The Sunday herald., 1881-02-13

the pleasure of hearing her voice. Some
thing had alarmed her. She was nervous
and tinid, and again and again turned her
eyes from my face TO the canvas bag lying
on the moss grown rock. She declined to be
led into talk with a stranger. Finally she
picked up her water bucket and walked ir-
resolutely along the path to the house
filled my pipe, and sat smoking and looking
at the busy scene below me. | wished
could board at the little house where the
handsome girl went, and so be free from the
life in the dirty houses, and the vile sur
roundings Of the mining town below me.
The afternoon was warm, the air pure, the
leaves Of the trees were drowsily rustling,
and slept was awakened by light hand
laid on my shoulder. The girl stood at my
side She said anxiously: "Who are you
What are you doing here What Is concealed
in that sack : " | told her my name, that
was a minor searching for work, and that my
tools were in the bag. 1t was evident that
she did not believe me. opened the sack
and emptied the tools on the ground. As
the alarmed, doubtful expression faded from
her face, / asked her name. Gamma Carter"
she replied. Then asked if I could get
board at her fathers house. Quickly she
looked at me. Her eyes filled with tears as
she replied "I have no father. lie is
dead" After an instants pause she ad-
ded :" The Molly Maguires killed him."
She would ask her mother IL might board
with them, adding frankly that they were
very poor and the money paid for my
board would be great help to them. She
also said that sho had feared was an agent
of the Molly Maguires sent to blow them up
with nitro-glycerine. The poor girl had
thought my sack was full of cartridges,
because handled it carefully. We went to
the house. Her mother was thin, wan
woman of about forty-fve, evidently greatly
shaken. She sat in low armchair by an
open window. Her thin hands were crossed
in her lap. Her hair was gray. There was
an absent, far-away expression in her eyes
and on her face. She impressed me as one
patiently waiting for the coming of death.
She listened TO my request, and, turning to
her daughter, said, 4" lie can live with us If
you desire it, Anna" With pleased look
the girl 81 d she thought it best, and showed
Not doubling that could get work, / paid
Anna two months board in advance, and,
promising to be back by dark, went down to
the superintendent office in the village.
To my great astonishment, he told me the
mine was full-handed. knew he lied. l
walked up the dingy streets wondering what
l had better do. Dropping into saloon, l
met Fred Haskell. He was an Andersonville
prison comrade of mine. Our greeting over,
stated my case to him. He said he was
working in the mine, and in sore need of a
comrado. Hastily drinking mug of ale he
had in his hand, he took my arm and we
walked out into the street.
".Whom did you apply to for work p he
asked The superintendent replied.
Bless your innocent heart, you are not in
the Broad Top region nor at Pittsburg. We
manage differently here. You must see the
Molly Maguires of this district. He alone
can employ you. The mine manager cannot,
dare not, give you work. l will arrange
| matters for you.' Passing through few
| short dirty streets, we came to dingy saloon,
in front of which q huge green harp, freshly
painted, swung creaking on its hinges. A
low murmur of many voices came floating
out. A strong smell Of alcohol pervaded the
air in front of the open door. Entering,
saw throng of Irish miners. All were
smoking and drinking. The voices instantly
hushed. With thumps the filed and empty
glasses were set down on bar or tables.
Fierce glances were cast on us. Isaw threat
ening gestures made as Celt whispered to
Celt that we were Englishmen. Haskell
pushed up to the bar and asked If Mr.. Don.
avan was in. The barkeeper surlily replied
that he was in the back room. We knocked
on the door. A sharp voice bade us enter
Before coal fire sat featured, black.
eyed, light-haired Irishman, who arose and
greeted Haskell kindly. He was tall, and
his face was remarkable for the great breadth
of the jaws and the heavy squareness of the
chin. was introduced, and Haskell stated
my case briefly. He said he wanted me fol
q comrade, and significantly added that
was to board with Mrs. Carter, and that sht
was in great need of money. Gravely Mr.
Donavan replied Mr.. Watson, you may
venture to work with Mr.. Haskell. l viii
see the underground boss, and, as he is ,
friend of mine, think he will consent, ant
add your name to the pay ROLL took leav,
of my friend, and walked up the noun
tain to the slab house.
"That evening the girl told me the story
of her family. Her mother was the daugh
ter of an English curate, living in the Blacl
manager. Her father had dispute with tn,
Miners Union, and when Anna was nin
years old was forced to leave England. They
came to the anthracite regions of Pennsyl
vania, and the father obtained employment
as the superintendent of the mine in the val
ley. The Englishman defied the eMolly Ma
guires when they organized. He was sho
dead as he sat at the supper table one nigh
two years before. The family had savet
little, and when the funeral expenses wer
paid there were but few hundred dollar
left for the widow. This money had beel
expended in building the slab house. Their
was brother nine years old, born in thi
country, named Willie. He tended doc
in the mime. The family lived on his scant.
wages and on the money obtained by sellin
eggs and fowls that Anna raised, and o.
vegetables grown in the garden.
g worked steadily in the mine. Slowl
grew to love Anna. Early in the morn
ing and in the evening we worked in tn
; garden. Saturday afternoons and Sundays
the miners holidays, were spent by us o
the mountains in the unbroken forest. Will
generally accompanied us on these pleasur
excursions. We fshed for trout in the littl
mountain streams, and after the first fros
! we gathered nuts for use during the winter
Once we saw deer. II was the happies
, period of my life. Two years passed. Al
} mas mother looked on me as an elder son.
had been appointed to take charge of til
miners engaged in Withdrawing the pillal
of an exhausted boundary. expected to l
r promoted on the Successful completion OF TIL
+ work. Then my future would be secure.
) should be a mine manager in q few year
60 cOluuent WAS OI SucceSS tnat anna an
arranged to be married on her birthday !
, the coming fall. The appointment to owe
t see the withdrawing of the pillars was a
: tually my ruin. OF course fell out wit
l some Of the miners, who were robbing IL
9 nearby pillars before the distant ones ha
been cut out, and they complained to IL
a Molly Maguires. The society demanded IN
. discharge from the manager. He prompt
0 complied with the demand. went at on,
a to Donavan and asked him II 1t was the il
!. tention of the Molly Masuires to drive II
1 from the mine, or If would be allowed
S take my pick and earn my bread there. "
y had a stormy interview. Finally he SUI
!. gested that i apply to the manager ne,
o morning for room"
Q Watson sat silently in his chair for O
Q instant. Then, calling for fresh cigars, v
v lit them. He mused for few minutes, al
: then said Incredulous as 1t may seem
: you, trusted that devil after having COW,
: him. applied for room the next mornin
r and had one directly off the main gangwi
h assigned to me. Fred Haskell had almo
n finished working out an old room furth
g down the gangway. When he finished
Ii was TO Join me. Until that time | was