The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-12-17

been late or having spoiled something
One OF the girls burst into tears and
was led away sobbing by afriend, who
whispered that cit was a shame, as
they passed the wall against which
Bell had been crowded.
But usually the coming and going
went on without delay, until the end
was nearly reached, then
| Lizzie Petrel," called the paymis-
tress.
'.Lizzie Petrol is dead,'' cried shrill
voice
Good Gracious, how suddenp
screamed another.
"She was drowned at q picnic last
night" said the Informant.
"In the midst oflife we are in death, y
said the paymistress, in formal man
ner us one who feels something is eX-
pected of her. 81 trust you will all
remember this. If the poor girl has
parents, the money will be paid to
them. Some one let them know
please! Bigonisl James!"
''Pm to fetch it to her. Pm her sist-
err. She's got married." said a small,
bright-loolling girl. -.
every well, sign for her." said she.
"Rengenuna Jones, step up here"
I'm to take hers home. I'm her
sieter. She's got married. replied a
very small girl, near, the desk. p.
Every we'll, sign for her and take
it," said the lady at the desk. bella
Belt!''
| Bell gave q start.
| bella Belt" repeated the paymis-
tress. Ell shan't wait here all night
for the last girl on the list. Is Bella
| Belt dead or married? Some one ans
wer. She must be a new hand. Pve
never paid her before. Bella Belt
come get your money"
The girls looked about them. Some
OF them starred at Bell.
What is your name?" asked one
"Bell Belt-Isabella Belt" replied
Bell.
"Well, 60 get your money; you must
be stupid, cried a girl.
Fl don't think she meant me-" said
Bell.
"Here she is, Miss Alberts," cried
the girl. ''She don't quite under
stand"
"You are to come here, Bell Belt,
and get your four dollars and four
teen cents. The rest of the five is de-
Quoted for absence. Hurry! want
you to sign your name," cried Miss
Alberts.
Poor Bell! She knew that there was
girl in the factory that bore her
name, but it occurred to her that she
might be dead, or married, as the two
others had been, and she was hungry,
tired almost without power to fight
against her faith. One pushed her,
another pushed her. She stumbled
against the desk.
"Your name Beit?" asked Miss
Alberts, in a furry OF impatience.
eyes, a'am, but" began Bell.
II can't help the Deductions" said
Miss Alberts. "I'm deducted myself
if l don't do as fought. It's business.
Don't talk to me about it; here, take
the pen. Sign your name there"
Bell took the long red handle in her
fingers and wrote isabella Belt" on
the line indicated, and instantly four
dollars and fourteen cents wereputin-
to her hand. The book was closed
with slam, and Miss Alberts drop
ped from her high stool and stalked
out OF sight,
"Little Greeny, you'll never get on
if you don't look out sharper for
yourself" said a good-natured young
giantess at her elbow. "We have to
jump payday, I tell you"
Others giggled at her, but with a.
horrible consciousness that she was
thief, making her heart throb like
some strange engine within her, shak-
ing her whole frame, making her trem-
BILE in every limb, she crept out
and away, and sat down on the steps
OF the closed factory to come to her
self.
Trying to comfort her conscience, she
repeated these arguments over and
over again to herself.
IL never said word; I'm starving.
should sleep in the streets if I
didn't pay Mrs: Trewjer to-
night. The other girl did
not come. Perhaps she's dead; Der
haps married. It's mot likely she
needs it as I do"
But still she sat where she had
thrown herself down, incapable of 60
ing to spend the money that it seemed
to her fate had made her steal,
The shadows grew longer. The side
OF the factory with it's many closed
windows, looked down on a street
that was no thoroughfare. No one
came that way out OF hours. Oppo-
site was only the storing ground OF g.
l1lmber-yard. Great boards, piled one
above another, constantly threatened
to topple down into the road below,
but never did. Solitude as deep as
can be found in city reigned there
after work time. .r N..,-.'
So Bell, staring up the street,
watched without interruption a
woman's figure that came hurrying
down at its best speed, now and then
putting it's hand to her heart, and
pausing, but running on again the
faster afterward. 1t CAME to a pause
opposite the great door and glared at
1T; then sank down, with it's face in it's
hands.
CLOSED! Closed! Closed!" it moan
ed. "And tried SO hard to get here!
l tried so hard-so hard!"
1t was middle-aged woman, once
DrettV, still NOT nj air, wit h pro " -, \ ~,