Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-02-02

euAH oh IN cAlEd culi tne9 coii ~, VI cioth ~
twenty cents.
Her days used to be more terrible to her
even 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
could be worse, certain But she was slowly
growing, she thought, into the dead calm
that all the rest Mad learned and yet how she
hated the great massive mills, irresistible
giants that held her with deathless grasp,
grimly contemptuous Of her writings 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 odt 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
not afford the dearest of all luxuries, pride.
Suddenly the mill bell rang out above the
roar of the wheels, and at its 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, TommieYn A broad shoul-
dered young fellow had left the crowd and
, followed her shyly up the hill.
"Nothin' much, only may walk home
with your
"Will that do you any goodl Hurry up
them
He was an honest faced young fellow, and
a little better dressed than most of the group
Alak a1 hO,,f tho mil av.1 "a
| "What you want to walk round here with
me for can't see. They can't work you very
hard, Tommie, il you want SO much extra
| exercise
1t was rather a contemptuous laugh she
had for him, but she showed row of small
white teeth that poor Tonmie thought were
, very beautiful,
II wanted to say somethin' 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 Mr..
Ellingsworth's house, and father and daugh-
ter stood in the doorway. No doubt Mr..
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 a 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 1
She was never tired in her life, and never
lie down at night but my hands and feet
ache. See what she gets for being idle; SCI
what get for my ten hours work. every day
since l was child.n
"We've known each other pretty long, Jen
ME, and-and"-he had pulled the grass al
all to pieces-"andI s'pose you know how I've
i mean how I've felt. l am doing a littlt
better now" The young mans eyes bright
ened. ''Tve got little money left ME, ant
you know I'm just made second hand.n
"What is that to me, ToulmieE" sho said
impatiently. Her woman's soul was longing
for the beautiful life of the rich, whose hous(
she was passing, and she felt, too, the admir-
ing glance Mr.. Ellingsworth had given tc
her graceful figure. Why was this awkward
boy by her side to spoil the effect!
Tommie Bowler WINGED, but ducking hi
round head to avoid the sharp look he feared
was in the beautiful eyes, he went en- dog
gedly.
81 s'posed we'd been agoing together quit
while, Jennie, and I was goin' to ask yol
when you was willin' to be married"
''Married-to your
All, Tommie Bowler, what were you think
ing of to want to marry girl wko had sucl
q tone as that for you2
Tears of shame started into his eyes. "
amt SO low; never thought but what you
would before"
She gave him a look half curious and hal
pitiful He might as well have cried for th
moon. Could it be the lad thought that JUS
because she was pretty she could make hi
home happy for hin-hiss
s'Tm not going to have a hand at maxim!
another poor mans home. People like u
had better be single; there's only half tn
trouble that way, Tomnie"
Tho broad s1oulde1sd young man, who di
not know what was good for him, fell bac
from the woman his heart hungered for as
he was shot. And she walked on, with hare
ly another thought for the foolish lover VIII
imagined they two could be happy together
Why couldn't sho be rich? They had a
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
below the village, and the green forests an
fresh meadows on the other side smile
through IT, like n fair woman through he
tears. A tired soul might have drunk in il
beauty and been rested, but Jane Graves ca.
her eyes down on the dusty road before he
and walked along with set bitter curl 0
her bright red lips, and did not once look j.;
tho gilt of Gods mercy to tho poorest of h
creatures. For her part she despised I'll
poor; she didn't pity them; great strong me
who submitted to be trodden on and groun
under the feet Of the rich; whose blood an
muscles and quivering flesh were weighed
; tho balance against few dollars Of the spe
!, ulators 1t was good enough for them
J long as they submitted to it. She didn
blame the rich; they were the only wise pc
, pie; she only envied them They did well
| take all they could get and walk over
many thousands as would fall down befo
them. Oh, if she could only win her way
their ranks. But the rich men do not con
into the weave room for their enslavers
Suddenly she heard step behind her;
step she knew from all others in the worl
and the whole air seemed to tremble with
! new, strange, heavenly impulse.
{ "Good evening, Jane"
She turned with new, sweet shyness.
was Curran, the agitator, who was besit