The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-04-18

forward along the path leading to the
narrow bridge of a single plank across
the canal. Fke girl was noe walking rap
idly, and as she neared the trail structure,
she saw another form, clal similarly TO
herself, seated on the stone coping of the
bank. She would have passed it uncon-
sciously, but for the fact that long ray
of light. possibly from Joe's lantern,
shining through one of the windows of
the mill, fell by chance directly on the
object. The face showed plainly in the
distant reflection, and Mary recognized
it,
Aggie," said she, 'swhat are you do
ing out here in the cold? Have you just
got through work? 1 thought you were
at the house long ago"
The person addressed was girl small
er in stature and younger than the speak
er. In the darkness of Il Novem Der
evening in New England she appeared
only as a shadow, petite and round, IF
the dim outline could b, trusted to give
an accurate token and as her taller com
panion enveloped her with dusky and
sentiment OF affectionate protection
which doubtless a fuller light would have
displayed in the countenance.
What do you want to come out here
alone in the dark for :" said Mary, gath
erng the little figure closer to her.
:" hadn't been here but minute,
aud l was thinking. Mary, might as
well tell you now-all the help will know
it to morrow--they are going to send oft
half the hands next week, and run the
mill on short time. There, now, isn't
that just my luck, as soon as I'd got II
good place and fathers out of work, too,
down to the Falls, and mothers sick"
The brevity of this statement by mo
means measured its vast import. To di
minish production one half mcant want
and suffering to at least three hundred
whose wages came from labor in the
granite mill, possibly to both of the com
paniOns who now discussed the event.
1t was a personal matter to each far be-
yond the laws of demand and supply,
which regulate the movements of corpo
rations. Fully realizing what it implied,
the cheer fulness of the elder girl was
by the considerateness of love
as she responded
"Well, you won't have to go, Aggie, |
don't believe. 'Tisn't likely no way at
all %
eyes, I SHALL" said the other. "Pm
one of the new help, and they will go
firJt You are safe enough, but | don't
know what l shall do | can't 90 home"
81 don't believe it, said the taller.
81 know it's So"
"Who told your
'Joe Durham. He's one of the night
you know" said the little fig
ure with certain hesitation. ellis
boss told him Fitzpatrick got the order
from the city last week"
"Joe should have told me-" the other
began under her breath. But who was
this to whom Joe had gone with his
freshest gossip, while she herself was
put off with hurried meeting? Her
only friend in the throng of mill opera
tives that swarmed about her. The one
whom she had chosen to protect and love,
and to share in every secret except the
single great mystery that of late had
her soql with mingled happi
ness and fear She was true to Aggie,
and Joe must be loyal to her. The two
were all she had, and she bravely con-
quered the pang of suspicion that was
about to find a voice in words.
Mary Wilson was quite alone in the
world. limo when tl.a Wilson's
were the great family of that region.
For three generations a Wilson had
preached Calvanistic theology from the
pulpit of the old white church that now
stood, brown and lismantled, deserted
for more lively edifice in the centre of
the new town. About this cluig tradi-
tons in all of which the Wilson's had part
The older inhabitants still chuckIed and
@Aggtd their head when they told the
story Of the Squire Wilson who esponsed
the patriot cause, while his brother, the
Doctor of divinity, remained stout tory.
How, when the latter read from the pull
pit the Thank sgiving proclaim ltiol, end
ing, 'Ciod save the oommonwea' tn, "
adding, of his own loyal motion, And
say, God save the king !" the doughty
squire had risen in his square pew at the
head of the aisle, and committed blasphe
nyin the sanctuary by excl aiming: ''And
[ say, God d--n the king !"
This was one the traditions. but the
Wilson's hid passed away from Ashton;
md, like many strong families. had spf
fered sharp descent from prosperous
lays to Obsourity and almost extinction.
rhe gossips shook their leads again over !
ms uecadence, and mumbled another
to account for it.
Far back Of the Brofane, patriot squire,
here was an ancestor yet more strange.
1t was in the days when Ashton and
many wooded leagues beside were held
by Capt. Wilson with other colonists who
owned him leader Those were days
when men went to the pillow with Il gun
'lung from the shoulder as we'll as a gOad
n the hand, and when the muskets were
stacked in the aisle of the church for use
L repelling any sudden assault of the
Indian foe.
On a Sunday night, so the story
AN, the great attack was made whose
memory is preserved in the name of the
Black river. The settlers made theirlast
stand upon its banks. OF those who |
ELL dead among the ruins of their burn
ne houses, and of those who fled to the
woods to return after many days, famish
ID and half frozen, to the ashes of their
homes, the records of Ashton preserve |
The full list. The Mary Wilson of those |
lays was among the number. When !
Captain Wilson, coming buck from his
mission to the neighboring settlement
over down the valley, searched the
olackeued foundations of his dwelling,
ne found neither eharred corpse nor mu-
,ilated body. His daughter was gone
and he mourned without hope.
1t was years after, when a treacherous
peace ruled between the colonists and the
Indians, that woman, wearing blanket
md with uncovered head, came to his
door and claimed him as father. She |
carried the degrading marks of Indian
servitude, and she told him of children
l. g q