Pittston Gazette

              KSTAKMS1IK1I IS'ill. i voi.,. xtau. no. ;::t. i' Cities! Newspaper in the Wyoming Villey. PITTSTON, LUZERNE CO., IDA„ FRIDAY, APRIL 20, IHiK. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. J 91.SO PER ANNUM 1 IN ADVANCE THE 01D MILL MYSTERY. 'Matter, Tom? Why, nothing, «Df lass, in such a matter. I'm no champion of Gilieou; Imt, then, I feel that 1 made one or two who thought with him speak their minds. leaving the room, and as he was mov Ing away a sudden temptation seemed to come over him, and he threw his arms round her and clasped her tightly to him"as he exclaimed: I am sorry for wharf 1 may have said the la*t. time we we were together. T can't tell you that my feeling for yon is changed in one respect," ho said, smiling sadly; "perhaps it would be a good tiling if I could. That feeling will never change, Mary, but I will bury it and hide it, and play at pre- ont to the ran«h. There the}' havo all Wn for over a year, growing np with the country. course,' "Good evening, Roylance," said Ren boil Oorringe; "there's nothing' more the matter than that Miss Ashworth— Mary, that is—and I have been for a walk together, and have bad an interesting little talk. That's air." And while he was speaking, and after ho bad finished, he looked curiously from one to the other. answered the girl MEANDERING NYE. can scarce go against the society. It's pull devil, pull baker in my case, and no mistake." Hut there were more on tho other side, and after some rather heated talk they ap]KDinted a deputation to see WHAT WILLIAM SEES ON THE CARS No change has taken place on the ranch, ho the colonel told me, except that Ferdinand II last October one day, when the gum tree was ablaze with color and the bine grass a soft emerald under the beantifnl shade of the reddening oak, curled up in a fence corner and died. "Hut you can tell them your opinion can't you, Tom?'' asked the girl, whC had grown fjrave at the vvuy her com puniou hud spoken. the manager 011 the nt'xt day, to try to get tiilieon 1'rawle reinstated. "You shall kiss me then. Mary, even if you won't tlirow mo a kind word." and he drew her to him and strove to press his lips to here TO AMUSE HIM. By Arthur W. Marchmont, B. A. Reuben Gorringe met the men readily enough; but would not give way an A Rrlof Account of the Earl of Tlnktum, "Yes, I can do that; but I haven't the tfift of the gab thatGibeon has, nor a tithe of the influence ho has, either.' inch She struggled with all her strength to escape from his grasp, and, finding she could not, called out loudly for help. tuxfti- that it's (lead. Tom and y&M RvO let ing well by me. in this strike bother, and I'll do what I can for you both. I'll show you that if I'in net to bo chosen before another man, afe ! 4.1 can be man enough to bear no tublicc toward him. (live mo yonr hand, my lass," he tool: it and pressed his lips to it. "God bless you, and make you as happy as I wish you to be." With Picture Drawn From Nature to "No, no, my men. You know ine and you know my ways. When I say a thing I mean it. Gibeon Prawle's a loafer and not a worker, and there's no room in any mill or shed in my care for men who shirk their work. This is a .matter between him and me, and the society's got naught to do with it. All the other little things you've mentioned we can talk about, and I'll do all I can to meet you. But I won't take Gibeon back. Mr. Coode"—this was the proprietor of the mill—"and I have talked over this matter of Gibeon, and he's left it to me absolutely; and my answer is this, if 1 shut the old n»Ul up till it drops in ruins, I won't have him back." Match—Th«» Komance of an Oyater—Nye's Author ok "Mih«r Hojuilky'r 8«« iikt "Madai.ine Powek," "By Whom "Indeed," said Tom Koylanoe, cool-' ly. "Then, as Mary and I have an appointment it's my turn to go for a walk with her, and to 'have an interesting little talk;' and as I had fixed In the other direction for the walk we won't trouble you to turn back," and without) saying anything more he took the girl's hand, tucked It into his arm and walked away with her. What shall you do?" Now Smoking Jacket. Some said it was homesickness, but generally it was agreed that Ferdinand died because he had been disappointed and deceived by the Earl of Tinktum. Hand." "Isa &C., &C "I'm thinking I shall stand out against Gibeon, at any risk, lass; and that's the truth, though if things came to a pass I shan't fancy playing knobstick.' I reckon that's only another name for traitor." "You'd better yield to me," cried the coward, between his teeth, "for my blood's up, and I won't answer for the consequences." 18M, by Edgar Wj Nye.] lCA'lDyright. liy the Author 1 Lant week we were in the Tennessee momitains. so often referred to by Charles Egbert Oraddock. Surely Charles has a wonderful field in which to work. A bride and groom rode in our car all the forenoon from the extreme east of the state to Memphis. He had Titian hair and fine cut chewing tobacco for whis- Still Voyaging O'er the Perarah. The colonel got to speaking of the calumny against Kentucky regarding the matter of whisky. I shall never think anything else," he skIiUmI, very earnestly, as ho went closer to her. and what's mor "Help, help!" called Mary, renewing her struggles. "But don't you mean the woman must b« discharged, doctor?" moi.oopn. "I don't see why a man's a traitor for doing what he thinks is right," said Mary Ashworth, firmly. "I know if I were sure a certain course were the right one, I'd take it in the face of anything." Then the door of tho cottage was thrown open quickly, hurried steps passed along the passage, and Tom Roylance burst into the room. Tho girl said nothing—could find nothing to Fay, being touched by his words; but let her hand rest in his for a moment and then drew it gently away, saying after a long pause: "We don't consume any more whisky than Maine does," he said, "but we want it good. Now, my neighbor, Judge Elder, wanted some of the same kind of whisky as mine—it is 9 years old, which is plenty old enough, I think, and about as old as we allow it to get here—so he went up to Louisville and bought a barrel of it for medicinal purposes. He aeked me to come down to his place after he got home and sample it. I told him it was the same thing as mine, only that I thought I could detect a flavor of iron— just a trace—in it. "Yes; that's exactly what I do mean There's no alternative." "You forget, Mr. Gorringo, that you are the manager of the mill, and 1 am only one of the work people." CHAPTER IL run SHADOW OF TBOITBI.n. In a moment he had thrown himself upon Gibeon Prawle, and, seizing him by the throat, a desperate struggle ensued, in the midst of which, Gibeon, suddenly breaking away from the other man, pushed him back on to a chair, and with muttered curses and threats rushed out of the room. "Well, but she's just as mad as when she first came into the asylum," exclaimed the first speaker, Mrs. Noyle, the matron of the female