The Louisiana populist., 1897-06-11
A LOST MOONSTONE.
BY ELEANOR w r


I Dolly loved to talk, and, as Floretta
looked interested, she went on.
II learned ever SO many things be-
fore came here. Before I left
school l used to be extra hand il
bookstores and picture stores during
the holidays, particularly Christmas.
The hours were long. very often till
ten at night, and the season was
short, perhaps not more than four OF
five weeks. After l left school I tried
TO make it a regular thing, but the
evening hours were too much for
mother; she wouldn't have it. Then
went with girl I knew and learned
to make mems caps. But the best /
could do at that wasn't more than Eve
dollars week. When you take out
carfares and lunches and pay your
mother two-and'a-half for board, there
isn't much left. I left at the end of
the season; lucky / did, too. They
didn't open again for four months,
Mr.. Chester was just starting then, and,
when he advertised for good sewers. I
came right in and have stayed ever
since"
Floretta sewed in silence few min.
utes.
II hope I shall suit" she said.
wistfully. 81 never worked away
from home before, and You don't know
how bashful felt when first came
IN, and all you girls looked at me.
Up the stairs--for this attic room
was reached by no elevator-fluttered
a beautifully dressed, fair-faced young
woman. She rushed at Miss Hall.
kissed her, nodded with bright smile
TO two or three OF the girls and began
to chatter volubly to the forewoman.
"That's Mrs. Chester" whispered
Dolly. "She used to work here before
she married Mr.. Chester"
Floretta fixed her eyes on the pretty
creature. "Can she sew?" she asked.
and indeed one would have as soon
thought of butterfly or a white
mouse sewing.
"Oh,pretty we'll not SO we'll as you
and l." answered Dolly, candidly.
II can't have SO much noise here"
said Miss Hall, raising her voice.
"You must all sew more and talk less.
Miss Simpson. if you have that tuck
ing done. I'll set You to work on
these eyelet holes I'll give You the
stud to measure by. Now make the
eyelet just right for the stem of the
stud, neither too large nor two small.
Here's the stud; for mercy's sake
don't lose it'll"
"Oh, let me see it," cried Mrs.
Chester, rustling forward. "Oh. what
u beauty! The idea of this being
wasted on man. It ought to be in
a lady's ring. Wouldn't it be lovely
pendant for necklace? 1t is a cross
between pearl and a moonbeam.
She stayed talking some time longer,
then departed, stopping on the top
stair to say, "Oh, you poor girlsl I
wish you could all go to walk this
lovely day"
7 Somehow it seemed darker after she
had one. The girls fell into silence.
Miss Hall called Peter to uncover the
skylight Floretta found herself short
of thread and, applying TO the fore
woman for more, was sharply rebuked
sor not returning her empty spool, as
The rules required, 1t was now one
o'clock. Some of the girls went out
Tor lunch, while Others produced
,mall baskets, and in one corner an
oil stove did yoeman duty in brewing
livers cups of tea
Floretta felt lonely. She looked
It Dolly, but Dolly was setting out
her dinner on the cover of paste
board box, so Floretta put on her hat
Ind started for th, stairs.
''If you're going out, Miss Simp-
ION, said Miss HILL, looking up from
'ome accounts she was auditing, .you'd |
better hand me that stud"