The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-04-01

NihulA. Ism %he SJilSucd with the
wages. or is the work too hnrd:"
We'll. tits naythey mcm." said Nora.
SoHcriy inspecting her twisting fingers.
'Shc don't want to- DO nursin' any
more. The Began gurrls do be at her
all The time to 60 INTO the factory. lis
a young thinc she is. an 'tisn,t strange
SheS &fthcr young company" she
added. still faithful 90 her crumblinc
idol
So Bridget dropped out Of the house
mold. and dare say she should not be
blamed for prcferinG association with
her own kind to the restraining society
of plain middlc-agcd woman. whose
conversation was tirelesSly reminiscent
OF the affairs OF The Flahertys ana the
O'Toolcs of preceding generation.
Br:dget's place was satisfactorily
filled by Il Stolid Swedc. whose knowl.
cage OF English did no, include q fo
miliarity with the Irish brogue. Bird
get came but seldom To visit her aunt
ana Nora. in accordance with well-di.
rected hints. RETAINED from obtrudinc
| upon the society Of the factory. and
uncomplaingly fed back into the old
oull life which had been frightened
| by this brief period Of Elusive mother
! hood
Another season OF excitement began
Tor Us when Nora one morning project
ed her bristling forelock which she
called her bang" in at a crack of my
chamber door with the startling an
! rounccment:
'IreneS sick"
| Irene l inquired vaguely
Nora looked embarrassed. "Brldpet
] mean" she explained. following the
bang with the rest of her person
trembling with excitement. "Irenos
the name she goes by at the factory.
Bridget bein' so queer an old-fash-
Toned. you know"
! reDreSsed smile ut the affected
change OF name so characteristic OF
the shallow nature, and soon became
Interested in Nora's story. Her niece
had become suddenly i'll at the factory
presumably from overwork and had
Dc2n taken TO the hospital. where she
lay critically i'll of typhoid fever.
Nora was loud in her self-accusations
and expressions OF sympathy.
The swate lamb" she cried "To
think of her workin' herself TO the
point an me takin' no note, IT'S true
Tor you. I'm a wicked womanr'
The warm and tender heart had
opened again, and Bridget's dcsertion
and neglect were all forgotten. 1t
seemed to me that l could see cause
other than devotion to her duties for
the girls collapse but I made no com
ment and gave Nora The desired per
mission to 90 to The hospital.
Then came time when Bridget's
life hung In the balance. and Nora her
heart bursting with GRIEF ana anxiety.
vibr1tcd between the girls bedside
and her own household duties with
much deTment 10 the latter
During this period She served MP to
us the most incredible ANA mysterious
dishes, and went about with eyes So
dimmcd with tears that the Kitchen
door was paved with broken china.
grease spots and mpromptu omcIcts.
Every comfort ana luxury she law.
ishcd ON the s.cE girl. and i'm time
Bridget was ou. of DANGER n is safe
To- say that the h1pp.cst day of Nora.s
life was thc one upon which sbe
learned this fact.
Bridgots couyalc,ccucp was slow
and tedious. however. ana DURING f.
She boarded with Inc Boglus' lar rv
penscs naturally being met from Nora's
pocket TO" her own earnings had gone
long ago fos iuciy
| When she was able She came to tine
house to SEQ hol aunt ana to- gct