Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-07-15

the block, and assembled the long flight
OF carpeted wooden stairs which was
the common property of ali the inhabi-
| tants.
| Pausing at a door on the fourth
story, she knocked softly.
"Come in" was lLe reply, and open
ing the door Tiny Clarence entered.
1t was a small room comparatively
bare Of furniture, but very neat. A it
tie bed occupied the further corner of
the room. and the smallest possible
remnant OF fire smouldered in the
tiny CRATE, with one or two chairs and
a pine table constituted all the rest OF
the outfittings.
Close to the window young woman
sat sewing while a crippled child
played on the floor at her feet She
arose as Tiny entered.
as it you, Miss Clarence?" she said.
her pale face momentarily dyed with a
deep tinge of color, as she curtsied a
timid welcome: this is but a poor
place for you to come"
Miss Clarence!' repeated our little
heroine, reproachfully. You used to
call me Tiny when we were schoolgirls
together, Helen"
But there is such gulf between us
now!"
rich? because you are a forsaken
widow and I am still the favored child
OF fortune? Helen. you judge me un-
JUSTLY"
Helen Starts eyes filled with tears.
| Dear Tiny will never do so
again"
II brought you some more sewing"
said Tiny, carelessly, as she sat down
by the side of her sadly changed
schoolmate. by the way Helen do
you still sew for Sargent and Copley?"
yes. am going there this afternoon
to return some work and try to get a
loan"
Are you?"
! Tiny strcve to speak unconsciously,
although the deep crimson flushed her
neck and brow.
Would you object to my going with
you? II have a great curiosity to see
the inner workings of one of those
great manufacturing establishments
| II shall be glad of your company"
do they pay you well?" went on
Tiny, affecting to be deeply interested
in removing a speck of mud from the
hem Of Brdget's brown cloth cloak.
Mrs, Starr shook her head sadly.
HSt n ruattnn tn ~
Sargent has just cut down the wages
one-quarter. He says times are hard
and he cannot meet expenses"
"Yet he drives the handsomest
horses in New York and lives in a
: brown stone palace" observed Tiny.
II know it, but such is the universal
! justice between employer and en-
| nloved. We are powerless and they
know l.. these g"iodirr rich neonle"
She was folding up the bundle Of
neatly sewn shirts as she spoke and
! putting on her own worn and shabby
garments.
( you will be good and quiet, Charlie,
and not go near the fire until mamma
returns?" she added, pausing on the
threshold.
Eyes, mamma" the child answered,
with docile meekness.
! He was accustomed to being left
! alone, poor little fellow, and then Hell
en- and Tiny set forth together on an
errand entirely novel to the latter.
1t was pay day at the establishment
/ of Sargent & Copley, and long string
I of worn-looking women, some young
and some old but all pale and pinched,
like plants that had grown in shade,
! were waiting their turn for the mser-
able remuneration due them.
Mr.. Copley fat, oily-loOking man,
with a white neck-cloth and beaming
spectacles, stood behind a ponderous
ledger. a day-book, and Mr.. Sargent,
with an expression Of face very differ
ent from what he had that morning
leaned against the edge of the desk and
! took in the work, examining and COM
! menting on it as he did so.
For Mr.. Sargent chose himself to
|
/ ness. Nor was the tongue of Islander
behindhand in proclaiming that he
contrived to make money out Of this
personal supervision.
Clara Coyt?" he called out sharply,
AS pale. freckled young girl neared
him. "how much due Clara Coyt? Ten
dollars and seventy cents. TaI.e off 81
work creased from sewing machine"
But, sir" began the girl.
Nine seventy-here you are! Pass
on Clara Coyt! Now. then, Mary Ma
calister-behind two days. Fine Mary
! Macalister so cents!"
So he went on, quick to detect or
imagine faults, vigorous to punish,
| merciless to exact fines. until scarcely
one of he waiting throng received the
amount OF money fairly due her
When Helen Starts name was
called, she advanced timidly, with her
brown-clad companion at her side.
Helen Starr" sharply enunciated
Mr.. Sargent scrutinizing her roll OF
! work -Four dollars-deduct forty