The morning call., 1892-08-11

cessIon. two by two. Not only the girls in
Mrs. Selwin's room. but every one In the
building. They ranged themselves in a
solid body, and Belle Blair stepped out OF
the ranks and faced US.
1--WE have had a meeting" she said
briskly, land I've been asked to be spokes-
woman. We are honest working-girls, and
we don't wish to be Inspected OF theft. AS
long as we've got a thief amongst us that IS
going to happen. We knew just what
Fannie Williams was before she came here.
We never have associated with her, ana We
now respectfully ask that she be dismissed
In fact. work stops until she goes
We were dumb with astonlshneht, ouI 70
our surprise, Fan herself spoke before either
of US could.
~ know enough to know I must CO." she
said. "and | shan't make any fusssabout IL:
ONLY Pm coming back some day. and
shall prove the Truth before l CONF M, MIS-
SelwiD. do YOU believe / IN honest?
al hone YOU are. Fan" said Mrs Selwin.
Fan only looked at me, but answered,
Eyes. / swear IT,
Fan said, Thank you," and went out at
the door.
Ireflected that she now knew a trade at
which she could get work. But still it was
all very hard and wrong. | thought of it a
great deal that day and for several days.
/ wanted to do something for Fan. but could
not find her. However, one day / received
a little note from her, crooked little
III you please MI - II read "no matter
how queer tt seems, do what l asa. GO 10 the
big bail at Blank Hall to-higat, II you do II
prove I'm no thief. FAN"
II certainly WAS n queer request But
Fan was queer, aud | knew she meant
something by her note. However,, IL NHs
certain that she could not mean 10 attebu
it. She ha0 neither drees, escort nor money
to buy ticket. 1t was by no means eheap
affair.
went alone TO the ball, and as ! saunt-
cred about the rooms. before any other
guests had arrived. / saw number OF girls
at TIE door of the ladies' dTesslng-TooLl.
Among them stood Fan. She wore neat
brown dress OF some sort. aud the wDlte
cap and apron with blue bows that ali the
others wore. Some young women are
always employed 10 take wraps and give
checks on these occasions, and Fan had got
the place.
saw she wanted to speak to me, and gave
her the opportunity by dropping my hand
kerchief. She instantly left the group al
the door and picking IL up ran AFTER me.
"W hen you hear row come TO tie dress
ing-TOom. she said.
were arriving. After a while / saw among
them a face that / knew. II was handsome
enough TO remember, for II was Belle
BlRiTs. She entered on the arm OF the
young buyer who had been so fascinated by
her beauty the day the spray of fairy fire
spray was no ordinary one and was worth
a good deal of money, for every leaf WAS of
K and the centers were OF nne gold
thread. 1t was not such bunch as lady
ever buys for bonnet or bosom, but some
thing for the show window.
When l saw Belle / began TO comprehend
what Fan was driving at. Her escort left
her at the door of the dressing groom, ami
she entered. There was silence for few
moments, then a shrlll shrek. Everybody
rushed to the dressing room door, and all be-
held al attendant la white cap and apron,
who had apparently gone mad and attacked
a guest.
What | saw was Belle Blair. dressed in
white tulle. topped up with fairy FIRE BIOS
SONS, Of which size also had a bunch in her
hair and bosom, becoming ornaments Of
which Fan was fast desp0iling her as she
screamed;
who stole the spray? Come. now. who
stole the spray? There was only one among
US you knew that was brought up TO beg
and steal"
or course Fan was arrested very speedily,
but few words | spoke 10 the pOlcemsn's
ear caused him 10 take possession of the
flowers. The young man from the West
conveyed Belle away in diSheveled con-
ditlon. and as she did not appear against
Fan the girl was released next morning
Fan tTotted back TO the factory as soon
as she was free. | had told the story and
she was received with loud huzzas That
Is coed many years ago. Fan is FORE
woman now and we would not willingly
lose her.
As for Belle, we never saw her again, but
some one has told me that she sank rapidly
to degradation. and WIS one day arrested
Tor sh0pllfting and ia now in prison.