side of Wadsworth lunatic asylum. "Nonsense, stuff and rubbish, Mary. I was a mill liand, too, wasn't I? and not so long ago, either. If I've made a bit of brass, where's the goCxl of it. if I can't do what I like, aye, and have whom I like to share it. You'd better change your mind, lass, and say you'll "Has the boss been saying anything to worry you, Mary?" asked Tom Roylance, when the two had been some little time alone. " lie looked black enough when I came up," and the young fellow laughed. "I hope we shall be friends;" nor had she even the faintest spark of suspicion that he was not absolutely sincere in all his words. "Oh yes; you g'.rls are always so jolly lirm alxmt doing what's right—when you don't have to do it," answered Tom Roylance, a little irritably. And from this position nothing could "Yes; I know that as well as you do," returned Dr. I Sat ley 5 "but here's the order from the commissioners for her release, and we've neither the  to question it nor the power to detain the woman." To him. it was a very great matter even to think of taking sides against his fellow unionists. move him. "Yes, we shall be friends, find there is something- I can ask you to do as a first proof of it. You onn do it, I think. It is something connected with this business of tho strike. I have arranged, as you know, for the places of some of tho men who are going1 out to he taken by women whom I am bringing to Walkden Bridge. There may be a little difllculty in getting some of them housed, and I want to kpow if you can take one of them hero." The question was a somewhat awkward one for Mary. She did not wish to make mischief between the two And the men wen ta way with grave faces and consulted, and then came back and began to talk of striking jnarrv me he Interrupted her impetuously void you—" she liegan, when men. "I didn't mean to annoy you," said Mary, gently—seeing at onee that her answer had grated on him. "1 only hoped to strengthen you in doing right. I know it will be a big wrench for you to go against the rest." "You can strike if you wish. Tomorrow if you like," said Oorringe, resolutely. "It'll make no difference to me. Every hand who's ever bet'n in the place knows that for good work 1 give good pay; and that in every matUfi I can meet you in, 1 meet you. But you shan't force me to take back a lazy, gabbling loaier. It's not right. I've no quarrel with the society; and if you force one on me I shall fight you." CHAPTER IV. SAVANNAn MORBYN. "Hut she's not fit to !«• at  She's a murderess—nothing iu»wc or nothing less," cried the matron, indignantly."Yt 1 know you've told me, i.. once for the mutter of ' 'Jh, no; only some nonsense or other he .'•as in his head," she answered. The days that followed were days of trouble and doubt. Gibeon Prawle's influence with the men prevailed; the strike was determined upon, and the notices were given in. "He was sorry to hear that, and a week afterward he got Colonel Dillingham to come down and pass hie opinion nd nioi that," and ho laughed again good naturally. "And what's more, you'll have to goon tolling me scores of times yet, before I shall believe you. You'll have to give way in the long run." "Well, so long as he doesn't think too much about you I don't care. What did he mean by having an interesting talk with yon?" "I don't say that ( shall do that. There may he no cause." "That may be," answered the doctor, dryly, "but the commissioners can't be expected to set up the .question of a patient's sanity against a rule of red-tape. What has happened is this: The certificate on which this woman, Lucy Howell, has  brought in is invalid; the new certificate was to have been here, anil hasn't come; consequently she will have to be set at liberty." After the 8cene in Mary's cottage there was no longer room for doubt in Tom's mind as to which side he would take, and he declared strongly and angrily against Gibeon. "I was waiting for you at the gate where wo generally meet when he came up and began to talk about one thing and another." "When is it to be decided?" asked "Oh, yes, easily," answered Mary, readily. "TVho Is it? Where does 6he "Itcannot Ik?, Mr. Gorringe." Mary "Reuben," ho interposed; "you may as well call mo by that name first as last." "We've aC-meeting to-night; and it's close on time, too." They had turned in their walk and were now near to Walkden Bridge again. "There's Gibeon."COTT-O from?" "Bho is a weaver, named Savannah Morbyn; and she comes from the other Bide of the county." "Do 'you like Reuben Gorringe, Mary?" he asked, turning and looking sharply into her face. When they pressed for arbitration, he said it was no use. He would not consent to agree to any arbitrator wht tried to prevent him from getting rid of a lazy workman. This brought about much ill-feeling, and Tom was threatened more than once with what would happen if he turned "knobstick." Others, however, more cautious and friendly, urgod him to leave the place and not fly in the face of the majority. "No," said the girl, decidedly. "To me you are Mr. Gorringe, my employer, and I cannot call you anything else." "HYER, MISTER, YOU PLUMB FORGOT ME." kers. They •were just in bud. By and by he will need a trellis for them to climb up on, but not—not yet. His hair hung down over his collar, and every little while he would scoop it back and hang it over his ears to keep it from concealing his dough colored features. 1 "Like him?" she echoed, laughing, not quite at her ease. "What can it matter what a girl at the looms thinks of the manager of the mill?" "When will she be here?" ,,To-morrow evening, so as to be ready for the next day." The man of whom they had been speaking, Gibeon I'rawle, caught sight of them at the same moment, and. crossing the road, came towards them "What if she kills the first person she meets?" "Stuff and rubbish. See now what Hut lie saw that many of them were on the side of the discharged man and he made his arrangements accordingly. lie judged as accurately as he could how many of the men were likely to po out, and he arranged to bring a number of non-unionists from a distance to take their places. "Do you know any thing about her?— her character, I mean?" asked Marv. it means. Seven years ago, I was a mill-hand. Five years ago, I had scraped up enough to start the old Winokley shed. Three years ago. I took the management, of this old Walkden mill; and to-day I'm ready for another move up. I can put my hand on a goC«l hit of brass to-flay, and I'm going to be a rich man, Mary; and if you'll marry me, you shall bo a rich "So much the worse for the first person and the commissioners," replied the doctor, with a short cynical laugh. "But no blame can be attached to us." "Yes, that's all very well, if you don't want to answer the question," said Tom Roylance, with more than a touch of jealous suspicion. "Hut if you do, I don't; and for half-an-inch of yarn I'll tell him what I think. 