Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-12-03

she came 10 that bart of the machinery
| WAS directing and watched me eager
ly. had seen the men turn, one by
enc. from their work, in respectful ad
mii ,tion OF her beauty. 1t was little
wonder my fingers grew clumsy under
her gaze. | had ii taste for mechanism,
a fatal Inheritance some called it, from
r3y father, whom we had found dead,
enc bright summer morning, bending
over an unfinished model. But, yonug
as was, Mr.. Crane, cur superintendent,
had confidence IN me, therefore had as
signed me the work Miss Meredith had
hDrorcd me by rausing to watch. He
WAS by her side, now. Rumor said he
was wooing the young hciress; but as
regards that, we miil-hands had little
opportunity for judging; only, in one
hrie! glance dared take of the pure.
lovely face. smiling so brightly down
rron us. | doubted whether he or any
man were worthy.
is not this work very difIicult?" she
questioned. 81 should think boy could
hardly manage it,"
at requires more skill than any
other" Mr.. Crane answered. But
lave great faith in George, al Though one
false turn would throw all the ma
chinery out of order" Then he added
something in a low tone which | could
not hear. But before Miss Meredith
left the mill she again approached me.
Come and see me this evening,
George. want particularly to speak
with you"
| bowed assent, doubtless in an awR
ward way; but all the rest of the long
summer day | moved as in Il dream.
Eight o'clock found me promptly
seeking adniittance at the door of
Miss Mcrrdi;h's beautiful home. The
footman looked at me inquiringly when
! murmurcd the name of his mistress;
hut at that instant she came forward
from one of the great rooms and well
comcd me kindly. Her graciousncss.
the luNury everywhere surrounding ne,
the subtle atmosphere of fragrance.
seemed to intoNicate me as | followed
her, catching sight. with dsmay, of my
ungairly figure reflected in the num-
Gerlcss mirrors. Eut when she paused,
we stood alone in large room more
plainly furnished than those we had
passed through, but whose walls from
floor to ceiling were lined with books.
George she began, and | fancied
slight embarrassment in her manner,
"AIr Crane has interested me so much
in yot'. that think it a pity you should
not have other advantages than those
you possess. sent for you to say that
you may have free access to our library,
if y7n think it will be of service to you"
could in that moment have fallen at
her feet. The books for which | had
hungercd were to be mine at last. In
her white dress, with no color save the
knot Of violets in her breast, match
ing in hue her eyes, she seemed to my
kcvish fancy an angel opening the gates
oflleaven that might enter in.
The next year few swiftly by. Some
times the sun, pceping in at my window,
would find me bending over the bool. I
had so eagerly opened the night before,
and | would throw myself dressed, on
my bed to snatch an hours sleep 10
prepare me for the manual labor of he
day. grew rale and thin, but for that
] cared nothing, until one morning,
when ii came time to rise, found my
body rowerless TO obey my will, and
sank back on my pillows into uncon-
seriousness.
For weeks | lay tossing in delir;um
and fever. a memory haunted me when
oncr more awakened to the realities
Of life. of tender touch and face on
shrncd on my heart. Could it be Miss
Meredith had been to see me >"
With enrrulous eagerness my nurse
tod tur all. How she had come. not
once. but many times, even in themitlst
of her wedding preparations, how grand
the wedding was, how lovely looked the
bride, s.a3 how as Mrs. Crane, size he'd