The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-06-30
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streaming out into III
black night, the workmen casting gro
tesque shadows as they stopped a
their tasks, the glowing lakes anC
streams Of white-hot metal In tht
process of tapping of" and the square
face and heavy brows OF one maj
whom Paul Rubie touched upon the
shoulder.
'March. let your helper relieve you
Ladies, this is the best workman in tho
whole range of mills. He had some
idea OF lifting himself above this
sphere at one time; but there's a SOFT
of magnetism about the business, il
would seem, that drew him back again
Tell them how il is. March
There's more heart in the iron than
there is in some men," said March,
'and that is the whole story, except
that | grew up in the mills and don't
find myself at home in the world out
side OF them"
Something thrilled Madeline Darley
as he spoke, an unmistaka5le memory
of that firm, rather moody face under
circumstances very different from his
present surroundings. She was climb
ing the mountain-side in short skirts
and stout boots next day, when she
dropped her stick and "A bunch of
maiden-hair ferns she had dug up, and
found herself blush.ng under the eyes
OF Royal March. He had n specimen
of ore in his hands. and had evidently
been prospecting by authority, for he
gave her the impatient glance one be-
slows upon an Intruder then lifted his
hat in gentlemanly recognition and
stood aside to let her pass. But Miss
Darley put out both hands, with mis-
chlevous laugh at his bewilderment
"Mr. March, / have n notion TO leave
you completely puzzled, though I knew
you after my first glance last night.
Suppose | say thank you for an old
service, and-if | may-sorry your in
vention did not succeed. | remember
i was sure that it would"
: With her words the light OF memory
broke slowly over him, presenting n
night scene in a railway carriage, with
himself, slim young fellow, saving
n still younger girl from the opera.
tons Of a showly-dressed woman, who
had thrown a chloroformed kandker
chief over the sleeping girls face, and
was relieving her of her iewelry when
detected in the act. With conscious.
ness restored, the girl overhowed with
gratitude, and the .wo young people
grew confidential during the remain
der Of that night journey, and parted
with the feeling of regret which is nat
ural to the circumstances. never cX-
pectinS to meet again. But with seven
years between that time and this they
were face to face.
"Let me trust your venture was a
more successful one" said March, an
swerng her alluslon 20 that time and
warming, as what man would not, I'M
der her gracious smile. "You were
going TO win the favor OF a relation
who was to make you her helress, IL
remember rightly.
! Miss Darlcy's countcnancc fell.
"But | failed too" she answered,
frankly. "And find It Eard to for.
give myself, because a mean ana hyp-
ocritical person gained by trcachery
what | ought to have had by right
What a chord Of sympathy should
stir in March's breast he best knew,
In each other awoke ana intensified
and it was due to Madelinc's impcri0us
demand that Mr.. March was invited
to make his appearance in that upper
stratum Of society which found itself
at Mr.. Ruble's table, AZ the next dinner
party given by the latter,
Il want TO see how he looks in
drawing room" said she; and'he looked
very WELL as Paul Ruble himself was
forced to acknowledge, with no pleas.
ant thoughts.
Two weeks more. and Madeline Oar
ley awoke TO a sense OF the danger into
which she had drifted, and the waking
came in the shape Of the following let.
ter:
my Dear Maddy-if you are doing
no better at getting into Mr. Ruble's
good graces than you managed with
Aunt Murlda-though | must say
think she was most shabby, after rails
Ing our expectations by paying your
schooling, which | never did believe
In them boarding schools where silly
chits get such proud notions in their
heads as sets 'em high and mighty
above their own kith and kin. us | have
told you is ungratefui and what |
never expected to see from my own
child and more than all poor Darley's
daughter, though if it had been one OF
Smiths it wouldn't have surprised me
for the man is more contrary every
day OF his life. Which brings me back
to say that the girl has gone away
after his last tantrum, aud II you amt
going to get married rich. after all,
you'd better come home and take up
some OF the work, for with the six
children and three boarders can't get
along. Your affectionate mother.
y "HENRIETTA SMITH"
The missive dropped into Miss Oar
ley's lap. The vision OF home ii con-
jured gave her a repulsive chill-home
In city tenement with her violent.
tempered step-father presiding, her
mother with whatever good looks and
good traits she might once have pos
sessed long since worn out leaving
only soured, shrewish woman; the
children, so many young imps OF mis-
chief without ans Of the loveliness OF
childhood about them-what wonder
that Madeline shuddered at that pros.
pect and turned eagerly to any other
that offered n rplaase9 Rovat Nfarcb's