1 It now too much about Mister Reuben (forringe. He's a clever chap, no doubt about that; but he's just a baby in some things. He's an ugly customer till he gets his way, though, and no mistake." "Will you go round and see father. Mary?" asked Tom, hurriedly, before the other man joined them. "And don't tell him aught about this busi- "We must obey the vote of the majority," said they, "no matter what the cause may be. This giving in by the minority is the very life-blood of all trades unions." "I know her to bo a good hand, steady and reliable. A good girl, I believe," and then ho left. Tom was pleased when Mary told him as much of the interview as was necessary to explain the reason of the new hand coming into the cottage, and drew from it a good omen as to their future relations with Gorringo. lie on his side also had good news, for the manager had offered him a better position in the mill, to act partly as overlooker and partly to find employment in the office, a position showing trust and confidence and bringing better The two sat just ahead of me, and he kept hifl arm around her waist all the time and looked happy. When the conductor asked for his ticket, he tried to get it out of his pocket without using his engaged arm, but it was so difficult the conductor saw the situation and said: "Hut Dr. Accring declares that hers is a subtle form of mania that is absolutely incurable. She has all the fancies of a murderess, and all the crotchets of a madwoman, hidden away under her gentle ways and soft speech." ness." "Good evening, Mary; good evening, Tom," said (iilieon I'rawle. as ho joined them. lie was a good-looking man of some six anil twenty, with bold, regular "Then I'll have no more to do with trades unions," answered Tom, resolutely. "What I say is that I'll never be a party to championing such a fellow as Gibeon." There was much debating, and long and anxious discussion; but at length it was resolved to send in the notices There were several dissentients, and among them Tom Roylance, who was encouraged in his attitude by Mary Ash- woman The girl shook her head at this features, under a mass of curly fair hair. "You're coming to the meeting, of course, Tom?" he said and then turned to Mary. "I suppose Tom here's been telling you I'm in disgrace" — ho laughed noisily as he said this—"and that Reuben Gorringo thinks he can kick me out of the mill. The hound! Hut tlio man who kicks a stone wall mayhap will break'his foot rather than the wall. He's just like a begfrar seton horseback, but instead of riding to the devil lu* wants to make the horse kick other folk there. It's only the other day he was a hand himself, for all his currish pride. But it's strange to me if I don't make him sorry he ever interfered with me:" and an argrv, malignant expression made his face anything but pleasant to look upon. "But it isn't championing him, but standing by the union, lad, that you've got to think of in this matter." "Never mind. I will get it for you. Which pocket is it in?" And as a matter of fact the groom showed the official where the ticket was, and the latter got it and punched it, returning it to the place where it was. Talk about polite railroad officials I Here's where you find them. "Well, we can't help that. She'll have to go, and we may as well tell her at once." speech, which jarred on her. "It's not money I care about," she paid. Tom Roylance was a lighthearted, careless, rather thoughtless young fellow, clever enough to have made rapid progress in his work, but, like many another, content to like fortune as it came, and l$.-.king the strong determination to forego the pleasure of the moment in order to secure success. He was quick and shrewd, a good workman, steadjr and reliable, and capable, in the face of any great emergency, of showing plenty of free character. He was a general favorite both in and out of the mill, and Reuben Gorringe him self had taken to him. Hut ho could not help meeting all the bothers of life with a laugh and a jest. He was careless enough to be his own enemy; but too straight and true to be an enemy of anyone else. worth Before the climax was reached and the struggle came to a head, Gibeon, who heard of this, sought her out to try and gain her to his side. "Then lot the union take a sensible line and act justly. D'ye think I haven't worked for the union? Nay, you know I have, and that there's no firmer believer than I in the right of the men to stand or fall together when the cause Is just. But not to protect such fellows as 'Gibeon Prawle. If the cause were a good one, I'd starve till every blessed ounce of flesh wasted off m\' bones before I'd give in; but not for a skunk like that." "Then there'll be murder done before she comes back, and come back she certainly will," said the matron, as she left the room to fetch the woman of whom the two had been speaking. What is it, then? Is it love?" ho jd, in a voice suddenly full of pasi. "Don't yon think that I love * THE SMOKING JACKET. on it. Dillingham took some, shut his eyes and seemed to be in a brown study for a few minutes. Then he said—Kort of slow and conservative, you understand—that it was the same brand r.f liquor and same age, within three or four days very likely, but he reckon-1 there was just the least little taste • leather in it. wages. Mary looked on this as a further proof of Gorringe's sincerity in wishing to show his friendship, and was both glad and grateful. What can I do to persuade you? are many things I hold dear in "rid; success, money, reputation, —but I'd give them alj up, withmurinur. if to win you, Mary, id, 1 swear I would," he said, ently, "Won't you trust mo "Mary, why are you against me?" he asked her, when he met her as she was leaving the mill, one evening. The groom looked dreamily out of the car window, and she rested her large pink sunbonnet against his hickory shirt. His coat hung up in the car rack, for he had been taught to take his coat off and save it when indoors. She wore as a wrap a little shoulder shawl of red, blue and green. It was no bigger than a table napkin, though it was February and the air rather cool. Their joint luggage consisted of a little toy valise made of enameled paper, with a rupture on one side, through which could be seen a twist of dog leg tobacco and a big red apple. She returned in a few minutes bringing with her a tall, handsome woman of about four or five and twenty, whose finely developed figure was rather set off than concealed by the somber dress which she wore. There this "I am not against you, Gibeon. What do you mean?" In the evening, therefore, she set to work with a light heart to make the cottage ready for the visitor, and the next day as soon as the day's work was done she hurried to the cottage and found the stranger had already arrived. "Yes, you are; and you're trying tc set others against me, too. Tom Roylance."my wife, lass?" "Judge Elder couldn't sleep nights after that. He worried over it even 012 the bench, and you could see the lines of care forming about