Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-22

though she herself was above the average OF
her sex in intellectual resources. Every
word of detraction of the man she loved
reused ber to vehement defence, yet she wept
in secret many bitter tears.
- 1t would lower Gardiner 90 have any
open quarrel with Herman Clark" she
would say, when Fred. her only brother
with the yalor of seventeen, sneered at her
lovers cowardice. - lie is a gentleman and
is working for the miners real comfort and
happiness. 1t would iniure him to condes-
cend to notice Herman Clark's impertenan-
ces.''
= He is afraid Fred would mutter, and
escape to avoid his sisters wrath, leaving
her very wrathful indeed, but withal very
sore-headed and sad
Anairs were in this unpromising condi-
tion, when Gardiner Forsythe proposed to
the other members Of the company to give
to the miners and their families a grand pic
ME 10 celebrate the - Fourth of july =
opening their own purses to defray portion
Of the expense, and proposing to have their
own wives and children included in the iolli-
ication.
&" They will all flock to the rum shops at
l., for the day." he said, and won't be
fit for work for week if they do. pro
pose to keep them up here, if we can, and TO
keep them sober, if possible, by a good sup
ply of attractive eatables.'
The company, after some discussion. con-
sented, and goodly supply of pies, cakes,
tea, coffee, sandwiches, and other picnic
stand-bys was promised by the ladies from
the large houses, who, moreover, engaged
themselves to aid in dispensing their boun-
ties
But IIerman's Clark's insolence exceeded
its usual limits. when Gardiner gave him
the invitation to read to the miners. He
was proyokingly sarcastic upon the subject
Of the picnic itself, and encouraged by the
| quiet mildneSs of his adversary, enlarged
| upon patriotic customs with an insOlence
that even difference Of nationality would
not excuse, finally Gaping the climax of all
former efforts, by daring Gardiner ForSythe
to prove himself match for English bone
and muscle in a personal encounter. And
the young man had turned upon his heel
and left the Office white to the lips. No one
followed him. no one saw him as he strobe into
the road, down n steep decliyity and into
clump of woods to fight Il much harder bat
tie than any Herman Clark could chal-
lenge
. Must bear it?'' he thought, striding
up and down, = must keep my fists of this
burly ruiian because | am Christian, and
may not fight him without fighting also all
principles of right in my own heart? Can
any approving conscience, canany conscious
ness of moral courage compensate me for the
eontempt | am earning amongst my own
| equals here? They think am afraid The
very miners, the men | work day and night
/ TO benefit, doubt my courage, when / am
brought face to face with this giant. And
| he himself believes | fear him. Fear him
Do they guess it would be a positive relief
to me to have him pound me with his great
fists, if could do it without my own con-
science approving the encounter. And, bit
terest of all, Fannie thinks l am afraid. |
see it in her eyes, though she would not say
one word to wound me. "
So up and down, like Gagged lion, the
man paced little open space till he had
stilled the tempest in his heart, and was his
wonted quiet self once more. But the marks
Of the fierce heart-struggle were upon his
pale face, and the taunts were shown in ex-
preston, if not in words, as he resumed his
place in the office. But bitterest of all,
could he have heard it, were the words re-
corded at the openingof my story, the words
/ Fred Germaine spoke to his sister, as he
finished narrating what he termed 8 Gardi
ners last row with Herman Clark"
And as he spoke Fannie wondered if his
voice had wrested away her love from Gardi-
ner Forsythe. Only that afternoon, walk
| ing up from poor home, where her lover
had left comfort lor a man injured severely
in the mines, with blessings of the young
wife and aged mother ringing in her ears,
Fannie had thanked God feryently for the
| love of this noble man. She had let her
memory lead her over many familiar scenes,
where he had shown his true Christian char
ity. his generous. kindly impulses, and She
had thought to 70 through life hand in hand
with such a man, was almost to win heaven
this side of the grave. And now. she walk
ed sadly to her own room with Fred's con-
temptuous words to consider, with the bit
ter thought for company that even this boy
dared TO taunt her lover with cowardice.
:" Why does he bear - she thought.
- Can it be that Christianity holds mans
heart aboyethe worlds sneers 80 far a. this :?
Is it indeed true, as he says, that principle
ties his hands 50 firmly. he cannot raise them
against a brother man? | cannot understand
it | trust am Christian, but, and her
little foot emphasized the words, - | am sure
should knock Herman Clark down if he
dared be insolent to me-" And with her
black eyes flashing, her little fist tightly
clenched, and the rich blood crimsoning her
checks. she looked able to do it,
To Fannie the stimulus for cxertion was
gone from the picnic scheme. yet mechani-
cally she worked with the others. 1t had
been 50 pleasant to make pies and cakes, cut
sandwiches and boil eggs for t'ardiner's pie
ME, but when Gardiner had brought himself
into contempt for this very scheme, the pie
making and sandwich cutting was heavy
work. Still. there was that true germ Of
womanly chivalry in Fannie's heart, that
she would seem at least to cling closer to her
betrothed, if the hands of Others were
against him. So she baked and boiled, and
ruined calico dresses and aprons over the
hot range, on the dry, hot July days, till
the morning of the Fourth found hampers all
packed and started for the grove that was to
be the picnic ground, band in full blast,
and, the miners, in holiday trim, congrega-
ted in force.
Gardiner Forsythe, driving up to Mr.
Germaine's porch, found very pretty Fam
ME, in the snowiest of muslins and red and
blue ribbons, awaiting him.
We ladies are wearing the national
colors to honor the day." she said smiling,
- but | think the combination Of colors for
flag is rather hideous in sash and neck
ribbons. However, It's but once year ones
feelings are 50 tried, 50 III try to bear it.
Have YOU been to the grover"
- Yes, there is large gathering there,
though Herman Clark has taken the Eng
lishmen into the mines. | cannot prevent it
if they wish to earn days wages instead
of taking days holiday ; but the contempt
of the occasion will certainly cause quarrels
in the future amongst the men. | am sorry
the man takes his ill-will out in this way.
As long az it was personal dislike to me it
was no matter. but it will cause serious
trouble if he starts national differences
amongst the men. But, never mind, We
will try to give the poor fellows one happy
day. They were all dancing when left.
You will have good laugh over some Of
their steps,
But Fannie was not destined to laugh that
day. Even while Gardiner spoke, there fell
upon their ears the horrible report that tells
experienced miners Il tale of hideous catas-
trophc Another, and two white faces look
ed into each other, full of unutterable hOr-
ror.
"The mine has fallen ini'' Gardiner
whispered. ''If only all the men were at
the picnici' Turning his horses head, he
drove rapidly towards the mines, hearing
like rush of the wind the trampling feet
of the miners, as they rushed from their
festival towards the scene of disaster.
Some were before them; several members
of the company, several families of the Eng
lishmen, buried alive by the fall of some
portion of the walls, and hastily from all
sides the workmen rushed forward. 1t was
good half mile from the grove to the mines,
but in an incredibly short time every man,
woman. and child who could walk was