Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-21


STAND IT TO LIVE ON 4 F'ARN?"
Hes human" the girl Lizzie told
Monnie. He don't skin you on the
counting up. When he looks at you
you feel that he feels that you're flesh
and blood, same as himself. Mr.. Fow
Ter always acted as if we were part of
our machines.
The weather drifted into extreme
heat and the girls at the machines
worked with sweat on their pale fore
heads. One day Lizzie tainted. The
next day electric fans were installed,
and everybody said she had the fore
man to thank for it. One of the fans
was fixed upon Monnie's eXpanse of
wall. He stopped to see if it was run
ming properly. and spoke to her with a
smile. saying: You ought to have "A
window. but this is the best / can do
for YOU.
She lifted her eyes, nmshed back her
are very yl k dTh she murmnr.H you
I'm not kind. I'm only doing my
duty under difficulties. 1t shames me
to see how hard you girls work here
and the pay You get and the kind of
hole" he paused. his blue eyes like
steel. Well, never mind" he added
smiled again and passed on.
There began to be Z rumor. Monnie
heard it. The foreman was quitting
SATURDAY.
II guess. he's had enough of it, Liz
zie confided. Hes too sympathetic.
But they'd keep him if he'd stay"
Monnie's small face was white under
her masses of dark hair. Her heart
felt lifeless ami heavy. She sat at her
machine and stitched uncomprehend-
ipgly- Over and over the machinery
said one thing: He's going away! He's
going away 81 shall die if he does,
but what will that natter she
thought DULY.
1t was Il terrible afternoon The air
was torrid. full of the presnge of
| |
heat. Lizzie whispered across to Mon
ME: Gee. this is awful" If l ever live
through this day you bet III quit. I'll
go back home and marry Ed He said
Id come to it. and he was right"
The storm broke at / o'clock The
room grew dark that the lights had
TO be switched on. Lightning played
terribly. The nerrier girls kept at
work. To MOnnie storm or calm was
one since he was going away. She
was bendinG over her work turning an
unruly corner--and then she was ly-
ing on somebody's couch and a woman
and a doctpr she never had seen be
fore We're with her.
II feel all right now. she said. has
THY: She thought she had tainted just
as Lizzie had
The doctor looked pleased. CLOSE
CALL he said TO the woman. He pat
ted Monni~'s shoulder You're live
girl, all right. now" lie laughed. but
you came near being a dead one
You We're struck by lightning" eX-
planned the woman.
OH" said Monnie. She shuddered
and shut her eyes. Presently she open
ed them and found Abel Otis face close
to hers. 1t was white but he was
trying to smile. Now you're all right
dear" he said.
She nodded. Somehow it did not seem
strange that he should call. her dear
And the others!-Lizzie?" she asked.
You were the only one. | brough,
you here
They We're alone i'll the room. Sud
denly he whipped little colored photo
graph from his pocket and put it in
her hands. That's home and I'm GO
ing back there saturday, he said dc
you suppose you could stand it to live
on n farm, Monnie"'
II could stand it to live anywhere
with YOU. Monnie answered.
She looked down at the picture Then
she forgot that she had Just been
struck by lightning. that she was
prickly all over AMI that her head
ached. She forgot even that Abel Otis
WAS watching her. For the place in
the picture was the place she had seen
in her vision.
suddenly she. covered her face with
her hands and began to sob.
tTHE ENID