The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-04-23
HARD WATER.
"Tha'll live to rue it. 1"

ms. Aw cannot help not lovin thee.
NAV, an tina cannot help lovin
SOMEBODY else, con ia? Tha'll live to rue
it, Aw tell thee, an so will that hupstart
tha's sect thy heart on-mind that"
The girl addressed blushed family,
but did not hang her head. Rather she
lifted it, with proud look which, de-
spite her working shawl, plain black
hat and somewhat pasty white COM
plexion-the common heritage of mill
girls-lent something queenly to her
whole appearance.
Had you seen Rachel Swami on Sun
day as she walked, with her Bible and
hymnbook, 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, lady. And had
you seen her, at the chapel door after
evening service, without ado or even
greeting beyond mutual look of salts
faction, meet pleasant faced young
man and walk away by his side, you
would have been in possession of the
secret-no secret now-that James Sum-
ner, assistant cashier at MessrS. Peel S
mill, and Rachel Swami were keeping
company.
Jim Sumner had started life as a half
timer and little piecer; but, naturally
an intelligent lad and a great favorite
with the schoolmaster, he had, in spite
of the great disability of beginning to
earn his living at 10, made such good
use of his opportunities that he was
early taken into the "office" and was
not quite Cooked up to" by right think
ing folk as man who could addle
(1arn) his brass out takkin his coat
off" Moreover, he was junior "chapel
steward" at the Methodist chapel, and
altogether a man any girl in that place
might be proud to keep company"
with.
That Rachel was proud Of her lover
everybody knew. They had only "made
it up short time ago and had walked
i'll public less than a fortnight when the
above conversation took place. The man
for such he considered himself-who
threatened to "mall' her rue" was con-
siderably 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 Civ
ing him no encouragement, had not alb
solutely repulsed him until she heard
that he did a little private boollmaking
| among the youths and young men in the
: great mill Until then she had regarded
him as a decent fellow and shrank from
: hurting his feelings, hoping he would
: desist in time and give it up as a bad
, job She did not know Jabez Smethurst
! He was the sort of man whose love can
/ turn to bitter hate, and now, both
5 against the girl and the man he deemed
his supplanter his rage burned fiercely.
"Aw'm fair miserable at my work,
. Jim, now, )" said Rachel as 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 tina wur all rect now an grade
} ly set up wi four looms an averagin 10
X, an a wik, " for, though Jim was an
assistant cashier, he dropped, like his
lady love, into his native Doric on all
familiar occasions, ian tha' towd me
5 that even thy cross grained OVID aunt
r could speyk civil now"
T "Aye, Aw was fain enuf, Jim, but.
y Ell, lad, Aw can hardly tell yo', Awe
{ kept it to myself for days, but Aw can.
, not bear it no longer. TIL overlooker''
Y ta'en one o. my looms off me an says
g he'll TAX another if Aw don't mend my
t work "
l "Dost mean Jabe Smethurst? Aw'I
r see that rect, Ter heed, Rachel" AnG
J, as they had passed the railway station
7 which stood at the upper end of the res
y ervoir and were in a somewhat secluded
place he put his arm around her waist
n drew her to him and kissed her fondly
t "Say nowt, Jim. It'll do no good
e CATER thinks weel o. Jabe. Hehearkenl
J. to him as if Jabe knew everythin an him
) nowt. An it does look as if my worl
Q was bad, for he gives me such baC
soarts at Aw con on'y do half wha
!, t'others con, an my aunt says who l
> gle me tn key O. tn street if Aw canno
q addle more nor a little wench. It'spiece
d work, tina knows"
e "Aye-well, ne'er heed, my lass. Kis
e mas'll soon be here, an Wen get wed a
lie soon as tn New Yer comes in. AVN