The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-04-24
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of machinery dleu away ana was sue
coeded by the shouts of small boys who
came trooping from the doors of the
GREAT factory. Soon wide stream of
humanity was surging toward the en-
trance gates. Following the boys
came the young men with long strides,
and after them the women and girls
and great mass of operatives, and,
lastly, hobbling along with the aid OF
canes, tho veterans of the mill-men
and women who had almost outlived
their usefulness, but who were still
kept on the payroll of the company.
A few minutes and the smoke hoy
cring over the red chimney lost itself
in the clouds, the night watchman
came out with his lantern, the gates
were closed, and another days work
was finished.
For all but the bookeeper. In his
office he still bent over long columns
of figures. Up and down, up and down
his fingers moved until at last he raised
his head wearily. 1t was too dark to
sec. Taking his hat from its nail in
the corner he made q movement to-
ward the door, but instead of going out
ho suddenly raised his hand to his
chest with a low gasp Of pain. For a
moment ho groped blindly for chair,
then sank upon the floor. Half an
hour later he rose slowly and went out,
carefully locking the door behind him.
AS he went down the steps he looked
like an old man, his figure was 80 bent.
But gradually his walk grew finer,
and by the time he had reached the
little house at the end Of the village he
had regained his customary upright
carriage.
You are late, Felix" said COM
planning voice as he entered the small
sitting room; tea has been waiting
nearly an hour"
" Yes, mother, know" he answer
ed, as he stopped and kissed her
wrinklcd forehead; but 1 could not
possibly get away sooner. There is a
press of work at the office, and"
But the thin hands were raised an.
pcallngly.
"Spare me, Felix Your father
never used to speak about business.
That was left to the agent. If he had
lived we would never have come TO
this," and she glanced about the bare
room p,tcously.
" Poor little motherl" his voice was
very tender as he rested his hand for
moment Oh her gray hair. " It Is
hard, but perhaps il will be all right
sometime"
Something in his voice caused her
lips to tremble little.
81 do not mean to be cross, Fclix,''
she said, wlstfully, but everything Is
SO different. Your father should have
left man in charge of The property.
You are not to blame. You were only
boy and did what you thought was
best"
lie had heard the complaint many
times before, but he answered simply
Yes, mother. l have done what ]
thought was best"
At this moment, a tall, fair girl en-.
tered the room.
Come, Felix" she said, brightly.
" shall not wait any longer. You
must cat supper 80 l can wash the
dishes. After that you and l will take
walk down by the canal. / want to
talk"
A reasonable want,n he laughed,
as he followed her into the dining
room.
Except in age they were very much
alike, this brother and sister; tall and
1alr, with warm eyes and quick, sum,
smiles. Only about the temples of tho
young mamie was net yet forty-~tht
Drown hair was beginning to turn.
while he was eating the girl watched
nm anxiously. Suddenly she broke
out with:
I" spent the afternoon with DIR.
Breen's wife,"
Yes"
And-and she said that her hus-
pand mat been talkiug about you--that
you ought to leave the onice."
" Yes, he told ne something to that
eject nearly year ago, and / believe
mas mentioned II several times slnce."
lie spoke lightly and helped himself to
another biscuit.
And you never told us7" reproach-
fully.
What was the use? l was not
ready to leave the Office" Then he
added, whimsically: "I have arrang
ca Tor grand spree in August. Harry
'~A>t ''Soo Hlll NC nome from school
and the four of us will 90 for a months
Jollillcation among the Maine lakes,
Aunt Betty will come and stay with
mother"
For moment she looked at him TO
sec if he were in earnest, then in spite
OF her twenty-five years, promptly
mounted chair and whirled a napkin
above her head. Then she INDUCED
IN an energetic pantomimc of war
whoop.
Eelix watched her appreciatively.
:. ~, That's the way l feel" he said.
cs, Ihe mere thought of vacation after
tnsceh tn years of Office work is like q
thn n'G; g.. Now, suppose l help you with
,ot ,e.o ,'us ulshes, and then we Will 90 out and
''' you ifec yourself of the stalk.'n
,,. fellx," she said little later %
a"Gy "Tr were Hrs, walking along the canal
nnn nr. hreen's cousin arrived from
nenner -, @ today. lie said he would call
on you soon, and seemed vcrv ~ nu"h @
surprised SURPRISED, to learn that you were @ on" ,,n'a
boonkeeper: boon oa lie said that YOU had d
,"''a noch one of the brilliant men M ~, n"I ne,u
lGOG and thoI 'i'SI bI COL