his mouth. When the doctor spoke her name she looked at him closely and answered in ,a low, clear and rather sweet voice: voice sank almost to a whisper eyes and face were alight with "It is not against you I am acting," she said, "but I want to prevent you having the chance to hurt others This is your quarrel, and yours only; and you know it. Trying to bring others into it will do you no good and will injure them." And they could not move him. They weroro Mary to see whether she would influence him; for after the time when he had rushed in to protect her, he had let it be known that they two were to be married; but Mary would not hear a word against Tom. She thought lie was doing the right ;hing and said so. "Aro you Savannah Morbyn?" she asked, looking curiously at the girl whom she found sitting with her hat and jacket still on. "You want me, air?" his lo for the girl "Finally he couldn't stand it any longer, so he told his big nigger Joe to turn out the whisky slowly and examine it carefully and put it into another barrel. "Yes; I sent for you to tell you you are to be discharged from here." have told you it cannot be. I am sorry," she answered. stayed a full half-minute without merely letting his hand rest r arm, while his eyes were fixed "1 hope you won't hurt others in your plan to revenge yourself, Gibeon," "Yes; and you, I can see, are Mary Ashworth. I knew you at once from the description given to mo," "I am glad you see at last that I'r not mad," was the reply, calmly spoke; and with a confident smile. Ilis relations with Mary Ashworth were characteristic. They had been together in the village from the time they were children; and there was a sort of tacit understanding between them that each belonged to theother. and that they were to be married some day; but nothing had ever been spoken openly about marriage. There were, indeed, hindrances to a marriage. Tom's father was alive, too crippled to work, and thus dependent ujxm him; while Mary's mother forwd the girl to maintain her, being herself idle, thriftless. and given to occasional wild fits of drinking. said Mary, firmly "That's liko yon, Mary. Always hard on mo;" and he triC-d to laugh lightly to cover a real vexation. "You never would give mo credit for "I know that you are apainst me— aye, lass, and seem to have been so always. Why don't you like me?" The stranger pot up from her chair and wont holding out both her hands to Mary, who placed hers in them, confidently and readily, and looked into the other's face. As wo neared Memphis and the conductor began to gather up our checks the groom, seeing that he was going to be overlooked and being anxious to show his honesty, nnhooked his half paralyzed arm from Roseanna and said: "He did so, and, by George Harry I at the bottom of the barrel he found a kyarpet tack with a leather head on it! Wo don't drink much liquor, Mr. Nye, but we're mighty particular about what it is." "I did not say I saw that, the doctor, dryly. answer* ler facC Reuben Gorrincre went to Tom some few days before the notices expired, and spoke to him. you doubt inC can't it bo, Mary?" he asked "I've given you no reason to think that." said Mary, simply. "I hope I have not been unkind to you, or to "Well, so long as somebody sees it, and I am liberated, I am satisfied. I ought never to have been brought here." rD. no, Mr. Ciorringe," she anil, impulsively: "but—but—it is forme to have to say this; I do thing but doing the wrong tiling in the wrong way. Resides, as Tom will tell you, this is not iny question only; it's a society matter. UorringeknowB I've worked hard for llie union, and lie's got a knife into me in consequence. He hates the union like-poison.'* linv- "What are you going to do in this matter. Tom?" he asked. "I'm going on with my work," he baid. "I don't mean that. You couldn't be unkind to any living thing," he said, earnestly. "Rut you don't like anyone." As she touched the girl's hands and met the gazo of her eyes, Mary felt herself shrink as if with instinctivo distrust. "Hyer, mister, you plumb forgot me. I reckon. Hyer's your ticket. I won't take no advantage er tell the feller that owns the kyars. I could use her over again, but I ain't that kind of a feller." I notice in a Denver paper that a suit for divorce has been instituted by Mrs. Alice Oyster against Mahlon Oyster, her husband, on the ground of infidelity. Probably she didn't know that he was an infidel when she married him. "You will now be able to do what you wish to do. Miss Howell," said the matron, interchanging a rapid glance with the doctor. not lovt He interrupted her with a light laugh, and then seizing both her hands ill 111*, he held her close to him and looked earnestly into her eyes. "Hut you're local secretary of the me. Why can't I have your good will? Can't you try uml take my part now?" "No, Gibenn; not in this," answered Mary, candidly. inion." "You are cold," said the ncwcomcr, who tried to draw the girl closer to her. In an instant a light flashed into the woman's eyes as she looked up and cried, with a touch of eager pa .ion: Tom and Mary interchanged rapid "I waft. I've resigned. I've left tlio society—at least they as pood as turned ine out, when I wouldn't strike." "No," said the conductor, "you'd better keep that to ride on the Iron Mountain road with, so that you won't have to pay again. The conductor on that road is aifawfully particular man, and likely as not he'd make you buy two more tickets." "I did not ask you for your lovo yet, child. I ran wait for ttint. J have plenty for Im'th of us. (Jive mo yourself; that is all 1 nsk now. You trust me, and lo*e shall soon come. I will take yon, love or no love, and lDe only too thankful to have yon, my dear." (fiance*. "I nm tired, I think," said Mary, moving away from her. "The work has been very hard and—and I want my tea." It was a lame conclusion, but the girl could not explain nor account for the feeling which took possession of her. She little thought when she married Mahlon in North Platte, Neb., in 1881, that it would result in an oyster stew so soon. At North Platte Mr. Oyster was regarded as a New York count, but he turned out to be a cove, and a sly one at that. "It seems to inn it's a question between you and Mr. Gorringe. and nobody else," answered Mary; "and if you bring anyone else into it you'll bo doing what you have no right or call to do." They walked a few paces in silence, and when they reached Mary's cottage he followed her inside. "Come to the office, I want to speak to you," and when they were alone, he said: "Have you no influence to stop ♦-his folly?" "Yes, I'll—" Hut, catching the expression on the others' faces, she stopped as suddenly, and changed her tone with her look, adding: "Yes, 1 shall be glad to be at liberty again." The two discussed all their plans, troubles, worries and hopes together in the frankest way. The man turned to the girl for advice in many matters., while there was not an act of life