The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-07-05

ed on the floor at her feet. She arose
as Tiny entered
is it you. Miss Ciarence" she said.
her pale face momentarily dyed with a
deep tinge of color, as she curtSied a
timid welcome; this is but poor
place for you to come"
Miss Clarence repeated our little
heroine. reproachfully. You used to
call me Tiny when we were schoolgirls
together. Helen!'
But there is such a gulf between us
now!'
because you are poor and l am rich?
because you are forsaken widow and
am still the favored child of fortune?
Helen. you Judge me uniustly,"
Helen STAIRS eyes filed with tears.
Dear Tiny, l will never do so
again.
Il brought you some more sewing,
said Tiny. carelessly, as she sat down
by the side of her sadly changed school,
mate. BY the way. Helen. do you
still sew for Sargent < Copley?'
Yes, / am going there this afternoon
to return some work and try to get a
little more"
Are you'"
Tiny strove to speak unconsciously.
although the deep crimson flushed her
neck and brow.
Would you object to my going with
you? IL have a great curiosity to see
the inner workings of one of those
great manufacturing establishments"
Il shall be glad of your company"
DO they pay you well'" went on
Tiny, affecting to be deeply interested
in removing speck of mud from the
hem of Bridgets brown cloth cloak.
Mrs. Starr shook her head sadly.
starvation prices. Tiny, and Mr..
Sargent has just cut down the wages
one-quarter, He says times are hard
and he can not meet expenses
Yet lie drives the handsomest horses
in New York and lives in a brown stone
palace observed Tiny.
Il know it. but such is the universal
justice between employer and en-
ployed. We are powerless and they
know it. these grinding rich people"
She was folding up the bundle of
neatly sewn shirts as she spoke and
putting on her own worn and shabby
garments
You will be good and quiet, Charlie.
aud not go near the fire until man.
ma returns?' she added. pausing on
the threshold.
Yes. mamma" the child answered,
with docile meekness
He vas accustomed to being left
alone. poor little frllow. and then Helen
and Tiny set forth together on an err
rand entirely novel to the latter.
1t was pay day" at the establish
nent of Sargent & Copley. and long
string of worn-looking women. some
young and some old. but all pale and
pinched. like plants that had grown in
shade, were waiting their turn for the
miserable remuneration due them.
Mr.. Copley, a fat, oily-looking man.
with white neck-cloth and beaming
spectacles. stood behind a ponderous
ledger. day book, and Mr.. Sargent.
with an expression of face very differ
ent from what he had that morning
worn in Tiny Clarence's boudoir. lean
ed against the edge of the desk and
took in the work. examining and COM
menting on it as he did so.
For NJ. Sargent chose himself to su-
perintend this portion of his business.
Nor was the tongue of SANDER behind
hand in proclaiming that ne contrived
to make money out OF this personal
supervision
Clara Coyt?~ he called out sharply.
as pale. freckled, young girl neared
him. .'how much due Clara Coyt? Ten
dollars and seventy cents Take off
Sl-work creased from sewing ma
chine.
But. sir" began the girl.
Nine seventy-he-e you are! Pass
on. Clara Coyt, Now, then, Mary
Macalister-behind two days Fine
Mary Macalister 80 centsr'
So he went on. quick to detect or
imagine faults. vigorous to punish,
merciless 10 exact fines. until scarcely
one of the waiting throng received the
amount Of money fairly due her.
When Helen Stars name was called.
she advanced timidly. with her brown
clad companion at her side
Helen Starr! sharply enu..ciated
Mr.. Sargent, scrutinizing her roll OF
work. -Four dollars-deduct forty
cents,"
ION what account, sir?" falte-ed Mrs
Starr.
Work soiled in making up-pass
on
You are mistaken. Mr.. Sargent. in
deed" pleaded Helen Starr; the stains
were in the linen when it was given out
to me. 1t is not in the least soiled in
my hands"
Il can't stop to argue matters with
insolpnt sewing women in my en-
ploy." snarled Ernest Sargent Take
your $. 90. Mrs. Starr. without any
more words. or leave the establish
ment- We can get plenty of hands who
won't tell lies"
Helen Starr grew crimson and then
pale, but knowing her own utter help