Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-07-14

proper to say. But how poverty stricken she
would look in her factory clothes Her
spirits had fallen already
"By the way" Mr.. Ellingsworth turned, as
if sudden business item had struck him. 1t
was peculiar eXpressionless monotone he
used sometimes when on delicate subjects
that seemed to have as little personal quality
as a printed page "Ialways pay in advance;
be kind enough to accept your first months
wages and our bargain will be closcd'
The girl found herself alone, looking at the
crisp fresh looking bank bills he had placed
In her hands. "How thoughtful these rich
people are. They have time for it, sup
pose"
Fer wardrobe was very simple There
hung over the back of the chair the dull
check of a merino, chosen Yong ago to endure
the most service with the least show of it
On she bureau before the mirror was 4 paper
box holding discarded ribbon or two, pink
or cardinal, and two or three pieces of cheap
jeGelry the girl was too prolsl to wear.
sit won't take me long to pack, she said
aloud.
She suddenly took pretty attitude of lis
tening. She had closed the door into the
sick chamber in a moment more and stood in
the middle of the sitting room when Curran
came il.
why, you doa't look very sick, Jennie. I
have to walk to Lockout by o'clock, but
thought l would look in Just minute"
81 am going to leave the mill" How pre-
occupied he seemed tonight. II am going to
leave the mill, Mr.. Curran," tho girl repeated
with beating heart. lie might not like her
new plan, and at the very thought ofahis dis
approval she felt all her bright hopes taking
to themselves wings; and the old dreary pic
tu-e of factory gates and soiled calico dresses
came back.
"Going away little girls" He seemed to
speak with slight effort as il his mind was
not on what he said "Well, suppose you
can't be any worse OF, but we shall miss
yol."
And was that all he had to say when he
thought she was going forever out of his life
had he no reproaches for her2
II am not going far" she began hurriedly.
There would be no use going far" He
had seated himself on tie other side of the
table from her, and rested his face on his
hand. ''lt is just the same everywhere
Wherever there are thousand souls ten will
grind the rest. l don't suppose the rich
mean to be SO unjust, not all of them; they
don't stop to notice that they are getting all
the good things in the world. 1t never oc-
ours to them to wonder why the great earth
seems to produce only for them"
Jane Graves sat back in her chair, her
hands crossed in her lap. Why didn't he
talk about her just a Ettle2 She looked up
at bis absorbed face wistfully.
f"Why, Jennie, sometimes l get SO tired
trying to stand up against it all, so sick Of
my own heartache, that can make nobody
share with me-" He had risen to his feet and
was walking modify across the room. That
very night he must pour out all the precious
energy of his soul into dull, stolid ears, that
seemed SO slow to understand. A hall full
of strange faces would look up coldly at him,
and his hot words would be quenched as they
fell from his lips, in the unmoved depths of
their hearts. 1t seemed so vain, all he could
do or say, and he felt so tired tonight long
ing, instead, to rest his head on some gentle
breast, and be soothed with some foolish
words Of comfort and tenderness.
The girl had risen, too, and stood resting
the back of her hand on the table But her
eyes dared not lift to his. She tried to
speak, and her lips trembled so that her
voice came strange and unfamiliar.
81 am sorry for you Is there no one, no
womanT she half whispered.
"Women do not care for such as l. he
said, smiling little bitterly. "They love
light and pleasant things. am too serious.
should only frighten them; they could not
understand"
Then he came toward her with softer
light in his eyes
"You are a good little girl, Jennie" He
had taken her trembling hands, which only
trembled the more 81 shall miss you very
much. What is the trouble with your eyes.
Jennie, you can't look at mel l am going
now"
Then she raised her eyes, like lightning, to
his face.
"Oh, let me comfort you," she cried. II
would die for you. l will ask nothing back
but smile now and then. Nobody can ever
love you like me-"
His face was troubled, but cold and i'm
passive as rock. He still held her hands, as
she sank in a heaSt breaking food of tears at
his feet.
After moment he bent down in pity, and
gathered her trembling form in his arms
How the sobs seemed to shake her. He
smoothed back her wavy hair from the low
forehead, and even kissed her wet cheeks
But all he said was:
"Poor little girl, poor little Jennie"
For an instant she lay still as Nesting
child. Then she sprapg back from him, and
fed into her. mothers room, and wept and
moaned for shame and heartache, until the
calm of WEAKNESS came over her, as natures
blessed gift to her hopeless children.
CHAPTER VII.
A TEST.