in which Mary did not try to act as she judged Tom would have wished her. She had never thought of any man as a possible lover but Tom ltoylanee. and shaped all her life to accord with the idea that when he thought the time fitting, he would arrange for their mar- "Don't you know that I want you to be on my side?" "Don't you see why this thing hurts me?" He began to speak with more warmth of feeling than he had yet shown. "Don't you know, or can't you guess that what hurts me is that I shall have to leave Walkden Bridge?" "No, none. I have tried, but the nen arc determined to stand by Gibson," said Tom. "D'CD, no!" cried the girl, vehemently, struggling to free her hands. "Let me go, please, Mr. Gorringe. You have no right to hold me like tliis." And so, with a flush of shame, crushed in the presence of his new wife while he was in the act of being honest in order to impress her, he slid back in his seat, gave the little ruptured satchel a kick, and putting his arm back around her waist he spat out of the window in time to leave a small washout for the next train and said nothing. So she grew cold, and learning of his infidelity, she being a good member of the church, she forbade Mahlon her bed —oyster bed—and board. The change in her manner hud been startling in its abruptness; and in the moment of excitement she had looked dangerous enough to suggest hidden depths of intense passion. "Yes, that's a woman's view of all society bothers," answered Gideon 1'rawle, lightly. "Hut Tom here knows better, don't you, Tom?" She took Savannah up the narrow staircase and left her in the bedroom she was to occupy, while she herself went to that in which her mother and herself were to sleep, and tried to shake off the feeling that oppressed her. They had tea, and when Tom came in to speak of the arrangements for the next morning he found them together. "They are fools, and that's the long and short of it. What about the women?" Il(D let Iht go instantly "I aiTi sorry," he said, Cjiiitc humbly. "I forgot myself, I do forget myself, and everything else, when I am with you, Mary. lint you must bk my wife. I cannot live without you." * Then he started, and paled a little, as a thought .p'apued him. ''It's not—but, 110, it "Tom agrees with me," said Mary, quietly; and at the reply flibeon cast a rapid and rather vindictive glance at the other man, and said, shortly: "I don't think many of them will go aut, if any do. I've heard one or two talk about giving in a notice, but I ion't think they will. They know what strike pay means too well to quarrel with their victuals for a shifty icoundrel like Gibeon Prawle." Nothing can be sadder than to be ditf appointed in one we love. Alice d* doubt loved Mahlon devoutly, but he was not what she had thought him to be or what he represented himself. Instead of being a blue blood, there was not even a blue point about him. He was just a common cove oyster, and an infidel at that. "When shall you try and seek out the people who are following1 you about with knives!" asked the matron again. "That dark, good looking young villain, who was your lover and deceived you, that you told me about?" "Well, the world is wide, and if I wera a man I'd rather see something of it than be cooped up here all one's days." Neither spike for a minute or two after Tom's last speech; he hud no wish to carry the topic further, while Mary was anxious to get away from subject of Reuben Oorringo altogether; and when they spoke again il was of other matters, until the pirl thinking she could detect some symp toms of restlessness about her companion, began to question him. nape "Well, its hot for you or Tom here to settle, lmt for the society to decide; and it's time for the meeting. Good night, Mary. I letter feelings to you, and less bitterness;" and with that thev separated. But the way these railroad men kindly piloted these babes in the wood to their train and showed them how to check their joint trunk, a little tin affair containing a bed quilt and a gourd to begin housekeeping with, showed that there is a big lot of kindness and humanity left among the hustling brakemen and baggage smashers that will show themselves when occasion requires. "Ah, but suppose there was a reason why It was a pleasure to be 'cooped up,' as you call it. Suppose there wae some one from whom one doesn't want to bo driven away. What then?" Hut this time the reference to her craze had no rousing effect. She h;t»l obtained complete self-mastery and answered quietly: "And is this Tom—your Tom?" said Savannah, rising and smiling to Mary. ( an't lDc, or I should have seen. It's not I at you care for anyone else, is it?" lie asked this in a firm, low voice. "They can't beat me," said the maniger, resolutely. "Whatabout Gibeon?" said Oorrlnge, after a pause. "What's your candid opinion about him?" She put her hand into Tom's and clasped his firmly in her own while she looked at b im fixedly out of her deep violet cyca. He fell in love with a member of the codfish aristocracy, and Mrs. Oyster at once smelt a mice (Lancashire humor). He was the kind that one can get at 20 cents a can. rilAlTEIt III. THK TIIBKATENED STRUCK. "Oh, oh, 1 didn't know that wan tho state of the case. Who is it?" she asked, half banteringly. "I am sorry I have made such mistakes. I suppose that, being in a place like this, where everyone has fancies, I frightened myself. lint, now I am going away, I shall leave them." "What right have you to question me?" said the girl, blushing, partly with indignation, partly with confu- Tom Roylanee had not at all undei estimated the strength of Gibeon Prawle's influence over his fellow workmen. He told the facts of his dismissal In a skillful manner, so as to leave as far in the background as possible the manager's real motive in discharging him; and he cleverly made the most of every grievance, of which he had ever heard. lint the next instant she repented the question; for Gibeon I'rawle seized her hand in his and ran his arm round hei waist, holding her close to his side while his words came thick and fast. "I don't want to talk of him. He's a scoundrel and a cowardly frightener of women," said Tom, his eyes brightsning with anger. And as he held her hand and gazed at her, devouring with his eyes the ravishing and voluptuous beauty of her face, and tho full, rich, graceful form, ho felt that such a woman as this had never before stood clasping his hand in hers, and reading his very soul with eyes that seemed to burn into every nook and cranny of his mind. sion During our ride through Kentucky a good natured old colonel pointed out to me an English younger son who came to the blue grass region two years ago to go into the mule industry. He could not make any money in England, so he pack- One little oyster 11 years old was the result of this union. His name was Pat His schoolmates call him Oyster's Patty. That's because he's not popular in the school, for the reason that he pats on too manv