Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-30
BY CHARLES I. BELLAMY.
CHAPTER ". CRAVING FOR THE MOON.

seem to be too much for human nerves, but the walls of the weave room Number Two of the Breton mills are hung with soiled plaid shawls and chip hats, the livery of the fac tory girl. Their restless forms are busy among the rattling machinery, their swift cunning fingers moving harmlessly where mutilation would seem certain. It is mere matter of habit; one look at most of the set pale faces would show there was no brain force in exercise. Why, the overseer will tell you those girls are as much machines as the frames and belting; though they un- have one advantage for the em- ployers, the girls are cheaper. The wonder full mechanism of those looms, the skillful system of belts and pulleys and the enor- nous water wheel cost fortune. Girls can be bought in the market any day for crust of bread
 Is not that figure faniliar-the one that stands this moment leaning against dingy white pillar, while the rushing belts and slid ing frames seem hurrying the faster all about her! Yes on the piece of wall between the two jail like windows nearest to her hangs the plaid shawl Philip Breton had for a coun- terpane only last night Her dress is soiled and ill made and her hair tied up in the closest and ugliest coil to escape the greedy machinery, ever reaching out for new vic .ims. But the warm, soft tint of her cheeks and the moist sheen in her black eyes were always the same, and many young man would rather look at her this minute than turn off an extra cut, they call it, of cloth at twenty cents.
 Her days used to be more terrible to her ever than now. She had wished every morn ing that she might die before night, and at night that God would take her before morn ing; take her, she cared not where; no place ho P,,% c1, ,1 growing, she thought, into the dead calm that all the rest had learned and yet how she hated the great massive mills, irresistible giants that held her with deathless grasp, grimly contemptuous of her writhings and foolish struggles. The overseers, too, how she hated them; their sharp words stung her like the lash of so many taskmasters, and the paymaster who doled out to her the few dol lars, the wages of her blood and life, as if that could be paid for. She had longed so many times to throw back his money in the smiling, patronizing face; but the poor can .lot afford the dearest of all luxuries, pride.
 Suddenly the mill bell rang out above the roar of the wheels, and at it's voice the looms stopped, the breath of their life taken away, and the belts ceased from their endless race.
 Another days work was closed, and the poor girls hurried on their shawls and hats as if at last something pleasant awaited them and went out in chattering groups.
 "What is it, Tommie2' A broad shoul. dered young fellow had left the crowd and followed her shyly up tllc hill.
 "Nothin' much, only may I walk home with youp'
 ''Will that do you any good? Hurry up then"
 He was an honest faced young fellow, and a little better dressed than most of the group that waited about the mill yard gate.
 "What you want to walk round here with me for I can't see. They can't work you very hard Tomnie, if you want so much extra exercise"
 It was rather a conternptuous laugh she had for him, but she showed row of small white teeth that poor Tommie thought were very beautiful.
 II wanted to say solnethin' particular, Jennie" And he reached down his big dingy hand for stalk of grass, and began pulling it nervously to pieces, as he kept up with her quick feet They were just passing MT. Ellingsworth's house, and father and daugh- ter stood in the doorway. No doubt> MT. Ellingsworth had just come home to tea. He held his tall hat in his hand, while he waited with his beautiful daughter to enjoy the soft spring mildness. Jane Graves could see in behind them. How could they bear to stay outside? She saw white spread tea table glis- tening with silver and rare china, soft tinted carpets and pictures in rich gilded frames, far prettier, she was sure, than anything nature had to show. The girls face, as she stood resting her white hand on her fathers shoulder, was as calm as the twilight itself ''How has she deserved it all more than + She was never tired in her life, and I never lie down at night but my hands and feet ache. See what she gets for being idle; see what get for my ten hours work, every day since was a child"
 "We've known each other pretty long, Jen nie, and-and"--he had pulled the grass all all to pieces -"and spose you know how I've T mean how I've felt. 1 am doing little better now" The young mans eyes bright ened. "I've got 8 little money left me, and you know I'm just made second hand" "What is that to me, Tommie?' she said impatiently. Her woman's soul was longing for the beautiful life of the rich, whose house l she was passing, and she felt, too, the admir- 1 ing glance MT. Ellingsworth had given te l her graceful figure. Why was this awkward boy by her side to spoil the effects Tornmie Bowler winced, but ducking hi.
 round head to avoid the sharp look he feared was in the beautiful eyes, he went on dog
 gedly.
 "I sposed we'd been agoing together quit. l While, Jennie, and was gOln' to ask yol
 when you was willin' to be married"
 "Married-to youg'
 An, Tommie Bowler, what were you think
 ing of to want to marry girl who had sucl
 tone as that for yous
 fears of shame started into his ey es. 'l
 aint so low; never thought but what yo1
 would before"
 She gave him a look half curious and hal pitiful He might as well have cried for tn,
 :,oon Could it be the lad thought that jus
 because she was pretty she could make hi:
 home happy for him-hisa
 'rm not going to have hand at making
 another poor mans home. People like us
 had better be single; there's only half tn
 trouble that way, Tommie."
 The broad shouldered young man, who dit
 not know what was good for him, fell bacl
 from the woman his heart hungered for as
 he was shot, And she walked on, with hard
 ly another thought for the foolish lover wh
 imagined they two could be happy together
 Why couldn't she be richa They had al
 ways told her she was beautiful. If she onl
 had chance. They say men are fools owe
 pretty women, and that Is the only hope
 woman has of winning her way. If she onl
 had chance
 A delicate gray mist foated over the rive 1 below the village and the green forests an