Year: 1877




Mills. kept stylish boarding-house,
but took her 10 fill up one of the chnks
where rich boarder would not 20. She
slept In the corner attic, under the r. Of,
where the rain sounded SO loud and the
wind sung In the corners, and kept books
In the cotton factory.


Her father was worse than none, and.
as near as could find out, The girl had
done almost every kind of work to keep
from starving.


AT first dsiked her-she had such a
way of twisting and turning everything,
and making things out of nothing-but
grew to know there was not one in the
house so ready TO help everybody, or SO
liberal as she was with her limited
means.


People talked about that girl cruelty.
and loved her because pitied her, and
knew her TO be as pure as an angel.


She had pretty brown hair, and large,
soft eyes, an a color in her cheeks like
the heart of May rose. and a mouth
that made you think straightway of kiss
es; but such an old, old look In her face,
that have often seen in girls into whose
life too much work has been crowded.


! noticed a marked change in the toll
cts at supper on the arrival of this young
Adonis. Angie had donned her blue f.
chu, frilled profusely with the richest of
creamy lace, and stuck full of little blue
bows. over a silver-colored silk, that rus
tied and shone like starlight. Her hus-
band had lert her little property, which
she privately declared she was not going
to work her fingers to the bone to save,
but should use it as means to ge. a sec
ond husband.


Miss Florida wore purple silk, with
dead white bows, that made her, with
her dark eyes and skin, look like lem
on, ard crazy fringe of curls upon her
forehead, that made her look leaner and
more cadaverous than ever


Mrs. Yetherby wore sea green, with a
surplus amour, of jewelry. Emily Mills
who came late, and did not know of the
mem arrival, wore white calico, with
sprig in II. and the cotton factory not be.
ing an overly clean place, the sleeves
were smutty. saw young Ellery look
at her with his lovely, dreamy eyes and
when | saw her look up at him, knew it
was all up with her, and knew as well as
| do now that she would fall in love with
him, and did hope she would take fan
dy to my son Watson, who though not
particularly brilliant boy, is honest and
good-principled. | knew enough of the
world to know that fine clothes and fine
ways and city bred air would attract a
girl where the sober. prudent way of my
Watson would make no impression. IF
ever Lucifer came down in the form of
an angel of light, it was young Roy El-
lery Whenever saw him walking with
Emily in the shady walks | shuddered !;
dreaded TO have her under the charm
of his magnetic eyes. and his dazzling
ways; but I dared not say anything being
a widow and dependent on my boarders
for a living and Ellery was my best pay.
ing one.


" Beware Of man, though he be your brother,
Who has hair Of one color, and mustache of an


other"


quoted Miss Florida, sharply.


Yet, for all that noticed she did not
take her own warning to heart, for If ever
woman threw herself at mans head,
it was Miss Florida Dorm.


In spite of the lack of 80 many front
teeth, she smiled in his face constantly
did he try to fiirt with willing Angie Bar
ker, in the parlor. she would be sure to be
sitting bolt upright near did he attempt
TO whisper any sweet things to shy Emily
Mills in some twilight corner, she would
contrive to wedge her knife-like blade of
a figure between them.


So the summer crept away, and he had
likewise crept-into the hearts of all my
womenkind. Angie had snubbed poor
Mr.. Geasly, and devoted herself entirely
to Ellery. knew of the two, the latter
liked Emily best, but felt sure be would
never marry her; the young men of to-
day are too cool hearted and too cool
headed, too keenly alive to their own in
terests to marry SO poor girl


So / watched her with dismay, growing
shyer and shyer, and coloring like an ltal-
ian sunset whenever he spoke TO her /; and
III III