escallops. Mrs. Oyster has always been a consistent Christian—a hardshell Baptist. Hence his infidelity has caused her to consider him a bad oyster. The man looked at her keenly, knitting his heavy brows till they frowned "Is anything the matter?" she asked "You seem out of sorts. What is it? Anything wrong at home?" "Where are you poinp?" asked the doctor, disregarding her pesture. ominously "What do you mean? Is it because he is the man concerned that you stand by me and against the society?" asked Gorringe, looking searchingly at tho other. Lucy Howell thought for a moment, hesitating in her reply, and then she said: "IDo you think I'm a man to lie fooled liphtly?" he asked, iu a quick, stern tone. Then he changed again, and spoke quietly, without giving tlio girl time to reply: "There's nq need lor pretense between us two. You've seen—you must have seen—ihe hold you have over me. I've made no secret that I love you. You can do with mo what you will, for I'm a fool in your |bands. But take care, my girl; such power as yours over me don't go without responsibility. It's a power that can move me for pood or spoil me for life. With such as me there's no middle course; and you can do what you will; and, by , if you fool me now for another man there won't be room for us both on this earth. That I swear," anil he clenched his fist and brought It. down heavily on the gate in froiA of them. "No, not more than usual," he said. "It's you, Mary. I've tried to make you feel it, to make you know that you are more to me than all the world bosides. I love you, Mary, my darling. You can do with me what you will. If you love me, and will be my little wife, I'll work hard for you as I have nevei worked yet. Ah, Mary, my—" "Your father's not worse, is he?" "No. He was asking for you, though. He misses you when you let a day pass without coming in. He al ways says there's something about you that seems to make his pains less racking," and he smiled in a pleased way to the girl, who smiled "Where I came from, sir—Mireley." "What are you?" "Yes, that's about the size of it," answered Tom. "If he came back to tho mill we should leave." "A silk weaver," said the woman In addition to this ho primed one or two of his special friends to back him up, and to declare that the society had no choice but to make his quarrel theirs and to insist upon his being taken on again. He stood holding her hand, and felt as hough ho could not turn away from the eyes that riveted his, holding him as in cliair\s which he had no wish to loose, until she herself released him. "There are no sheds at Mireley," returned the doctor, quickly and suspiciously.She has put the matter in the courts, and through the columns of the paper she has given him a mock roast. "We?" said Reuben Gorringe, quickly and suspiciously. "I am not bound to go back to weaving, am I?" was the reply, flashed back in half anger; and then in a much milder tone she added: "I shall want a rest, sir, after the life here; besides, I have friends at Mireley, ard I—they will want me." back. ISut as soon as Mary recovered from her astonishment she struggled to free herself from his grasp. "Don't, Gibeon. Let me gol Leave me alone. Don't touch mel I've never said aught to you to make you speak in this way to me. Don't touch me again," she cried, as he tried to take her again in his arms, "or you'll make me hate you," and she shuddered with an involuntary gesture of repugnance. "Yes. Mary and I have settled that. We'd neither of us work where he was. We're going to be married, you know, when this trouble's passed over a bit." "That's his way. lie's a wonder tc liear pain, and no mistake. I'll go in to-night. Hut if it's not that, that's worrying you, what is it?" "Is it about the mill?" She says she may have been a goose, but not of Oyster's dressing. She claims to have maintained herself and Oyster's Patty for over five years, and she has decided not to be a clam. She desires absolute divorce from Mahlon and asks also for alimony, to be paid out of his celery. "I haven't paid my money to tho society for ten years and more," said one, "to be trod on like this; and I ain't going to stand it. Wo aren't worms, are we, for Gorringo to tread on us; nor slaves, for him to thrash, just as he likes? What I say is this, that the life of a man ain't worth living if he's got to feel as a manager can just take the bread out of his mouth and leave his wife and young 'uns without bite or sup, just when ho pleases. And It comcs to this, as wo uren't safe, not one of us, if we're to be bullied here and sacked there as a manager chooses. A man's a man, I say, and ought to bo treated as such," and the approbation that greeted tho speaker showed that ho represented the views of several who were present —the majority, as it seemed to Tom. There seemed some subtle power in tho woman th.it he had never met with before; it maddened him, and even the pained and scared look which he saw on Mary Ashworth's pale face did not serve to recall him wholly to himself, nor make him conscious of anything except a strange, fierce, passionate pleasure in the company of this wondrously beautiful creaturo. He was like a man intoxicated. The manager had bent over a drawer at his table while this was said, and made no answer for quite a minute, seeming to be searching for something he could not find. At last ho got up from his chair, and continued the search with his back to Tom. "Yes. It's that lazy fellow, Gibeort Prawje, apain. I wish the fellow were out of Walkden Hridge altogether You know the way he can talk to the folk, and how he can turn them this way and that. Well, he's got the sack to-day, and he vows he can bring out the men unless Gorringe takes him on ugain. And you know Gorringc." "Well, you are to go out at two o'clock this afternoon, and the man who brought you here will come for you at that time. You had better be ready." • How sad all this is to consider! To think that for years one is an oyster, then to find that he has been a sucker! But enough. "Do you mean that?" he asked, looking at her steadily. "Oh, are you?" he said, in a voice meant to be indifferent. J "Thank you, sir," said the woman. ("Without looking again at the doctor jehe turned and left the room, followed (by the matron. "Yes, I do. Of course, I do. When did I ever say a word to make you think I could marry you?" I have listened to you too long." ! the pirl. "When you talk to me nit 'fooling you' I sec how stupid I "We shall wait till after this business of the strike," said Tom, all un conscious of the effect likely to be pro duced by his words. fTO BE COM'IMKJJ.