Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-05-28
z M'LLE.IANNETTE.

anu dis smdll, Oeauy -Oiack eyes uTaWn
back, as it were, in the shelter of
precipice Of shaggy eyebrows. One
by one the girls stopped and received
their pay for one weeks work, for this
was Saturday night. One by one they
filed out, with fretful, discontented
faces, until the lastlone passed in front
of the high-railed desk. She was
slight and tall, with large, velvety-
blue eyes, complexion as delicately
grained and transparent as rose-col-
ored wax, and an abundance of glossy
hair of so dark brown that the casual
observer 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, sand how do you like factory
life?"
at is not disagreeable," she
answered, a slight accent clinging to
her tones, like fragrance to flower,
as she extended her hand for the
money the foreman was counting out.
"You have given but $4," she said.
"It was to be So by the contract" ="
Mr.. Blake shrugged his shoulders
dissgreeably.
aHumphp he grunted, ''you amt
much accustomed to our way of doing
things, are you, mademoiselle? Eight
of course; but we deduct two for
GA fee! For what?" Annette
demanded, with flushed cheeks and
sparkling eyes.
"For getting you the situation,
mademoiselle, to be sure" said Mr..
Blake, in a superior sort of way.
"Such places don't grow on every
bush. And folks naturally expect to
pay something for the privilege
~ did not" flashed out Annette
Duvelle.
"Oh-well-all right. Because,
you know, you amt obliged to stay
unless you choose"
"Do you mean," hesitated Annette,
"that if do not pay you this money
"You can't expect to stay in the
works." said Mr. Blake, hitchlng up
his collar
!s'But the other So"
"Oh," said Mr.. Blake, athat's a per.
centage the girls all pay"
"But what is it for?'
MIR. Blake laughed.
"Well, it helps out my salary. OF
course, you know, the girls all expec.
to pay something every week for keep.
ing their situations in place where
there's so many anxious to get them .
"6h AndM NJ hrE EaasFsie,s EGa9ssSiSlls repeated Blake.
"He hasn't to do with it. am mas
ter at the Dapplevale calico works"
aMr. Elderslie owns it, believer
"Well, yes, he owns it; but man
age everything. Mr. Elderslie reposes
the utmost confidence in my capacity,
ability and-and-responsibility. Mr..
Elderslie is a good business man. He
understands his own interest. And
: now if you've any more questions to
ask"
"I have none" said Annette, wist.
fully. "But-I need this money my.
self. l work hard for it. I earn il
righteously. 1 can not afford, any
more than the other girls, to pay it tc
your greed"
"Eh?" calculated Mr.. Blake, jump
ing from his seat as if some insect had
stung him.
"And I will not pay It," calmly con
cluded Mile. Annette.
avery well--very well. Just as you
like, mademoiselle,' cried the fore
man, turning red in the face. "Only
if you wont conform to the rales o
the Dapplevale works."
care these the rules?" scornfully
demanded Annette.
"Pray consider your name crossee
off the book" went on Mr.. Blake
"You are no longer in my employ
Good evening, Mademoiselle. What
ever-you- all-yourself."
And Mr.. Blake slammed down thu
cover of his desk as if it we're paten
guillotine and poor Annette Duvelle'
neck was under it.
Two or three of the factory girls
who had lowered around the opel
door to hear the discussion, LOOKED
with awe-stricken faces at Annette q
she came out with 81, which she hac
received from the cashier, in be-
hand.
you've lost ysur place, ma'mselle,
whispered Jenny Barton, a pale, dark
eyed little thing, who supported
crippled mother and two little sister
out of her slender earnings.
"And he'll never let you in again,
added Mary Rice. "He'sas vindictiv
as possible" l."
aIt matters not, said Annette
"He is a rogue, and rogues sometime
out-general themselves ,
"But you can't starve, said Jenny