Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-02-09

tho work, but not such rs she, surely.
"Comc here, my DEAR
She had been lingering uimlessly, only
that sho dreaded TO turn her feet toward tho
factory, whose tolling sell rang sternly in
her ears. Now she approached her mothers
bed with O gentler expression ON her face.
Tho thin hands were laid on her arm, and
the sick woman drew tho girls head down on
the pillow beside her own.
"Was ever so pretty Gs you, ! wonderf
she said wistfully. ''They used TO say was
tho prettiest in the village" And the sunken
ewes frightened at sweet memories, the
sweetest in the ssorld 10 a woman.
at did you little good, mother" said the
girl in mufled voice.
In moment more she started up
"1here, mother, am late again; quarter
days pay lost, and u scolding gained"
Tho sick womans eyes opened wide, and
the girl waited one sad minute moro, to see
how terribly white the poor face looked even
against her pillow.
81 had something to say, thought" said
tho woman eagerly, "but l can't remember.
am so sick. But perhaps 1t wasn't any.
thing. You may go now, dear; am sorry
kept yUu."
The girl pinned her shawl about her. What
good of looking in the glass! 1t could only
tell her she was pretty, as her mother used to
be, and remind her what fool she was to
expect different fate. Fifteen years, and
she might be sick and broken on this very
bed, perhaps telling her own unhappy child
how pretty she used to be. The girl shud-
dered at the picture as she went out Of her
| mothers ROOM
"Ohl l remember now," called the sick
woman.
"Did you want the tea put near youa"
| asked the girl, coming back wearily.
SIT is not that-but-but you are not to GO
to work today. Somebody is coming to see
| you. He wants you TO live with him."
"What, to marry meF' exclaimed the girl
in establishment.
''He didn't speak of that" smiled her
mother, languidly, "but 1 can't talk any
more, am so tired"
Jane Graves had learned one lesson of pow
erty, not to hope. So after this strange an
nouncement of her mothers she only laid of
her hat and shawl, and waited. After look.
ing idly out of the window for while, and
seeing nothing that had not worn itself into
her very soul years ago, the vague woman
instinct stirred in her and she moved about
tho house arranging things. She found O
little map that hung in the sitting room q
little awry and Strengthened it, 1t was d
dingy map of China that had come once will
pound Of tea, and she wanted to throw il
away, but the wall looked too bare without
anything. She took down a couple of ugly
little gift chromos her father had placed OIL
the mantelpiece and tore them up in disgust
There seemed nothing else to do, there wa.
so little to arrange She wasn't so sure but il
was better in the mill-perhaps it was {
blessing the poor were kept so many hours il
its grim walls, where at least there was bu
little chance to think. What was there t.
long for in such homes and such leisure q.
this!
She stepped to the closet and took out ,
well thumbed book and sat down. She turn
cd two or three pages, and then counted hov
many times she had read them before, ant
she felt sick with the foolish hopes anC
dreams the oft read book had used to wake il
her.
She laid it away with sigh and picked VI
an old newspaper. How slow the forenoon
went.
She read down the advertising columns
How many beautiful things in the world, ant
all for sale! Somebody must have the none,
to buy them or the stores wouldn't be run
ming. Where was it all? Did anybody wor
any harder for it than her father and herself
Jane Graves opened her little pocketbook pGl
shook it over the table; but it was as emit
as the day she bought it.
Then there came light tap ON the sire.
door. This must be the gentleman th
tall, elegant figure in checked summer sui:
and he actually lifted his hat to her.
''My name is Ellingsworth
He needn't have told her; he had figure
in tho girls fancy for years as the very in
personation Of rank and wealth.
Il called about maid. Mr.. Graves gay
me leave to speak with his daughter. Is 81
in?'
II suppose am the one. viii you con
in!"
She watched him as he crossed the room
the nearest chair. How much lighter
walked than she could; and one might ha,
thought from his unconsciousness that he hs
been used to just such miserable room
this all his life. He showed no surprise
her being the prospective maid servant; l
doubt he knew it all the time, and the we
h. spoke was only part of his good ma
ners. But then she could not imagine b
showing surprise at anything
There will be but little to do" Mr. 1
t lingsworth continued, looking at her face al
4 not seeming uo see how ill she was dresse
n There is only my daughter; you may ha
4 seen her, yes? and myself. The wages W
+ DO small, ," and he pamed them and smil
. apologetically, as if he expected her to d
: cline "Your father spoke to me as if y,
+ did not like the factories
i Out at service; well, why not? Could it
Q any moro degrading than the life she live
d and such wages, too, Why, she could drt
D. quite prettily then; and her girlish hes
fluttcrcd. And ahc could leave ugly thin
e and rude people, and breathe perfumes a
n havo only graceful surroundings; what mi
ter if they were not hers?
It She would be lifted right up in tho We
!, atmosphere she longed for. Yesterday S
g had envicd tho Ellingsworths, tomorrow s
could share their beautiful life with the
st Why nota
She lifted her bright eyes to his face.
D was in half profile at this moment, and {
10 cfuld see his hair was just touched with gri
7low could men in this world ever grow O
de was smooth shaved, showing in full eff
% the delicate, cynical curve of his thin lip g
ST tne clearly defined outlines of his chin
y flust have been very oddly affected by
poverty pictured SO Enthusiastically about hi
I'd but there was not the smallest sign of it
N his well bred face.
ep 81 will 60" she said abruptly; ''when
lis you want me?"
II shall be away for fortnight" he Sc