The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-29
PAID WITH HIS LIFE.
By B. NJ. NELL.

curses. " OUlcll, VIII IL ilc lsiSCN
so gaunt with suffering that they
might have been the arms of spectres,
cried for bread. Little children,
out of whose faces want was stamp
ing all that is fairest in childhood,
followed at the heels Of the men and
women, echoing them. Others,
scarcely less poor, yet with some
fragments of food left, barred their
doors. and crouched in corners,
dreading the coming Of the angry,
hungry, desperate mob, whose
hoarse roar sounded family in their
ears.
And so the dav wore on, and the
mob had done no violence. And
the sun went down, and the moon
rose in peaceful majesty, and show
ed the faces of starving men and
women a great deal more ghastly in
its ghostly light. Then one with
ewes like fire, stood out from the
crowd, and uttered words that fell
on the heart and brain like burning
brands, and cried at length, TO the
mansion to the mansion !" and his
words were echoed in a great roar
by the mob, "To the mansion 10
the mansion !"
The mansion was the home of
stern Michael Gathers, owner OF the
town mills. There he lived with
his daughter Helen, fair haired.
blue-eyed girl whom all loved.
Months before, unable to obtain Or
ders, for his goods, he had closed
his mill, and five hundred men and
women had been thrown out of
work. With ali his unyielding
sternness when opposed, he had
been a fair, and, at times, a kind
master, and they bore patiently
Heaven knows the poor are patient J
but the time had come, at last,
when their little savings were spent,
and meG, women and children cIed
for bread; not for plenty, but just
enough to keep life within their
starving frames. But it came not.
Who could be patient then ? Not
one of US Thus it was they rose at
last and was As restless as a sea.
But time had gone hard with
Michael Gathers, too. In his stern
pride he would keep it from the
world to the last; and only father
and daughter knew the mill owner
was insolvent. Men had failed on
him everywhere, and it was only a
matter of time as to when his name
should be among the list of bank
rupts.
His daughter Helen was OF age,
and, through the viii of a deceased
relative, rich; but her father in spite
of her pleadings, had refused to
touch a penny OF her money. They
were sitting together, father and
daughter, he bent and broken; yet
not so much so but he could have
stood uncompromisingly, boldly, be-
fore. the world; she sweetly helpful,
like some good angel ministering to
him. The both waited for what the
father had said would be inevitable
the coming of the mob.
''Let them come" muttered Nj
chael Gathers, grimly, and he point
ed significantly TO two revolvers on
the table.
But Helen pleaded with him and
for them.
Il have money, it is yours" she
said.
But he answered:
Force and threats have never
moved Michael Gathers yet; they
shall not now."
Long ere the crowd had reached
the lawn, they heard its roar, which,
rs it drew nearer, was like the
sound Of many waters" Ruthlessly
the feet of frenzied men and women
trampled the flower beds. Though
the moon was full, some carried
torches, and, swinging them around,
made lurid rings of fame.
Michael Gathers stepped to the
window and looked out upon them.
They howled at him and shouted
Work or bread-work or bread y
The flickering light of their
torches showed his face to them, set
in stern defiance. The starving men
and women were maddened by the
sight, and one cried:
Michael Gathers, your life or
breadp
Although he raised his hand to
still them, his face was white with
passion. The crowd silenced for a
moment to hear him. With no tre-
NOR in his voice he answred, fierce
iy:
Neither my life nor bread
Starve You hounds-starver y
Quickly he bowed the shutters.
Just in time, for against them beat
a shower ofstones.
"The door, the door, yelled
the mob, and strong men threw
themselves against it, till the old
mansion trembled.
Helen had stood without moving
or uttering word through all this
but now she was all determination
and action. Her father had return
ed to his chair. In each hand he
held a revolver. He was seemingly
unconscious of her presence, and
did not even glance at her as she
stole to the door. She had resolved
on what she thought the only course
TO pursue. Quickly she stepped
out into the hall, looked the door
behind her.
Her father, now aroused. cried:
Helen, come back !"
For the first time in her lie she
must disobey him.
No, father. Though you are
armed, you can but kill one or two
OF these poor creatures, who know
not what they do-then you die"
he made some answer. half COM
manding, half supplicating but she
did not hear it, At that moment
the door below gave way. and the
mad mob came rushing up stairs
and into the hall.
There was a bright light there
and they paused invoiuntarily ;;at
the sight which met their ewes.
The girl, never more beautiful, Ler
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