San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-09

There's no water TO cross, Aunt Margaret.
Just want to go to Staffsrdshire."
Dear me! asked you if you wanted to
live at Ridwell, and you said no."
I'm a tiresome, provoking, trouble
somen-
Have done now and tell me what you do
want"
ats just this want to find out what
would happen to me if l were poor-I mean
with enough to live ON, but not an heiress
want TO live near Ridwell Grange with
you, and for nobody to know who we are
Just for few months, to see what the ten
ants are like, and the nail makers homes"
my dear, anybody but my doting self
would say you were mad"
"But you won't say it," whispered Flora.
And all that evening they sat like two con-
spirators arranging their plans, with bated
breath, for leaving the luxurious home at
Terrick, and setting up in a small furnished
house with two servants, one to be taken
with them, the other hired on the spot
On q dark November evening, about S
o'clock, the train drew near the station, and
Flora's eyes had been fixed with sort of awe
upon several flaming, smoking places-the
only things visible in the darkness-where
the ceaselesS work of the iron trade was car
ried ON. She fell into a reverie, wondering
how many of the human beings were work
ing for her, and was reused by her aunt say
ing:
Il wonder if the carriage"-
"Auntie, we must take a fly, you know"
said Flora, deprecatingly. Luckily they were
alone, but for their elderly maid, who most
mwillingly connived at this demeaning of her
ladies. You are Mss O'Moore, and / am
your niece of the same name. We have a
modest littleincome out of which we are going
to do as much good as We can"
Lady Margaret repressed groan.
And I'll be calling your ladyship my
lady as sure as my names Martini" mourn
fully responded the maid.
Get a fly, please, and if all the luggage
won't 60 on it, send the rest up to Miss
O'Moore, Acacia Cottage. Here's the full I'D
dress"
1t was Flora who undertook all the ar
rangements, and they were soon landed at the
neat little furnished villa they had engaged
just outside the town. A tidy Staffordshire
woman opened the door, and cozy fires burned
in the two little sitting rooms. Lady Margaret
looked round the drawing room and across
the tiny slip of passage, and muttered:
Like dolls house"
lSo, odll III iuAShISi ~ ASoS eALAN
tidy"
After a few days things began to settle
down, and Flora made the acquaintance of a
working clergyman's equally energetic wife.
This lady pronounced the party at Acacia
cottage to be evidently quite respectable and
the girl intelligent and inclined to be useful.
She also remarked how very plain she was.
Her husband agreed with her, but softened
tho phSarX-ation nv q we'll known nrOynrh
Handsome is" etc.
Flora gained her object, and became &C
quainted with nail makers First she went
over her own works under the Condescending
guidance of a very vulgar manager to whom
a large salary was paid. She appeared to be
examining nails, but was really occupied in
studying the beings who made them. Very
grimy, very stolid in most cases, not much
imagination being fostered by their work or
surroundings. Some looked thin and i'll,
many of the young workers especially. Flora
found out the wages paid to each, and the
manager said they were asking an increase,
but wouldn't get it,
"What if they striker" asked Flora.
"They know better. If they did I'd replace
them by other men,"
1t was getting very cold weather now.
Flora Went to some of the homes. Wretched,
dark and damp, in many cases squalid. She
had hard work to gam admittance some
times, and deSpaired of reaching the people
in her assumed character. At times she found
it relief to wander near Ridwell Grange.
and was glad to find the place let and well
cared for. There were nice cottages near it,
and when resting in one after a long walk
Flora met another visitor, who knocked AMI
entered cheerily, all the children running for
ward to meet him. He began fumbling in
his pockets for apples, and. then as he offered
them, caught sight of Flora. The woman
said
Its Miss O'Moore, sir; a young lady from
the town. She does a deal of good among the
nail makers"
Flora colored brightly, but before she could
disclaim the gentleman said:
They need friends, ignorant and down
trodden as some are, and pulled with discon-
tent and arrogance the rest. l hear a good
deal, for rent my house from the agent of
one of the big firms"
Flora said she had seen some trouble in her
short acquaintance with the people, andthen
telling the woman she must hasten homeI she
left.
The early shadows of dull, frosty Deem
Der day were falling, and she walked quickly,
as there were two miles of lonely road to
travel. Suddenly, from the hedgerow, a
wild looking, dirty man stepped before her.
Flora tried to move aside, but the man held
out both hands, saying:
I'm starving. You looks well fed enough!
Give me money, or it'll be the worse 70"
you"
The girl turned pale, but resolute.
- have no mOney-let me- mass