The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-08-05
A MfDAiR
ROMANCE
BY MARIAN GRANT


on the top floor of great factory
building, he amid the iron framework
Of huge skyscraper.
lie did not know of her existence,
but she felt quite sure that she should
recognize him If ever they met in the
street, whose noisy, busy life swept on
far below their feet She could always
single him out among the mechanics
working there in midair. No other
workman trod the iron beams with
such assured poise or squared his shout
ders Just as he did 10 the days work.
He did everything with an air OF abso-
lutte confidence which thrilled and mas
tered her.
He was too far away for her TO scru-
tlnize his features. but she was quite
sure that he had honest, clear blue eyes
and brown curly hair. and his eyes
could twinkle merrily. This she knew
by the Iovlal way In which he signaled
his fellow workmcn.
Not that she had much time to study
his mannerisms. for Ellen Mulvihill
was designer in the factory of John
son X Co, makers of ladies' shirt waists
and neckwear. and very busy wo-
man. Perhaps ii was we'll for the firm,
however, that while she designed
stocks and fancy boas she woye In the
thread of her romance, for this strange
ly one sided love affair seemed to beau
tify the whole world for her, and
while her heart sang her fingers work
ed deftly. and the firm reaped the
profit.
If she had not been so absorbed just
at this juncture she might have noticed
that she was rising In the favor of her
employers, but she was quite amazed
one day when they voluntarily raised
her salary. Quite naturally they did
not offer the explanation that they
feared their competitors and gave the
increase as Il precautionary measure.
Ellen accepted 1t as part of the rose
color which had suddenly enveloped
her entire life scheme The extra sal
airy had come just In time. she argued,
for Trixie, the idol Of her heart, or,
rather, the one person who divided
heart space with the hero Of her mid
air dreams, had been wanting TO go to
dancing school these two months-to n
wonderful hall where children all in
white frocks and velvet Fauntleroy
suits trlpped to fairy music.
Ellen lived with her married brother,
and knowing ones would say that she
paid high price for the privilege.
Mulyihlll's wife was something of a
shrew, while Ellen was of more gentle
birth and breeding. The sisterin-law
loved neighborhood gossip and was not
above quarrel with the other jewellers
In the fiat house. Ellen enjoyed her
books, the hall bedroom, furnished and
decorated with the dainty simplicity
which marked her designs ut the fac
tory, and the championship of TriXie.
The girls ut the factory were kind to
her, too, and then there was the quiet,
shadowy church midway 'twixt homo
and work where she stopped each day
to say innumerable "all halls" to the
Blessed Mother, who must have inter
coded to secure for her so much happi-
ness.
1t was about month after the mem
orable advance in salary that an oml-
nous silence fell upon the Mulyihill
supper table. Ellen knew instinctlvely
that some domestic problem was COM
ing up for discussion.
At last John Mulvlhill pushed back
his empty teacup and lighted his pipe.
"Ellen, the Shamrock association are
after givin' their annual ball week
this Tuesday night. an the wife an
mesllf think you'd best be goin' along
Ellen raised startled eyes to her
brothers face.
I'm no dancer, as you well know,
John, an crowds like that give me the
headache. I'd rather stop at home with
Trixie."
John Mulvihill's face darkened.
You're always stoppin' at home with
the child, an 1t is time you went out
an met the boys an had steady com
pany. You're the first Mulvihill girl
that ever passed twenty five without
hayin' her offers TO marry You'll new
er marry If you stay coopcd up here
night after night an not even visitin'
our friends of Sunday afternoon"
Going to the Shamrock association
ball in search of husband! Ellen's
face famed, then turned pale. But.
then, they did not know about him.
The very thought seemed like treason
to the strong, erect figure which never
passed out of his mental vision.
"If's wnll nponph off I on, Tnhp
without n husband, an see no reason
why you an Mary should want to mar
ry me or. I'm thinkln' Trixie would
miss her old auntie sorely." And she
drew the child close as IL to ward of
with her innocent childhood some i'm
pending disaster.
Mrs. Mulvihlll blazed forth on the in
slant
Yes, an that's what the neighbors
are all sayin'-that | use you as nurse
girl for the child an dance an go tC
! the theater with John an my child
would suffer II 1t wasn't for you They
talk like you was sort of Cinderella
an it's tired | nm of their long tongues
Did | ever ask you To spend money or
IFiAN Whcu you needed III Tor YOU
own clothes? Did | ever ask you L
stay home with the child? It's an un
grateful lot, that's what you are, t.
bring me In disrepute with me neigh
bors just because you're that uppisl
our friends amt good enough for you"
And that was how Ellen happened
to go to the ball of the Shamrock asso
citation. She gave her sister In Law
carte blanche In the matter of new
dress, and that parsonage. restored &c
FOOD humor, reveled In the purchase
md making OF real white satin frock
But the day of the ball Ellen could
hardly keep her mind ON her work HeI
glance would wander toward the sky.
Scraper where he was working. She
felt that he was whistling his move
ments We're so brisk And John was
trying. with the best intentions, &c
marry her Off solely to maintain the
honor of the Mulvihill family. She
aad thought of Il day when she should
marry, when the skyscraper was done
perhnnS and he become n contra etor