The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-04-26
MILE. ANNETTE.


all clothed in bue-grecn cedars,. with torrent
laundering down deep gorge and falling In pillows
OF foam; river rejecting the azure OF the sky, and
knot Of houses, with church spire AT one end and
hcke Of factory chmneys at the other, whose black
smoke wrote eyer,chaneing hieroglyphics against
the brilliancy OF the sky. This was Dappevalc.
And In the rosy sunset of this blossomy June day the
girls were all pouring ont OF the broad doorway,
while Gerald Blake, the foreman, sat behind his
desk, pen behind his ear and his small, beady-
black eyes drawn back, as 1t were in the shelter of
he OF snagsy gys and
pay for one weeks work. for this saturday night.
one by one they filed out, with freful, discontinued
rallied desk.
She was slight and tall. with large, yeye,y .blne
eyes, a compile xon as delicately grained and trans
parent as rose-colored wax, aud an abundance OF
glossy hair OF 30 dark brown that the casual OBJ
server would have pronounced It black: and there
was something In the way the blue ribbon at her
throat was tied. and the manner In which the simple
details OF her dress were arranged, that bespoke her
Of foreign birth
."well, Mile. Annette, said Mr.. Blake, "anh how
do you like factory lifec"
at y not dsagreeabc,' she answered, slight ac-
cent clnginp TO her tones like fragrance to iower
as she extended her hand for the money the foreman
| was counting out.
"You have given me but 81 shc said. " 1t was
Mr; Blake shrugged his shoulders d!sagreeaby.
ne g az mna an are vo @ss
moiselle? Eight--ofcourse; but we deducttwo for
IA fee! For what?' Annette demanded, with
flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.
"For getting you the situation mademolselle to
he sure,S said MIR. Blake in superior sort of way;
folks naturally expect TO pay something for the
al did not, flashed out Annette Duvelle.
"Oh-well-all right. Because you know, you
alnt Obliged to stay unless you choose,
"You can't expect to stay in the works. said Mr..
Blake, hitching up his collar.
con" said Mr.. Blake, "thats a percentage the
girls ns al nay 2y;'', j., Ana, ,o,,,.
MIR. Blake laughed.
swell, II helps out my salary. or course, Won
ksepus % paes
| there's so many anxious to get them'
"And Mr.. Eiderse?"
much to do with it. / am master at the Dappevale
"Mr Elderslie owns 1t, believer
swell, yes, he owns II, but manage everything.
Mr.. Elderse reposes the utmost confidence in my
capaclty, ability, neutrality-suspicious. Mr. Fl
own interest. And now If you've any more questions
to ask
81 have none,' said Annette, wistfully "But-I
need this money myself. work hard for it. earn
rrEh.e ;s cannot afford any more than the
seat as II some insect had stung him.
"And / will not pay it, calmly concluded Mile.
Every well-very well. Just as you like, made
mosee" criedthe foreman. turning red in the face.
mony II You won't conform to the rules of the
"Are these the rules ~ scornfully demanded An
nette.
"lray consider your name crossed of the books
went on Mr. Blake. "You are no longer in my en-
poy. Good evening, Mile. Whatever ou-may call
And Mr. Blake slammed down the cover of his
desk as II 1t were patent gnilotine and poor An
nette Duvee's neck were under 1t.
Two or three OF the factory girls, who had lowered
around the open door to hear the discussion, looked
with awe-stricken faces at Annette as she came
out with 81, which she had received from the cash
Ter. in her hand
You've lost your place, ma'amselle, whispered
Jenny P%r,on pale darSeyed tte thing who
OF her slender earnings.
, And he'll never st you in again" added Mary
1t matters not" said Annette "He IS rogue,
and rogues sometimes out general themselves,
ma'amselle; come home with me. Its poor place,
but we'll make you welcome tll-tl you can write
to your friends'
her lips.
III thank you.n she said. "but / do not need your
Kindness. My friends are nearer than you think"
And Annette Duvelle went back to the little red
brick cottage. all matched with the growth of the
woodblne, where she lodged with me wife OF The
Works. Wv ''''S' WV s''''' '''' '''''''"''
"Does he cheat you, too, Of your money? she
asked, when Simon Petteng came home, smoke
stained AMI grimy, to eat his supper.
lone sixth have to pay him. said Simon. with
ones around his board Yves, miss. he's yli il
but the world Is full of such. And find 1t pretty
hard world to get on with. Mr.. Elderslie never
comes here, or maybe things would be bit differ
ent. Mr.. Elderse lives abroad-in Paris they saw"
she is In this country now" said Annette. sim
tend to write to him.
"'Twon't do no good. miss
eyes 1t will" said Annette, quietly
The petals of the June roses had fallen, pink
carpet all along the edge of the woods, and the Dap
pleyale Works wore their holiday gulse even down
for Mr.. Elderslic and his bride were to visit the
works on their wedding tour.
tits a pity Mile. Annette went away so soon,"
said Simon to his assistant, "'cause they say the
have spoken M for herself"
Mr.. Gerard Blake, ip his best broadcloth suit, and
mustache newly dyed, stood smiling in the broad
doorway as the carriage drove up to the entrance,
and Mr. Edersle, handsome, blonde-browcd man,
sprang ont and assisted young lady, in dove
colored travelling suit, to alight,
"Bla6e. how are you 2" he said, with the careless
ness of conscious superiority. "Annette, my love,
this ia Blake, my foreman"
smile. Annette!'
And Mr.. Gerard Blake found himself crnging be-
fore the slight French girl whom he had turned from
the factory door month before.
EderslIe, authortatlvely. "My wife tells me some
strange stories about the way things are managed
here. It became 80 notorious that the runiors
| reached her even at Blythesdae Springs, and she
chose to come aud see for herself. Annette, my
darling, the best wedding Gift make to these
poor working girls y new foreman Blake you
/" But, sir"
"Not another word,n cried Mr.. Eldersie, with a
with an uncomfortable consciousness of Annette's
scornful blue eyes following him.
EderBlie turned to his wife.
"You were right. my love- said he. "The mans
| face Is sufficient evidence against him.
Aud new reign began for poor Jenny Purton and
the working girls, as well as Simon Pettengill.
And Annette never regretted her weeks appren-
tceship In the Dapplevale Calico Works.
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