Beautiful but Poor — page 157: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

148 ‘BEA UY TIFUL B UT POOR. ‘TO Cattorn Is it nt a sudden resolution?’’ she asked, in wonder. ‘Well, may be ’tis on his ace His father did talk of sending me there, for he has long wanted to set up a branch bindery to this on the Pacific coast, but I kind o’ hung back. I love my wife and baby, you see, and I couldn’t have afforded to take ’em with me; and as for leavin’ ’em, I’d rather go down to the paste-bench and work for half wages here.’’ Mr. Jones was truly a family man, and_it is a pity there are not more family men like him. “When will Mr. W—— go?’’ asked Hattie. ‘“Very soon—as soon as he can get off, he told me this morning, but I don’t know as I ought to have spoken of it, for he never cares to have his plans known. But I know’ when I tell you anything it will not get blabbed around.” | ‘No, I shall not speak of it to others,’’ said Hattie. And now, when the foreman went away, she felt more than ever wretched. Was he going to leave his pleasant home, his dear parents and sisters, on her account?—because she had thrown a shadow on his life? She could not bear the thon che. she was deter- mined to speak to him. So, taking some work in her hand, as if she wished to consult him, she went di-- rectly to the office. ‘Forgive me, Mr. W——,”’ she said, ‘“‘if I intrude. But I just ledimed that you had spoken of going to California. ’”’ ‘Such is my intention, Miss Hattie.’’ “Oh, Mr. W——, am I the cause of this sudden de- sire to leave your happy home here—your pleasant business? If itis, let me go away. I will never ap- ‘pear in your presence again. Oh, 1am so unhappy!” (efo) micbooks.co mM