^ This reminds me somehow—this humor, on which I paid $8 duty the other day—of a lady acquaintance of mine who rose in the night last week, and finding the room too warm opened the window and held it open by means of a stick of stove wood. To prevent burglars entering the room without alarming her she used a stick that still had the bark on it. "He's the last man to give way ir such a thinp." "Then you won't marrry me? And you mean to quarrel with me? You'd rather do that, eh?" It is rare tact that "gets all the best words'' after a rebuff. Politicians need it. Colonel Stone of Tennessee on one occasion got the last word at least. When he was running for governor, ho met for the first time a delegate from one of the rural counties to the state convention. The colonel said: Qualified. "She seems sensible enough, Mrs. !Hoyle,M he said, when the latter rc'turned. "But, sensible or not sensible, she has to go." sorry, I am: I swear I am: I m-Min what 1 said. Ah, Mary, turn away like that. I'll go "That's as plain as a loom, but I'rr thinking there may be trouble," and Tom's brow was puckered with a good many frowns of perplexity. Reuben Gorringe was a long time searching what he did not find, and when at length he turned to Tom hi said: "I don't want to quarrel with you or with anyone, Oibeon. Hut I can't eCl np a lot of his elder brother's secondhand clothes, which, of course, did not fit him, and came to a far country to grow mules for the market. He bought a place at a very high price and built a house to live in. It consisted of a shower bath, with a kitchen attachment. "Oh, she's as sensible as I am, and a precious sight more cunning. Iiut if murder don't come of this business —well, it'll be a marvel to iuo." you vvisli it. Hut I can't trust when I think of losing yon. "What was C}ilDeon discharged for?"' asked Mary Ash worth. marry you." "I wanted to show yon a sample of short-stapled stuff that I think we can use; but I can't put my hand on it now. You must come in presently. If you hold by mc in this bother you tinderstand it'll be for your pood. I'shall want to have some one to depend spon." "You mean to marry Tom Roylanee, I suppose?" The words came very angrily, sounding like a tiireat. told yon that I cau never maraud I deny you have a right to no reason to think that." "Why, because he's a lazy, loafing, do-naught; and (Sorringe, who does know when a man works and when he loafs, swears he won't have him about the place doing naught but getting the rest of the hands all in a tangle. So he paid him olY to-day and bundled him out of the place neck and crop." "1 suppose we don't deny as Gibeon has done a lot for the society, do we?" asked another man. and the question was answered in a way that made the subjectof it glance rather triumphantly at Tom. "Well then, if he's stuck by the society, I say the society should stick lDy him. Wo ain't cowards, are we, to lDe afraid o' one man?" I am recently indulging in a nice new smoking jacket It is a gorgeous affair, and I wear it while lolling about my room. In fact, f like it so well that I have almost smoked myself into heart disease so as to wear it. It has a bright scarlet silk trimming, and lots of times I do not need a fire in my room if I put on this jacket. "I don't mean to ask you who I am to marry, and if you weren't a coward you'd be ashamed to say such a thin p." "I am glad to meet you. I have known your father for many years, bnt never had the pleasure of your acquaintance. J. see, however, that the son is better looking than the father." CHAPTER X. Tf?E PROPOSE :i rn tiou to mC "Miss Ash worth—Mary.** A dark, pretty pirl, dressed in Wad "who stood leaning upon a {fate e the ciifht 111:11. love pives mo," out vehement I y again. "Now, I give a drawing of him as I drew it on the cars. He called himself Archie something or other, but in Kentucky they call him the Earl of Tinktum, Of course I could not make a very good picture of him, for the cars bobbed around so, but I have given him the aristocratic expression and poise of head very accurately.there is soinclxxl I!lit you "Yes, that's like a las. Trying to ence an awkward question with a bit of big talk. Hut see here, you won't marry him. Ho you may look out, both ist in ver marry anyone, if hi ilon't v soul," Tom thought as ho went out that the manager was looking unusually worried and bothered. And lie might have thought the matter still more serious had he seen Reuben Gorringe directly the latter was left alone. The manager locked the office door and gave himself tip to deep thought: a set, hard, desperate look fixing all the muscles of his face in a rigid, thoughtful, malignant expression. "Look here, colonel," said tho delegate, "you need not be flattering me up, for I am out and out for Barksdale for governor, although tho old man is foi «ide the mill village of VViC that I "No he is ii lazy fellow, every l»ody knows that," said Mary, energetically, "and most will lDe glad he's pono." llridge, started and turned round, and a slight flush showed for a moment on her features, as Bho heard her namn thus spoken. nod, passionately "And you Things continued in this way until several of those present had spoken, and at last they turned to Tom Roylance and asked him his opinion. of you." ictber I'm a man to keep my The girl smiled scornfully, but did not answer. The other evening we appeared in the courthouse and had no dressing room. So when I pulled off my overcoat on the platform to begin speaking I got a ronnd of applause that I was not looking for. It shook the dome of the courthouse and drowned the noise down in the register of deeds' office, where he was filing a deed. ;!■- the ;rirl was turning away, quickly to her and seized her or roujrhlv. "He's not pone yet, and that's the mess." "Ah, you may smile. Hut if I chose to open my mouth he wouldn't carry his' head half so high as ho does at present, I can tell you. And as for the strike that's coming, he may look to himself. If he thinks, or you think, that he will be allowed to turn knobstick, you are both mistaken. I came to you to-day to try and make peace between us all. I didn't mean to let my tongue and my feelings run away with me, but you won't have peace, and so there's an end to it." "Why, I simply find you hotter looking than your father, but I did not say you had half as much sense as he has," returned the colonel. you." "Mr. Gorringe!" "IJut what Is It to you or to anyono dbC- -Tom. whether Mr. Aonanire keens hlm on or sends him away?" "I've 110 mannerof doubtaltout what we ouifht to do," said Tom, readily, speaking in a firm, decided voice. "This is Gibeon I'rawle's matter and no one else's. The reason he's been sacked is one which those who've worked with him know jierfectly well —he don't do the work properly. Ho knows that well enough," and Tom looked resolutely round at a number of the men who murmured and muttered their objections, and then turned and faced Gibeon, who jumped to his feet eagerly to contradict what was said. "Let me speak," said Tom, "you've had your turn. All that has been said about the other matters is riffht enougli,no doubt, but it's naught to do with Gilieon. I speak for myself, and I say I've always had good pay from Gorringe for good work, and there ain't a man can say otherwise. And I've always found him willing to