The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-13


guarding the Hall but nothing can prevent an
evil-minded person from throwing a stone
through your window"
Her answer was as follows:
II approve of the precautions you have taken,
but do not think it necessary to leave town. j
am not in the least alarmed, and will remain at
the Hall"
He tossed her letter into the fire.
''Yo1 are too proud to show the white feather,
he said, as if addressing her. AFTER all, there
is little chance of the strikers going to the Hall
1t is the factory that they are after. II be-
lieved you were in actual danger, my dear Lady
Disdain, too would use coercion and force you
out of town"
He had engaged 300 new men, and had organ
lied them as guard. Every man was bound TO
protect his own loom This he was more will
ing to do since by so doing he secured his own
bread and butter.
AT nightfall on Monday, Mr.. Lincoln received
information that the mills would be attacked at
10 o'clock that night. The new employees were
secretely given notice to be on the grounds at
lifetime appointed, and few policemen of the
town were informed or the expected trouble.
Early in the evening Mr.. Lincoln paid visit
to the Hall, and found the building shut up as
close as a tomb. The servants who knew some
thing of the nights prospects, took the precau-
ton to bar every window and door as though
fortifying themselves against an army
During the afternoon Miss Lytton had expert
enced a revolution of feeling. She was not
nervous woman and was accustomed to abide by
time she had made mistake. Previously she
had only considered the danger with which she
was threatened, but she suddenly remembered
that her superintendenJ would share the risk
He was the limb between herself and her work
men, and they naturally looked upon him as
their employer They knew him, while many
of them had never seen her. They realized that
he had the power to employ or discharge them.
lie had increased and decreased their wages at
his will They would probably wreak their
vengence upon him more viciously than upon
woman with whom they have never had personal
dealings.
When he saw her that night she was less
authoritive at first than usual, although her
manner was cold. He told her Of his arrange
ment for protecting the mills. She learned that
the new men were armed with rifles and that
the strikers had been joined by a mob of tramps
and outlaws who had never done an honest
days work in their lives but who were infatu-
ated with the prospect of a nightof plumber and
riot.
During this recital Miss Lytton had been nerv-
ously clasping and unclasDing her hands.
81 have changed my mind, she said at length,
her voice triie quicker than usual Il wish to
retract When said l would not compromise,
l did not forsee how serious this difficulty might
become. wish now to give up the struggle L
can afford to sacrifice my business interests bet
ter than risk theshedding of one drop of human
blood"
Her woman's heart was beginning to assert
itself.
- our decision is merclIul,' ner SuperlnIenU-
emit said ''but it comes too late. You cannot
now give these men what they ask without being
unjust to the 300 new hands to whom you have
promised work, and who have come to you,
promising to stand by you in your emergency;
You have not work for 700 people, and it would
be gross injustice to send adrift the unotfending
workmen to concilIate q crowd of ruffians."
Her nervousness increased.
What can be done?"
81 do not know that a riot can be averted now, >
ha har. INIT will In -Vv1la |
strikers. have been used to control them, and
may succeed"
do you mean that you intend to address this
mobP
They had both been seated before the open
Fireplace but she arose now and stood facing
him.
Eyes, "ne said, 'Iwillatry to induce them to
give mo hearing"
Her color faded slowly from her face
II do not wish you to speak to the strikers, she
said, sharply. "You have not my authority for
addressing theInr
Hemade no answer, but little ironical smile
touched his lips and exasperated herinto further
speech.
"You have planned to resist them. You have
said they are crazy with liquor and that they are
joined by professional law breakers. There can
be no wisdom in speaking to them. They are
unworthy of remonstrance You have done
what you can to protect the mills; if they must
burn let them go without any humiliating ap-
peals to their destroyers."
''The strikers are men," he said Ignorant
and ill-guided but not devoid of reason or con-
science. They know me as workman, not as a
capitalist They believe that 1 have no per-
sonal interest at stake, and may, therefore,
listen to me-"
But she said her voice now broken by in
tense feeling, 81 forbid you to speak to them"
The sarcastic smile returned.
Then must be disobe6ient
at is time you understood your position" she
continued passionately-she was utterly bereft
of her usual calm; q own the mills and have
the right to do as choose by my own workmen
You acknowledge that you are workman like
any of the Others and like the others, you must
obey my commands"
Il am so like the others that am going to
dsobey you" he said quietly; '|yousee the strike
is general"
He too, had risen, and was looking down into
her face with an expression on his own which
nearly robbed her of her self -possession.
She changed her tact.
why you should work in opposition to my
will is a mystery. You have had specially in
dependent position. You have literally been
master of the mills ever since you entered them.
You have ignored me and my authority. | am
surprised to think that you should wish to leave
a place where you have matters so entirely in
your own control"
He did not alter his position, but his face
plainly showed his strong emotion.
81 am ambitious" he said. 81 am not salts
fed with being master of the mills. l would be
your master and have you for my wife,"
She turned away with such anger that he be-
lieved he had lost her.
This is an insult!' she said.
mo" he told her, his voice deep with feeling
sit is the greatest honor l can bestow | offer
to make you my wife and give you my life's de-
votion. You call this an insult because you are
Miss Lytton of Lytton Hall, and am your SUI
pefntendent! An accident Of birth has given
you pedigree and has made you appear cold
and intoerant, yet l know it sin your nature to
be as courageous, as womanly and as perfect
wife as ever a man was blessed with"
II cannot prevent you from saying what you
like" she said with suppressed excitement. IA
woman living alone has no protection from per
sons who force their opinions upon her"
"She has her own weakness for her defense
he answered more gently. Since my presence
and sentiments are unwelcome l will lsave you
l will not again offend you; believe me, would
not have spoken if l had not loved you.7