West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-10-11
DORAS ROMANCE.

seem small nonor TO the uninittoted
but my work was intellectual aud verS
comprehensive.
How secured my place I need not
relate. 1t was after hard and long
nght Tor 1t, which L began at 10 years.
ill then had been ward of char
ny, wearing in my baby days the blue
check aproa OF the Foundlings' Home.
1 was educated at the expense of the
church, and when l first tried INV small
strength against the world it was as
copy holder in great publishing house
was able TO earn $15 per week-after
seven years. am little of n pessimist
aud my life has not been given over TO
melancholy, but to work. L gave ten
hours OF each day 10 my task. That ab-
sorbed my energy, broke my spirit and
VIII and left me tired and depressed. /
climbed five flights Of stairs to my work
IN The morning, taking my way through
rooms full OF human beings struggling
ior daily bread against greater odds
than |, and who even envied me.
Five years Of this life will render the
hopeful woman strong minded and cyn /.
leal. She VIII need the unlovely strength
she develops in city that harbors and
gives subs stence TO 30, 900 bache. ors.
Forty thousand strong men, who smoke
and cat, sleep and pursue their solitary
lives, spending yearly means enough to
keep up homes. And where every morn
ing 10000 women tramp hurriedly
through our streets terrible army. each
with her face set toward some store. o .fice
or workshop. These women do not seek
health nor strength nor womanlness-
they must lose these better clements
They will not win wages enough to keen
them through chance sickness nor certain
Ola age. NOT one in n thousand does
that. They will not he made better
mentally or morally, by cease'ess toll.
They will only clothe and feed them
sell es, that they may come on the NOR
row and again, till their faces arc
pinched and bloodless and the grace of
yonth has left them; till they arc not fit
for wives aud mothers, for they are old
and sad, aud each of the 40. 600 6achelors
wants wife whose temper is sunny and
sweet and who does not know the world
as well as these workingwomen do.
There was time in my life when 7
tried the nun.like life of a Young
Woman's Home, home reared and nm,
held by good women for those who. like
me, were homeless, and oh no soul could
have been more deso!atc than mine
within its walls. l ate and drank and
slept and went my daily round, made
more wretched at the sight of nv
struggling sisters who were not so well
equipped for the battle of life as /. and
then fed from the 'home" into the
Chicago boarding house. / found one
on Michigan avenue, kent by Mrs. Nc
Gillicuddy. My home life was at least
independent. Mrs. McGillicuddy's heart
was honest and kind, her little parlors
were tidy, her table bore wholesome
fare. There was only her daughter.
Josie, who owned the piano, and Jack.
the McGillicuddy son and heir. who
troubled or annoyed me, and from tho
son and daughter aud piano / conld
always retreat 10 my room. 1t was new
20 me to take holiday, but one mornin
i slept Till long after the whistles had
ceased 10 blow. could not have
rcache my proof room even at eight. 50
wandered out lazily into the June sun.
over the city and toward the north side
reached the bridge at State street and
stepped upon it as il swung to give
passage to painting little steamboat.
Iherc was o1ly one person on the bridge,
gentleman. lie stood quite near me az
we swung slowly out over the river. He
might have becn 3j or so. lie was
broad shonldcred and iolly.lockino aud
little sun n-brOwned. lie looked nj me
earnestly, aud I noticed that he hal
keen, honest, hazel eyes. But. ., my
amazement, be pronounced my name and
held out his hand.
II am Wallaro Adam. he explained
''you were n schoolmaie Of nv sister Ida
at Westheld- ] met you there. was
sure J conld not be mistaken" "
hat was ten years ago" stan
meTcd feeling my years suddenly rise
You are not much changed, Miss
huoier-you are very pale and
thin but have always remembered
you"
Inc bridge swung slowly round. re.
leasing us, bit my new found friend did
not leave me. We walked logIy homo
tslkinR Of those We hal known. of Tda
Adams. who was dead. OF each other
and Mr. Adams told me De had inst
come from Oregon. "FOF the Convention
-pcfhars ! shall STAY a while aftor if.
lie LEFT mo with permission 70 call
that evening ard chat began a new life
Tor me. iie called. and we talked
WnHei ana ihons 90 my surprise, Wallace
Adams asked me o. marry BIN
Women who sic in high places in s5ciotg
viii fbudder 20 my boid1o and want III
delicacy, at ST.. Adamss vuigartv. ~
the disregard az ai orthodox ruiea of
courtship nut loos od back uoon fve
lost and unhappy years forward to
lifetime Of blind gr1pior after money
that sosnchow clipped away from ihe
hands that so hardly won it from tie
world. Aai there was hope and cheer
for me in looking into the mlu'r d. I'll
cyes / had neither father. mother. nor
friends, and though bad never known
e. home would o. s0 dear to me-
hosiiaiod and half promisel
But q n not Ioso clut.on II asked
for time, a litlie longer acaGainfanrr
little longer at my pg g. 7 was like a slave
that has grown 90 love che c.aaklag I'll
his chains "If in Few urrkt more
can feel that ! an doing right 7 wIl De-
your wife
That was our lc,rotbal foF the hair
promise was accepted NJ Adams took
my hands In his and looked si mt win
pity iu h.s hazel eyes. 'ooi rrsnt gcu
nay, Dora, and good niEhtw