Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-14
Mtsrsllanenns.
A PROUD WOMAN.
(Continuec from yesterday. }

Continued from yesterday
There was much suppressed excitement
throughout the town next day. IL was
learned that Miss Lytton would make no
terms with the strikers.
Gerard Lincoln had advertised TOR new
workmen, and had received hundreds OF
applicants:
MANY of the old hands were engaged
In drunken carousal which had rendered
them insensible to reason. A few had ex-
pressed their wish to be- reinstated, and
had been assigned to their old places.
During the day the superintendent sent
a note to Miss Lvtton. urging her to leave
town till after the excitement had abated.
1.-The men are crazy with drink" he
wrote, land in their present condition are
capable of doing you personal injury. L
have watchmen guarding the hall but moth
ing can prevent an evllminded person
from throwing stone through your Win
dow"
Her answer was as follows:
Il approve of the precautions you have
taken. but do not think it necessary to
leave town. | am not in the least alarmed,
and will remain at the hall"
He tossed the letter into the fire.
You 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 tits the factory
that they are after. If | believed yod
were in actual danger, my dear Lady Dis
dain. i, too, would use coercion, and force
YOU out of town"
He had engaged 100 new men, and had
organized them as guard. Every man
was bound to protect mis- own loom. This
he was more willing to do, since by so do
ING he secured his own bread and butter.
At nighttall on Monday Mr.. Lincoln re
ceived information that the mills would
be attacked at 10 O'Clock that night. The
new employees were secretly given notice
to be on the grounds at the time appoint
ed, and few policemen of the town were
informed of, the expected trouble.
Early in the evening Mr.. Lincoln paid
visit to the hall. and found the building
shut up as close as tomb. The servants.
who knew something of the nights pros
poets, took the precautiOn to bar every
window and door as though terrifying
themselves against an army.
During the afternoon Miss LyttOn had
experienced a revulsion of feeling. She
was not a nervous woman. and was accus'
toned to abide by her decisions; but she
began to fear that this time she had made
a mistake. Previously she had only con-
sidered the danger with which she was
threatened, but she suddenly remembered
that her superintendent would share the
risk. He was the link between herself
and her workmen. 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. He
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 had
never had personal dealings.
When he saw her that night. she was
less authoritative than usual although her
manner was cold. He told her of his ar
rangement for protecting the mills. She
learned that the new men were armed
with rifles, and that the strikers had been
Joined bv mob of tramps and outlaws
who had never done an honest days work
in their lives, but who were infatuated
with the prospect of a night of plumber
and riot.
During the recital, Miss Lytton had
been nervously clasping and unclasping
her hands.
II have changed my mind" she said at
length, her voice trif1e quicker than u.s.
ual, 81 wish to retract. When said
would not compromise, did not foresee
how serious this difficulty might become.
wish now to give up the struggle. can
afford to sacrifice my business inter-
ests, better than risk the shedding of one
drop of human Blood
Her womans heart was beginning to
assert itself.
Your decision is merciful," her super
ntendent said; but it comes too late.
You cannot now give these men what
they ask without being unjust to the 800
new hands to whom you have promised
work, and who have come to you, promis-
ing to stand by you in any emergency.
You have not work for 700 people, and it
would be gross injustice to send adrift
the unoffending workmen to conciliate a
crowd of ruffians."
Her nervousness increased.
"What can be done?'
81 do not know that riot can be avert
ed now he told her; ''but | will do
what can to quiet the strikers. | have
been used to control them, and may sue
ceed'
They had both been seated before the
open fireplace. but she arose now and
stood facing him.
Yes" he said; II will try to induce
them to give me hearing"
Her color faded slowly from her face.
Il do not wish you to speak to the
strikers" she said sharply. You have
not my authority for addressing them!'
He made no answer, but a little ironi-
cal smile touched his lips and exasperated
her into 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 60 without any humiliatng
appeals to their destroyers.'
The strikers are men," he said. igno-
rant and i'll guided but not devoid of rea-
son or conscience. they know me as
workman, not as capitalist. They be-
lieve that have no personal interest at
stake, and may, therefore, listen to me. :"
But" she said, her voice now broken
by intense feeling, 81 forbid you to speak
IN them -