Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-06-17
DARK DAYS.

there came a regular storm-not rainy
day or two, but regular downpour-
and from half lf-dozens being discharged
on Saturdays, it came to tens and TWEEN
ties; and every time 1 went up to the
Office it was all in n shiver-like lest ]
should be one of those who we're to be
struck of.
You see, it was particular time just
then, for, after twelve months of anx-
iety, had won race that had been
running with ono Dick Green, an old
fellow workman of mine. You see, we
had been both struck at the same time
and same place, and, to speak plainly,
trying to win tho same heart. Some
howl don't know how it was, unless
she could read how true felt toward
her-Lizzie gave her hand to me; and at
the time I am talking about she'd been
my busy little wife for six months.
Dick Green looked rather queer at
ne when he came to know that we were
MAI alried, and for fortnight he wouldn' t
speak. But that wasn't my fault, for l
was that happy I could have made
friends with the worst enemy I'd ever
had in my life.
But being, US said, so happy, I didn't
like to see Dick so down in the mouth.
| was sorry for him, too; for, poor fel-
low, it was very hard for him to lose
such prize as I'd won.
"Lizzie," says, one morning when
we were ut breakfast, "Dick Green
seems awfully cut up about-you know
what; he don't speak now. What do
you say to our trying to make it up2"
Lizzie turns very red, and looked a
bit confused, as she says: "How can
we make it up9"
"Well, I was thinking, suppose we
ask him up to dinner on Sunday, and
then we could sit and smoke our pipes
after, and talk of old times but don't
like being bad friends with an old mate"
81 don't think I'd do that, Harry"
she says and her face seemed to be
troubled like.
"Nonsense," I says, in my stupid,
thick headed way. "It's all right, lit
tie one and let bygones be bygones. I
shan't think anything about the past"
And 1 laughed and joked her, and
asked if she thought should be Jealous;
when her face grew more troubled, and
sho said it was subject that should rot
be joked about.
Next day I speaks to Dick, and though
ne was bit rough, I wouldn't take any
notice of it; and when at last I asked
him to come and have bit of dinner
with us, and said that Lizzie would be
glad if he'd come, and held out l-y
hand, he turned sharp round, looked me
'rll in the face for few moments, and
hen said he would come.
Sunday came, and so did Dick Green
but somehow that dinner did not come
off rs nicely as 1 should have liked. I
almost felt cross, for Lizzie was not as 1
should have liked her to be; but when
We sat smoking our pipes ut the window,
gazing out at the glorious prospect,
;hings seemed to go a little more
That did what wanted, though. Dick
grew quite friendly, though not in the
open way that should have liked-but
set that down to my own disagreeable
way OF looking at things and last of all,
[ got to be sorry that had ever tried to
oe friends again, for he took to coming
much more often than wished; and 1
amt say as I liked finding him there
;wice when went home.
The last time, I couldn't help it, I
poke to Lizzie about it when he'd gone,
md she laid her little hand on my
houlder, and said she'd much rather
I'd ask him not to come when l kissed
Ter. and called myself disagreeable
,rute for feeling as I'd done.
T p,inbt hovo mt cfcr, 70 n;oL'o
coming, or might not-I can't say
,ut it was all put aside by the changes
yoing on at the works, for the very next
week Dick Green was amongst the batch
discharged, and that ended it-for the
ime.
l said that I was all in trouble about
he changes going on and trembling lest
should be one of the next for, you
zee, instead of being well forward, I was
. little behind. Not that you must
hink was careless, for that wasn't the
,ase. 1t was the getting married had
made me short, for we had been tuying
urniture, and pots, and pans, and ket-
les every Saturday night, till I used to
Wonder how big van it would take if
,ver We had to move.
never told Lizziea word of what was
,oing on, for 1 says to myself, what's
he use of making her miserable3 But
t last all that l had expected camel
vas put off, one of the very last, too
md on the Monday morning, when, like
rom regular custom, walked around
o the works, l saw the gates closed.
nd the whole place one great, black Z
lreary desert. There was no hissineSe
# steam, no whirling of wheels, nothinas
,ut silence, without so much as a puff
Il smoke from the great furnace Shafts, % o
The fires were out-the works were l"
losed -.
hadn't told Lizzie-I never felt thi
leart-all Saturday night and Sunday
nd / laft 4bok -,