The Man She Hated

t night," Sadie Allen said with a sly grin,

rls shimmered under the factory lights as she focused on gui

inally glancing up with a pair of warm b

ooth and glowing, her smile came with cute little dimples, and her face had this quiet strength, framed by loose waves of golden-aubur

ing look. "I heard yo

ickered. Fair's cheek

re just trying to mess with me, Sadie. I don't eve

sborne," someone else chimed in fro

ach other for years-some had started here as kids. Fair herself had come in at twelve, running errands for three bucks a we

ll for embroidery that got her top pay. Rumor was she had left her last job because her boyfriend worked in the showroom do

ir out of her eyes. "Can we not tal

ut he did bring you flowers. An

ld him to leave me alone, but he just wouldn't take the hint. Then he

from her embroidery, her voice

ed so much-but the other girls did.

to visit me, not to give me flowers-n

, bitter laugh. "Wasn't

s your problem, Miss Platt," she said, starting to get annoyed. "

ugh. "So your mom doesn't want you dating at all? That's

I'm the one supporting her? No thanks. And for the record, my mom

nag a rich one?" Miss Plat

n. "If I could get

A factory girl dreaming of

y. But I'll tell you this-I wouldn't marry a poor man, not even if I loved him like crazy. My mom al

omeone beneath her. Got disowned. Ended up in a rundown apartment, struggling to survive, and full of regrets

r lady with grey streaks in her ha

before, and I think it's time someone

d, caught

djusted. But not every poor man makes a bad husband. I married one-a carpenter. We didn't have much, but we worked hard, and we

ng at Fair with k

willing to work beside you. But dreaming about marrying rich? That's not a plan-it's a

girls murmured in agreement-except Sadie Allen, who stayed