The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-12-22
A Plain Story Of Plain Folks
By Lizzie M. Holmes.

chimes on the long tables ceased their
clatter and the new silence seemed to
settle down with a startling emphasis
on ears accustomed for so many hours
to a ceaseless din and turmoil. It was
hot, suffocating unwholesome, and the
very air seemed to reek with weari-
ness and lassitude. The hands were
too tired for their usual banter and
chaff as they passed one another, but
piled up their work and hurried away
in silence.
Mary Kent, "the little old maid" as
they called her, who sat in farther
corner, folded up the garment in her
lap, smoothed back her gray-streaked
but wavy locks YEARLY and sighed.
She felt unusually depressed and tired,
and her head ached. AS a general
thing she sang at her work and al
ways had smile for any passing COM
rade, or CHEEKY answer to any greet
Ing. But tonight she was silent and
seemed very sad. She was middle
aged, plain, poor, little and lame and
lonely. but her deep blue eyes held a
soft, tender light that made her at
tractive even yet.
She slowly made her preparations
for home, giving a glance now and
then toward the open door Of the
pressing room through which the heat
ed air could be seen quivering out into
the larger room. The men were still
working, the sweat pouring down their
faces, necks and arms from which
their thin undershirts were turned
away and rolled up as far as posi-
BILE. Mary passed the door and looked
IN. A thin. bent, oldish-looking man,
with light sandy hair struggling over
his head, and meek, kindly eyes, stood
near the entrance. He barely glanced
upward as Mary stopped, though a
close observer could see by the tremor
OF the hand that gripped the big, hot
iron, that he was disturbed; be he only
worked away harder than before.
Good night, Ben," she said with a.
lurking tenderness in her voice.
GOOD night, Miss Mary" he ans
wered meekly
1T is very hot tonight. isn't it? Do
you feel it badly?"
1T is hot; but I'm standing II very
well
III 5lau. well, u1lSerlngly, good
night, Ben"
Good night" Mary passed slowly
on her way, looking back regretfully
at the man bent so patiently over his
toll. She had hoped he would saw
more to her, or look at her with a
little OF the old interest, but-this was
all.
No one would have dreamed of a.
romance between two such common
place. plain, working people,
Ihey were no longer young, they were
snop drudges,' poor, without leisure
and apparently without imagination
Yet there had been feeling between
them which had blessed and saddened
the long years behind them,~ exper-
lences, hopes, fears, tdisappointments,
that had made their lives richer and
1uller, though not heavier with sor-
row than If they had not been.
Twelve years before Mary came to
the shop to find work a CHEEKY, hearty
girl Of twenty-three, whose hardships
had failed to quench her spirits or
cool her courage and determination to
win life's battle bravely. She had
died when she was fifteen and her edu-
cation unfinished. When his affairs
were settled it was found there was
very little left for his widow and child.
Something had to be done, and Mary's
mother set up dressmaking shop
taking Mary from school to help her.
For seven or eight years they made
a tolerably good living, and then Mrs.
Kent's health failed. She became en-
invalid and Mary did not feel COM
petent to carry on the business alone.
But she must do something and as
she knew nothing so we'll as sewing
she applied to the first large clothing
establishment Of which she could
learn and went towork. She had re-
manned in her own particular corner
ever since. Her slight lameness was
caused by an accident when a child:
she did not suffer from the injury and
only when she tried to hurry was it
percept1ble.
Ben Seaver had not been long in the
place when Mary came; he noticed her
one morning; standing back hesitat-
1ngly with her hands full of collars
and seams to press, while other girls
crowded in ahead Of her. Mary was
not shy, but simply good-natured and
disliked to push her way among the
others. Ben saw that she waited
much longer than usual-for men and
women working for dear life 'by the
piece" have no time for politeness-
and presently contrived to find place
for her near his table. She thanked
him and he responded kindly, which
little episode led to further conversa-
tion. 1t came to be the ordinary
thing for her to come to his table to
do her pressing and gradually they
became quite we'll acquainted, finding
much in each other to like. After
time they looked for each other at
the noon hour and ate their cold
bread and meat with tin cups of tea
made on the pressers' stove, together,
while they told each other little his
tories OF commonplace troubles and
Joys. They were quietly happy to-
gether, and If one for any reason were
absent. the day seemed long and tire
some to the other. They nearly al
ways walked the long three miles to
Mary's home together, Ben coming