung to the railing and so
limped along one street. The others
seemed interminable.
Often she crawled through the
wet slnsh of the streets: often on one
foot, hopping painfully along, till
the shop was reached at last. and the
light in the counting room still
hurped
The eide door for the working
girls was still unfasteped. and Dollie !
entered there, reaching the counting
house soaking wet, white and trem-
bling, to confront Edgar Bainbridge |
and his father.
Unheeding their exclamation of
dismay and surprise, she told her
story with white lips but a steady |
voice.
Waiting for me2" cried Edgar
THE scoundrels y
you bought diamonds at IS
TO-DAY ?" asked the father.
"A perure for Miss Wilson, cir. |
wish to present them, with your
permission, on Thursday. All, look
at that poor girl"
For, overcame by pain, fatigue
and mental torture, poor Dollie had
staggered toward the door and faint
al ,poo tho floor