Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-05-13


very pretty, and each new caprice of
fashion seemed to have been invented to
lend fresh charm to her coquettish face.
Before long Madame lola was left the sole
occupant Of the box at the theatre, and
Sylvia with George sailed forth in search
of adventures. With unparalleled auda-
city they visited supper-roOms and
restaurants, in regard to which Sylvia felt
a morbid curiosity. From these excur-
sions Sylvia, who seemed actuated by the
determination Of making amends for the
enforced monotony Of her girlhood by a
series of extravagances and excitements,
returned with slang phrases and odd
gestures. hich seemed strangely out of
place in her quiet. middle class home.
Doubts and suspicious about her were
beginning to be excited within the factory
walls. Women, even the poorest and
most mental of their sex. have an instinc-
tive perception Of the COST or feminine
costume. When Mrs. Florence went out
every afternoon fifty pairs of curious eyes
scanned her enviously from the huge
windows of the workrooms. These sharp
eyes penetrated her velvet mantle and
| her cuirasse Of jet, and detected the gull
| ty conscience they covered. The factory
| girls laughed contemptuously as they
| looked.
"She doesn't put on those fine clothes to
| go to church,
:, sand" said another, "it is not more than
| three years SINCE she uSeo 10 go out IN
waterproof cloak. and slice OF bread in
| her pocket to keep her from starving"
| And, in the dust and turmoil OF those
| hot rooms, more than one poor girl thought
| of the strange chance that had trans
! formed the life of this women, and began
l.
| self
| All this little world regarded Florence
| as man grossly deceived by his wife.
| Someone professed to have seen Sylvia at
| the theatre, accompanied by q gentleman,
| who carefully secluded himself from OBJ
| servation at the back Of the LOx. Tom,
| too, had wonderful tales to tell. for the old
| gardener did not love Mrs. Florence. That
! Sylvia had admirers, or even several. all
! these people were quite prepared TO be-
| Eeve, but, oddly enough, no one as vet had
connected her name with that Of George.
| And yet Sylvia was anything but eau
| tiouS III her relations with hiIn. III fact
| certain ostentatious bTavado characterised
them. Many time had she stopped him
! on the staircase to make some arrange
| ment for the evening, and had often
! frightened him by whispering to him be-
! fore others. But, the first shock over
| George was amused, and looked upon
/ these inaprudences as q proof Of. the
| strength Of her passion. In this notion,
however, he deceived himself greatly.
! The simple truth was that Sylvia
| desired to arouse Annie's jealousy and
! suspicious. All her efforts in this direc-
| ton were useless. Annie saw nothing,
suspected nothing: her own pure nature
! and innocent heart, like Florence's, re-
| manned undisturbed.
. Job Denman, the cashier, was the only
| one whose peace was troubled. But ii was
| not of Sylvia that he thought, as he sat
looking out on the little garden which his
| distracted eye did not see. He thought
| of his master, and Of the enormous sums
| he was spending.
..Have you little money for me to-day,
/! Denman9 [ was thoroughly cleaned out
! at cards last night"
| And Deuman would open his safe with
| groan as he remembered the day when
! the young man came to his uncle to confess
some enormous gam bling debts. The good
| man suddenly conceived a violent hatred
| for the club and all its members. One Of
! them being in the Office one day, Job ex-
| DressCI his dislike III very strong terms.
| "COntOund your club! In the last two
months Mr.. George has wasted thousands
| thereW
| The ether laughed.
! thousands, indeed" he said; why,
we have not seen hin there for at least
| three months"
| The cashier said not mother word, but
a terrible fear had taken possession Of his
! heart. IF George did not go to the club,
| where did lie pass his evenings. and how
| did he spent so much money! EVidently
| there was some woman connected with
| this mystery.
With this Interpretation, Job feared
| more than ever for his dear cash box, fer
/ to this old veteran all women were appau-
| ir~. more particularly q fast London
! woman. His first duty evidently was to
warn Florence.
Mr.. George spends good deal of mon
| ey,' said lac one day.
| But Florence was not alarmed.
What do you wish me to do about it,
| Job? He has surely a right TO do as he
! p'@2ses with his own
This was exactly the good fellows
| thought. In his eyes young Speed WAS
| the absolute master Of the house, and he
| himself only u designer connected with it..
| Tie cashier said 10 more, until one day
i q ILL came for 8 lace shawl--one hundred
| poands. He went to George.
Am / to pay this. sirl" he asked.
George Speed was Il little startled. Syl~
via had forgotten to tell him of this new
| purchase.
Pay it. Pay it, Denmanr he said, in
some embarrassment. Pass it to my
| private account. It is 4 commission that
I executed for a friend"
That evening, inst as Job was lighting
| his lamp. he saw Florence through the
| garden. and called him.
1T is "a woman" he said. in 4 hoarse
| whisper. land l have proof for it!'
The poor cashier felt that the mauufac-
tory was on the high road to destruction;
and all for L woman.
Florence laughed, and refused to be-
ieve it. He knew this old craze Of the
cashiers, who always attributed all mis-
fortunes to the evil influence of the sex.
Nevertheless, the words of his friend re-
turned to Florence's mind in the evening.
as he sat alone after Sylvias departure
with Madame lola. The room looked
| strangely empty. Candles burned IN front
| Of the mirror. forgotten bouquet lay on
a chair, and q thousand expensive triies
were scattered recklessly around. Flor
ence noticed nothing of this, but, when he
| heard Georges brougham roll away, he
felt cold chill at his heart a. he thought
Of the solitary wife in the rooms below.
Poor thing! IF what job said is true
| if George is faithless to her-oh, 1t WOULD
be terrible"
Then. instead of going to work. he went
down stairs to ask if Mrs. George was
visible, for he thought it his duty to stay
| with her awhile The little girl had gone
9. y N-l~, low ON