The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-02-26
A BLACK SHEEP.
Curly Schwartz, the Little Mailer
and His Happy Marriage.

1t was seven O'Clock on a cool Sep
TENDER evening. The sun had set upor
Smoketon, but a dull red glow still
fingered in the heavens. above the heav,
bar of smoke that lay upon the horizon
Above the cool, gray river, in which the
red evening glow and the twinklin:
lights of the city lay clearly reflected
the clustering spires of Smoketor
Island stood out against the darkenins
sky; the long arch of the bridge, with
its lights cleaning in red and gold
gave touch to the picture that was al
most Venetian; the evening star hung
low in the west, and from loftier height
the young moon looked calmly upon the
peaceful scene.
That the horizon bar of smoke was
much less heavy than usual gave nc
manner of satisfaction to Thisbe Bar.
ton as she paced hurriedly back and
forth by the riverside, with her masses
of tawny hair unprotected from the
evening breeze. For absence of smoke
in SmOketon meant idle factories, and
what that meant Thisbe and MANY
Others had mad an excellent chance to
learn during the four months strike.
which as yet showed no sign of drawing
to 4 close.
A step behind her made her turn to
meet the gaze of rather small and
narrow-chcsted individual whose pale,
Iarl fana an1 Sho,,ll,,-,
at once reduced to insigniticance by con-
trast with the girls vigorous person
ality.
is that You, Curly Schwartz" she
asked rather roughly. i've just heard
something of you. and if it's true, you'll
say goodbye to Thisbe Barton"
The man heaved long sigh as he
took off his hat and ran his fingers
through the crisp, dark locks that had
been the origin of his nickname.
Il guess L II have to do that. anyway.
Thisbe.' he answered meekly. The
girl drew herself up haughtily, while
her brown eyes gave an angry flash.
What are YOU talkin' about?" she
asked wrathfully.
I'm talkin' about how I've been
goin' around with YOU for better two
wears" he answered, mot to speak of
havin' loved you all my life-and you
was real good to me when we was chill
dren. Thisbe. Not another girl in
Smoketon have / ever looked at, and
you know it; yet you won't say neither
Yes nor no. prompt and decided; and
can't stand ii no longer"
land So" the girl answered with
slow scorn, "as if had not lowered my
selfenough by goin' around with mere
feeder you have gone and turned
BLACK sheep to make me ashamed to
hold up my head before nv brothers,
'.And if l have turned black Sheep
where's the harm?" he demanded sui
lenly.
where's the harm in bein' a traitor?"
she demanded, yet more enraged by his
ignoring her connection with the mat
ter. Where the harm in givin' in to
lower wages, like a coward?"
Il amt. I'm goin' on as a mailer, at
better wages than ever l got in my
life
Yes; betrayin' your class, and takin'
the place of better man than your
self"
LII uOiIl VI u. NV
class is the feeder nailers, and I'm bene-
fittin' one of them givin' him rise in
life. o. Thisbe, faltering suddenly in
his defiant sullenness and looking into
her face with appealing pathos. 20.
Thisbe, don't be so hard on a fellow! /
amt coward, nor a traitor, neither.
If twas only me, could starve or beg
as well as any one; but there my poor
old mother-what is she to do while I'm
waitin' for the nailers to get the wages
that suits EN-? I've done everything a
man could do since this strike began.
I've even SWEEP the streets and been
glad enough to get the job; but there's
plenty more as bad off as me, and jobs
is hard to get. More than that. Thisbe,
I've been drove half mad by YOU.
hlowin' hot one minute and cold the
Hext; one day smilin' on me, and the
Eext on that Geoff. Walton, the big
fool. He's one of the nailers I'm to be
KEEP starvin' to please, amt he? No!
/ want work, hard work. to keep me
from thinkin', Thisbe. I've the chance |
Of a better place an higher wages than
I ever had, an I'm a-goin' to take 'em;
you'll never sheer at me for bein' only |
q feeder again, anyway" |
Have you finished?" asked Thisbe, |
white with passion, because l don't |
wish to interrupt you; but if YOU are |
quite sure you are entirely through
have something to tell you. Geoff. Wal
ton asked me again last night to marry |
him. and promised TO give him an
answer this evenin' He told me YOU |
was goin' on at the mill, or I'd a said |
yes right off. So l came out here to |
think it over. and I've made up my |
mind. He's true man. Geoff is; you |
won't catch him goin back on the work |
ingman and trucklin' to the oppressor;
so l think l shall say yes"
''Then wish you may get what You |
deserve" said Curly, turning abruptly |
on his heel and walking of, without the
ceremony of farewell.
Thisbe stood looking after him in ut |
ter silence, her hands clenched at her
sides, her nostrils dilated, her whole
figure tense with anger. Anger, too,
with which surprise was largely mingled,
for Curly Schwartz had been her humble
slave for so long that she could scarcely |
realize that he had at last declared his
independence. Perhaps she would like
him all the better for it after while. |
Even in the midst of her rage there was