The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-06-18

machinery ndd ceased 10 annoy ncri
she minded them now no more than
o matchmaker minds the ticking Of his
clocks
Among the visitors whom she noticed
frequently passing through the factory.
was an erect young man in a dark suit
with keen black eyes. and black hair
Several times he had endeavored to
catch her eye, and since she assumed
charge Of the pattern shears he seemed
to take an unusual interest in the
working Of that machine. He ex-
amined Its movement closely, and
several times ventured to ask questions
Of Ruth which she answered in mon
osyllables. The foreman told her the
young mans name was Simpson. and
that he was buying cans for an up
river cannery. At any rate Ruth
thought him handsome-the handsom-
est man she had ever seen. Perhaps
no ono else would have dreamed that
such was the case, but there is no ac-
counting for the tastes Of women.
Though at first she resented his en-
croachments upon her reserve with
emphasis no seemed so kind and po-
lite and careful not to give offense,
that finally one day after the machine
cry had stopped for the noon half
hour, she told him all about her work,
and little about herself; also her
name.
For some days thereafter Ruth did
not see him. and, as most girls would
under the same circumstances, she
missed him. The day he returned a
full force was working, and the plate
had to be fed swiftly and incessantly.
She watched him coming up the stairs
talking to the foreman. She wore that
day full sleeved waist, her tidiest
silk one; possibly because she hoped
she might see him, and to feed plates
at high speed with flowing sleeves
with one's eyes and mind entirely
absent from ones body constitutes
that carelessness OF which we have
been warned. Ruth did not know that
she was careless-no one ever does at
the time. but the full sleeve Of the
waist caught under the feed roll, drew
her arm against the guides, and in a
twlnlSling had cut an artery.
No one noticed the accident more
quickly than Mr.. Simpson. He heard
her scream and saw her fall to the
floor fainting. Before the others
looked up he was kneeling beside her,
binding handkerchief around her
arm above the wound. They watched
him bear her in his arms to the SUPER
intendent's office and lay her gently
down upon the sofa
A carriage was summoned and a
phyMcian; Ibut the carriage arrived
trst. Mr.. Simpson left the name of
a hotel and lifted her into the carriage,
still fainting, explaining that he was
a personal friend of the girls uncle,
and would care for her until he ar
rived. A factory girls family connec-
tions and acquaintances not being
matter of unusual importance, the ex-
PLANTATION was satisfactory.
When Ruth's eyes opened ON the pa
pered walls of hotel parlor, she was
weak and bewlIdered but the flow Of
blood was stopped and the wound
dressed. She had tainted no doubt
from horror at seeing her arm drawn
rapidly toward the roller, from which
only the most miraculous Fearing Of
the silken sleeve had prevented its be-
ing withdrawn useless and mangled.
The loss of blood from the cut had pre-
vented the return of consciousness for
more than an hour.
The physician having performed his
task, withdrew, and she was left alone
with the only man who had ever in
any way attracted her. She felt some
strange magnetism in his presence.
Ruth" he was saying to her, II
have loved you from the minute I first
saw you in the factory, and have
waited weeks hoping that by some
chance you would notice me. Today,
by this accident, you have fallen into
my hands just as IL you had always
been intended for me. You have no
one to care for you now, but If you
would consent to be married in an
hour. 10 would become the right of one
who cares most for you of any one In
the world. Your uncle is away on the
ldver--may not be back for a week
and you are in need of money ana
carc. You have no one to go to but
me. Listen Let me bring a clergy
man."
But she would not listen. She loved
him. she knew it; at least she knew
she would do anything, give anything,
Ior him that was right But her uncle
ought TO know all about it first. An
innate sense Of propriety forbade her
encouraging this relation without first
him.
She told him to wait 1t was too
sudden; she must have time to think.
II not him, then she loved no one-he
must not think her unkind-but now
le must take her to the boarding
the home she had.
Mr.. simpsons dark brows clouded
,erceptibiy. but there was no other
,ign OF displeasure. His art forbade
mpolitic remarks. Lifting her from
he sofa he pressed her in his arms
ma kissed her--at least she must
grant that little privilege She feigned
ilspIeasurc. and answered sharply that
gentlemen never took advantage Of
women who were alone and unprotec-