The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-04-22
A LOST MOONSTONE.
ny ELEANOR w. F. BATES,

By ELEANOR w. F. BATES.
It was large, bare room, white
washed once. but now cobwebby as to
the ceiling and dingy as to the walls. A
dozen sewing machines stood about,
each in such light as its worker could
best attain. But no part of the room
was dark, for there were large, high
windows and an ample skylight. which
let in u noble flood of sunshine. even to
dazzling on clear day, so that Miss
Hall, the forewoman of the shirt fac
tory. petitioned Mr.. Chester for cur
tain.
"Oh, don't shut out that lovely sun
light" cried fresh young voice.
you'll be blind yourself some day,
and then you'll know how good it is"
replied tho unrelenting forewoman.
"Tll send up Peter" said Mr.. Chester.
"Here's an order for six shirts. They
must be just right and made by hand.
The eyelet holes must be bigger than
common, to accommodate the custom
er's stud. He left it for measurement;
here it is; keep it to-day, and hand it to
me when you go home. Look out for
it."
The patentee and manufacturer of
Chester's superior shirts disappeared,
and Miss Hall held up the gem and
looked at 1t. Two or three girls left
their seats and came, with sewing
dangling over their arms, to inspect the
stud. It was really beautiful moon
stone Of unusual size and luster, set in
the narrowest rim of rold.
"I've hearu that they are costly
things," said Miss Hall. "Go back to
your work, girls, and don't idle any
longef."
At the extreme end Of the room sat
two young women. One Yves a new
hand. who had propitiated Miss Hall by
a sample Of exquisite neetllework. Her
name was Floretta Simpson. The other,
Dolly Burr, was older, and had been in
Mr. Chester's employ ever since he had
patented his handmade shirts, which,
from the unvarying excellence Of their
manufacture, were fast making his
fortune. She was now initiating Floretta
into certain technicalities. They had to
change their seats; for Peter, general
utility man, now appeared and draped
a white cloth across the sunny skylight,
to othedarkemng of the corner where the
girls had placed themselves.
Can you get along now, think ?" said
Dolly.
"Yes; you're awfully good" said
Floretta. II know how to sew, but I
never could put a garment together. I
couldn't do a whole shirt to save my
life"
"Well, you won't have to here. We
them all the year round. That girl over
there does all the necks, unless there are
too many; the new hands try the seams
first. Last month we were rushed SO it
took all one girls time just to put in
gussets, and she's quick worker, too.
You're in luck to be set to tucking; I
think it's such pretty work."
IF these are all handmade garments,
what are those machines doing there ?"
asked Floretta.
"Well, you see there is cheaper
garment which is substantially hand
made, all but the seams; nnd when
work is dull. Mr.. Chester gets out a lot
Of them and sells to retailers; but they
are not the patented article, and don't
fetch the same price. You'll have to run
a machine sometimes. I'd just as soon;
it makes a change. I used to run q mar
chine all tho time, but that's hard
work."
Floretta sewed in silence a few min
utes.
II hope shall suit" she said. visit
fully. II 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 q
beautifully-dressed, fair-faced young
woman. She rushed at Miss Hall, kissed
her, nodded with bright smile to two
OF three Of the girls. and began to chat
ter 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 well as you
and l." answered Dolly. candidly.
II can't have so much noise here, y
said Miss Hall, raising her voice. "You
must all sew more and talk less. Miss
Simpson, if you've got that tuckine
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 fol
the stem of the stud, neither too large
nor too small. Here's the stud; fol
mercy's sake don't lose it,"
'Oh, let me see it," cried Mrs. Chester
rustlipg forward. "Oh, what a beauty
The idea Of this being wasted on man
It ought to be set in a lady's ring
Wouldn't it be lovely pendant for &
necklace? 1t is cross between pear