The Holly chieftain., 1897-12-31

cannot help lovin' someb'dy else, con
ia? Thall live TO rue ii, aw tell thee,
an so will that .hupstart tha's sect Thy
heart on-mind that."
The girl thus addressed blushed faint
ly. but did not hang her head. Rather.
she lifted i, with a proud look which,
despite her working shawl. plain black
hat and somewhat pasiy-white com
plexion-the common heritage of mill
girls-lent something queenly 10 her
whole appearance.
Had you seen Rachel Swami on Sun
day. as she walked with her Bible and
hymn book TO the Methodist Sunday
school to teach her class. You would
scarcely have known her. Dressed in the
latest style-or the latest that had per
colated TO the provinces-from the
tips" in her hat and the fall" which
expressed rather than hid her delicate
features. to her neat little shoes. she
looked-what she was-a lady. And
had you seen her at the chapel door
after evening service, without ado or
even greeting, beyond a mutual lock
OF satisfaction, meet a pleasant-faced
young man and walk away by his side.
you would have been in possession of
the secret-no secret Bow-,hat James
Sumner. assistant cashier at Messrs.
Peers mill. and Rachel Swami were
keeping company"
Jim Sumner had started life as half
timer and little-piecer, but. naturally
an intelligent lad and a great fayorite
with the schoolmaster, he had, in spite
of the great disability of beginning 10
earn his living at ten, made such good
use OF his opportunities tha, he was
early taken into the office" and was
now quite looked up TO" by right
thinking folk as a man who could ad-
die (earn) his brass bout takkin bis
cooat off, Moreover, he was junior
chapel steward" at the Methodist
chapel. and altogether man any girl
in that place might be proud to keep
company" with.
Tha, Rachel was proud Of her lover
every body knew. They had ouly made
i; up" short time ago and had walked
in public less than fortnight when
the above conversation took place. The
man, for such he considered himself
who threatened TO "mak' her rue" was
considerably older than herself and an
"overlooker" at the mill in which they
all worked. He had long forced his at
tentions upon Rachel. who. while giving
him no encouragement, had not abso-
luiely repulsed him until she heard
that he did little private bookmakiny =
among the youths and young men in
the great mill. Until then she had re-
garded him as decent fellow and
shrank from hurting his feelings, hop
ing he would desst in time and give
it up as bad job. She did not know
Jabez Smethnrst. He was the sort of
man whose love can turn to bitter hate,
and now. both against the girl and the
man he deemed his supplanter, his ru ge
burnt fiercely.
AVN fair miserable at my work,
jim, now" said Rachel, us she walked
with her lover from his mothers cot
tage along the embankment of the
great reservoir.
why. how's that, my lass? Aw
thought tha' wur all rect now, an
gradely set up wi four looms, an av-
eragin' nineteen an six wik"-for.
though Jim was an assistant cashier,
be dropped. like his lady love, into his
native Doric on all familiar occasions
"an' tha' towd me that even thy cross
grained owd aunt could speyk civil
now"
"Ay, aw was fain enuf, Jim. but
Eth. lad aw can hardly tell yo'. awe
kept it to myself for days. but aw can
not bear 1t no longer tn overlooker's
ta'eD one o my looms on me, an say