Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-05-04
and these interests she would have will

1
investigating of his wife's large estate,
but EliZebeth was far too cautious to
trust her business to untried hands.
Her fathers agent was her agent; her
banker managed all her investments;
her park and farm and gardens were all
under the care of old and experienced
servants, who looked upon Steve merely
as Missiles husband"
In the second year of his marriage he
began to have some thoughts which would
have astonished his wife could she have
thought it worth while to inquire what
occupied his mind in the long hours when
he paced the shrubbery, or sat silently
looking out of the window. But Steve
was now ready for any employment that
would take him out Of the purposely de-
pendent life which he had so foolishly
chosen for himself.
One day, greatly to his surprise, Eliza
beth said to him:
"Steve, have letter from cousin
of mothers, who lives in Glasgow. She
is going to Australia and wants me to
buy her house. She says it is great
bargain, and I wrote to Barrett to 20 and
see about it. have letter this morn
ing saying he is too i'll to leave his bed.
I wonder if you could go to attend to it 2"
| Anything for change. Steve showed
q very proper business-like interest, and
said:
eyes, 1 would be very glad to co."
"Very well; should think you knew
enough Of titles and deeds and convey
ancing and all that sort of thing. Twill
trust the affair to you, Steve"
So the next morning Steve found him
self on the Caledonia line, with G1OO
in his pocket, and valuable piece of
business on hand. The first twenty
miles out of Leeds he enjoyed with all
the abandon of bird set free. Then he
began to think again. At Crewe he
missed train and he wandered about
the station, fell in talking with the engi-
neer Of the next one who was cleaning
and examining the engine with all the love
and pride mother gives her favorite
child.
The two men fraternized at once, and
Steve made trip over the Caledonia line
in the engineers small cuddy. He was
fine young fellow, Zone of seven," he
said, call machinists and engineers" he
was only serving his time, learning every
branch Of the business, practically; he
had brothers who made engines. and he
hoped to do so sometime.
In spite of his soiled face and oily
clothes, Steve recognized that refinement
that comes with education; and when
his new friends called upon him at the
Queens hotel, he would not be ashamed
OF his appearance, even in the most fas-
tidious days.
"Mr. Dalrymple, am glad to see
you" said Steve, holding out both hands
to him.
II thought you would be, sir? It is
not often l make mistakes in my likings.
I will go with you now to see my faith
er's works, if it suits YOU"
Never had such place entered Steph-
en- Gaskill's conception; the immense
furnaces, the hundreds of giants work
ing around them, the clang of ma
chinery, the mighty struggle of mind
with matter, Of intellect over the rev.
elation. He envied those cyclops in
their leathern masks and aprons; he
longed to lift their heavy hammers.
He looked upon the craftsmen with
their bare, brawny arms and blackened
hands, and felt his heart glow with adj
miration when he saw the mighty
works those hands had fashioned. The
tears were in his eyes when Dalrymple
and he parted at the gate of the great
waled-in yard.
''Thank you," he said, "you have
done me the greatest possible service.
I shall remember it.
That night Steve formed strange
but noble resolution. First of all he
devoted himself to his wifes business.
and accomplished it in a manner which
elected Mr.. Barrett's warm praise and
made Elizabeth wonder whether she
might not spare her agents fees for
the future. Then he had long con-
fdential talk with the owner of the
Dalrymple iron and machine works,
the result of which was the following
letter to Mrs. Gaskill:
MY DEAR WIFE: I shall not be at home again
| for at least two years, for have begun an APP
premiership to Dalrymple as an iron-master. I
propose to learn the process practically. have
/ lived too long upon your bounty, for I have
| lost your esteem as well as my own, and do
not say but that 1 have deserved the loss.
Please God will redeem my wasted past, and
with his help make man of myself When I
am worthy to be your husband you will respect
me, and until then think as kindly as possible
| ~ oAIHhcN 0ASh1L1s
The letter struck the first noble Oh ord
IN Ellzabeth's heart From that hour
not even her favorite maid dared to
make little compassionate sneers at
"pOor master"
Steve in leather apron and coarse
working clothes, began laborious, happy
days which brought him nights OF
sweetest sleep; and Elizabeth began
series Of letters to her husband, which
probably grew more imbued with the
tenderest interest and respect. In few
weeks she visited him Of her own free
will, and purposely going to the works,
sawher self-banished lord welding pom
derous hammer upon bar of white hot
iron.
Swarthy, bare armed, clothed in leath-
er, he had never looked so handsome in
Ehzabeth's eyes; and her eyes revealed
the fact to Steve, for in them was the
tender light of love founded upon genu-
inc respect. Steve deserved it. He
wrought faithfully out his two years SER
vice, cheered by his wife's letters and
visits, aud when he came out of the Dali
rymple works there was no more finished
iron master than he.
He held his head frankly up now and
looked fortune boldly in the face; he
could earn his own living anywhere, and
better than all he had conquered his
wife-won her esteem, and compelled
her to acknowledge physical staength
and moral purpose greater than her own.
Between Leeds and Braithwaite Hall
there have been for many years gigantic
iron works. The mills and railways on
the West Riding know them we'll; their
work is famous for it's excellence, for the
master is practical machinist and over
looks every detail. The profits are en-
ormous, and Stephen Gaskill, their pro-
prietor, is also the well-beloved and re-
spected master of Braithwaite Hall and
OF Braithwaite Halls mistress.
Curious Old West Point Orders.
| [From the New York SUM-
There is an old manuscript West
Point orderly book preserved at Wash
ington headquarters which contains
some curious entries. Under date If