The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-29
shears in air, to see thas none of the girl

shears in air, to see that none of the girls
Miss Mix was naturally neither suspicious
nor hard-hearted; but eight years expert
ence in the girls Department of reform
school had begun to tell on her temper.
| Especially since Lonise Pereau had come
her life had been anything but easy. As
Miss Tucker had said;
Miss Mix and Louise could never get on
from the minute they set eyes on each
And since Louise was the quicker-witted
of the two, Miss Mix suffered more.
Yet when Miss Tucker had suggested
taking Louise out of the .sewing-room, Miss
Mix had exclaimed: H"iS " 81
ooh, not Louise is the only one that
knows anything Do'fet>me keep her"
There came rap at the door.
Miss Tucker wants to see you in the
office minute" said the messenger.
Miss Mix looked around the room and
hesitated. Then Miss Mix did exactly the
wrong thing. She drew key from her
pocket, went out, and locked the door be-
work Immediately.
Lonise's eyes snapped with anger. The
little girls looked at her expectingly.
But just then there came sob from the
direction of the machine. Amelia had
dropped her head on her arms, holding an
open letter out in her hands.
Louise ran across the room, and, kneeliDg
beside Amelia, put her arm around her.
whats it?" she said. "Bad news?"
Amelia did not answer but sobbed harder
Louise turned to the little girls.
Go to work, she said sharply. What
are you fooling round for?" They fell to
pulling basting- threads in silence.
After minute Amelia said, so low that
only Louise could hear: "Funeral at half
past 10 tomorrow" Adding with a sob,
Charles dead"
so, dear, DEAR" murmured Louise, strok
ing Amelia's harsh light hair pityingly.
And you can't even go to the funeral-a
reform girl can't even go to her own
funeral! It's q shamel a shame!n
There was the sond of key in the lock,
and the next second the forewoman entered,
looking sharply about her.
The four little ones were working dill
gently. Louise was at her table, and Amelia
seemed to be threading the machine-needle
Amelia's eyes were full Of tears, but she
could spend no more time pretending to be
threading the needle she began to stitch.
There was little snap, which told Miss
Mixs trained ear that another machine
needle was broken.
Before Miss Mix could speak Louise
Pereau sprang up. Amelia is sick, ma'am,"
she said. "Mayn't she 90 to the dormi-
tery?"
Miss Mix looked at Louise suspiciously.
Pye heard nothing of her feeling I'LL
will speak to her myself
But Louise stood in her path. "Amelia
is sick" she repeated. Il will do her work" j"
she added.
For moment Miss Mix hesitated She
felt Louise Pereau must have some object
In the kindness. She looked at her sharply,
bringing an angry red into the French girls
cheeks. fe
"You may go up to the dormitory, Amelia,
and Lizzie" she added, slowly, lyon go up
with her. And you, Louise, can do Amelia's
stitching now, and finish your own work
after hours" ray
Louise seated herself at Amelia's machine,
and its wheels fairly few., She felt as if
she were stitching her anger into the gray
cloth at the reform school and all its rules
and regulations. For AN hour she was the
prey of dozen lawless impulses
AT three o'clock the younger girls were
excused from the sewing-room. Louise
stopped the machinel and spoke to Miss
Mix.
Please, may go up stairs and see Ame-
lIa?" she said submissiyely.. 81 find | can
get my work all done, before 530 even if l
do take 10 minutes now ere. s..e.
Miss Mix would have preferred to refuse.
She always felt when Louise was in the