listen to anything in reason. My vote '11 be given for letting Gibeon settle the job for himself; and I shall stand by the boss." "Did I startle you out of a pleasant reverie?" asked the man. "15ut it is too great, a pleasure to find you alone lor me to resist the temptation of speaking- to you. You are not angry?" He got some guns—elephant guns—to use in case ho should be attacked by Indians and had a compass to use In distracting the attention of the savages in case he should be captured, for he had read at home alDout Captain John Smith and how he worked it. He also had a lot of taxidermy tools and things to stuff the buffalo and grizzly bear that he hoped to kill in case they came to attack his young mules and carry them off. "Y\ ill you swear to me tli.'it you carc for BO one more than for ino?" ho asked,r rilv "Oh, if you belonged to the union you'd k?iow how to answer that question yourself. This is how it stands: Oilteon lias pot tlieearof alT the officers of the wielety, except me, and he can make them iwTieve that (lorringo has Those standing around roared with langhter, in which the delegate good humoredly joined.—Youth's Companion "Let tne po, Mr. fiorrinpe; how dare yon hold me like that?" she eried, angrily and excitedly, her face llush- But Tom saw nothing of this, and thought bo little of what he seen that when he told Mary what had passed at tho interview he scarcely deemed it worth wliilo to mention to her that ho had spoken of their coming marriage. The speaker was a thick-set man 01 some thirty years of ape, with large, well-shaped, resolute features that •spoke of great force of will; and he. looked eagerly at the girl out of his keen, clear blue eyes, over which hunp dark, bushy brows. I had worn, instead of my swallowtail, this deafening smoking jacket. I had the glee club 6ing another selection and sent a colored boy for my dress coat. Changing the two on the platform, to show that there was no deception about it, I then proceeded with my whirlwind of eloquence. Little Tommy is excessively fond of pre ferves and asks bis mother for a secicid help. She refuses. The youngster appears resigned. Then all at once, and very gravely, he says: Tho Little nIvnm»nrfr.H He 1 inp with feel inp •d his hold of her and walked sacked him, not because he's an idle chap, hut because the Ihiss knows he Is powerful in the society, and is ainiinp a blow at the union throuph Gibcon. 1 Do you see that? Well, if he succeeds in that -and I'm pretty well sure he will he may easily pet 'em to make it a union job, and then there'll be mischief. Now you see why I'm a bit But Mary was thoughtful, ami though she said nothing to Torn she recalled Reubon Gorringo's words, and was vaguely uneasy for a day or two. I mean to have an .answer," he said "No, 1 am not anpry, but—" "ltut what?" he asked, as she licsiated.Mary said nothing while he was speaking, but the instant ho had finished slio went to tho door and opened it. "Do you know, ma, what happened the other day in the next street? There was a little chap to whom Ids mother wouldn't any preserves. And then"  "Come, what next?" "Not day ho tumbled into a well."  Calendrier Jintamarrcsque. He had road that the cost of raising a mule in Kentucky was comparatively nothing, but when grown $250 to $300 per pair was a very common price. He wondered why no one had seen that before aud taken advantage of it. You shall have no an she replied. "Then I'll watch you till I find out." he said, and then they walked on in silence. r from mc At the end of thnt time, however, Reuben, looking haggard and troubled, went to her, and finding her alone spoke to her alDout tho marriage, and his words were kind. ij She was silent a moment, and then, with a slipht blush apain tinpinp her cheek, she looked kindly at him and said: "Go," she cried, pointing to the door. Gibeon l'rawlc looked at her, speechless with anger, his handsome faco frowning and flushed with rage. Then, twisting ms cap m his ciencnoa nanus, ho cxclaimed: Suddenly an they turned a sharp curve in the mad the man saw his companion start, and a troubled look came over her face; and then lie noticed the color rise in her checks and deepen as a tall, upstanding, handsome younp fellow approached. "Hut why does it affect you so much, Tom?" asked the pirl. "You surely aren't deceived about(Jibeon beinp idle and a loafer?" worried." So he went to Spain and bought a beautiful jack called Ferdinand II, and the two came over together, the Earl of Tinktum and Ferdinand II. Midnight Philosophy. "The 'but' was, that I think you had •better not call me by my Christian »iame." "I heard the news from Tom," ho said, "and I was—was glad that it was no other man. I thought I should like to see you alono for a minute and tell you I was glad." llig I'rJce For an Egg, Mrs. Squills—Quick! Quick! Wake np! I believe there are burglars down stairs. Go down and see. At the sale of duplicates of birds' eggs snd skins from the collection of Baron d'Hamonvillo, held a few days ago, an egg Df the great auk, a species which is now extinct, was sold to Sir Vaunccyll. Crewe for 300 guineas. It was formerly in the collection of the late Mr. Yarrell, froiu whom it passed in is.1(1 to tho late Mr. F. Bond and then to Baron d'Hamouville.— ll'aris Herald. The man lauphed a pood-natured, Jiearty, self-satisfied lauph. "Do you mean to turn me ont like a dog, without even a kind word or a look?" he asked. Roth of them were seasick most of the way over. The earl suffered most, for ho did not have the mental resources that Ferdinand did to occupy himself with. "No, not likely. Hut, then, don't you see, a fellow must stick by the union. Even if your cause isn't as pood as you'd like It to be, you must take the pood yarn with the had in that matter. You Bee, as local secretary. I'm scarcely a free arrent. inv Mr. Squills (sleepily) — Nonsense! Nothing but the cat. "Nonsense, Mary, nonsense. Whoever heard of anyone objecting to such m thing lierealxmts? I think of you as JMary—aye, and as my Mary, too, my I»hb. In soito of all jron said last timet "Why, Mary, what's the matter?* cried the newcomer, stopping in front of them. "Oood eveninp, Mr. Oorrinpe," he added, turninp for a moment to the latter. Mary smiled very sweetly at the implied praise of her lover, and thanked Gorringe for his words. Mrs. S.—Hark! There! I know there wo burglars down stairs. "I can have no kind words for anyone who has said what you have, today," answered Mary, resolutely. "But I bear no malice." There was some little applause when he sat down. I'luck will always win n cheer, and it was a plucky speech, and "I thought, too," he continued, speaking not without some effort, "that 1 should like iust to tell rou that They landed in Kentucky a year ago and liegan to sit up and take notice. Mr. S. (nervously)—Well—er—if yon know they are there it's no nse me going flown to find out.—Tit-BlU. The man had to nass close to her on The earl bought 20 jennies aud moved