CHAPTER XV.
BEN HOLDEN'S MARRIAGE.
"All love is sweet,
Given or returned. Common as light is love,
And its familiar voice wearies not ever.
******
They who inspire it most are fortunate
As I am now; but those who feel it most
Are happier still."—Shelly.
One beautiful morning in August Ben stood at the big door of the new mill. He was its manager, and he felt to the utmost the importance of his position. Every loom was at work in the building, which was a very handsome stone structure, white inside as lime could make it, and as airy as a bird cage. The multitude of clicking, clacking sounds were the sweetest music to him, and he now was seriously debating with himself as to the necessity of working over hours in order to fill requisitions in fair time. Never had Ben felt so little like "bothering with women-folks" as at that very moment, and perhaps it was for this reason Cupid sent
