The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-04-29
A STRANGE COINCIDENCE
BY LIZZIE LYONS.

1t was a bright, sunshiny morning in
October, n of those delightful days
IN the lovely autumn, which brings an
involuntary, cheerful smile to the lips
OF even the most unappreciative, who
can scarcely ever see anything to be
commended in this fair world. The
fashionable people had mostly returned
to town, after their long vacation spent
among the sands at the fashionable sea-
side resorts, and the Fifth avenue man
slons were again resonant with gayety.
In n OF the most stately residences
OF all, in an elegantly appointed bou-
DOR, Mrs. Landmere, alady, one would
judge of about fifty years. paced back
and forth, impatiently. She was reputd
to be very wealthy, owning a mine
worth several millions. Her proud,
patrician face wore a care-worn express
sion; her tall, slender figure, with its
long, clinging dress of some soft, black
material, once so graceful. seemed
bowed with care; and in her large, dark
eyes there was a look as of great long
ing. Her hands clasped, her whole at
titude one of supplication, she breathed
a prayer that she might see her son,
her boy, but one again.
: just five years ago he had been with
her-her JOY, her pride, the very lion
OF elite society. On his entrance to a
ball room dozens of gentle hearts
would beat more quickly, dozens of
bright eyes grow brighter at his COM
ing; anxious mammas with eligible
daughters smile approvingly at the
slightest attention from him. Hand
some to a fault, and courted by all, he
was, as would naturally follow, way
ward and self-willed, but he had
never asserted it to any very great
extent until, having imagined that he
had fallen in love with his mothers
seamstress, he vowed he would marry
her in direct opposition to his moth
er's wishes; in fact, her most earnest
commands. When he announced the
fact she held up her hands in holy
horror at the idea of such a mesalli-
ance. Her soma Landmere-to
marry a seamstress. Preposterous!
All her commands, her pleadinos,
were to no avail. His will was as in
domitable as her own. She at last re-
sorted TO discharging the poor girl in
his absence, thinking he would soon
overcome his foolish affection. Not so,
however. On his return a stormy inter-
view ensued, in which he vowed he
would search for her in the four cor
ners of the earth but what he would find
her. So saying he had gone from her
without the clasp of the hand, without
a word of parting, without even a single
glance except to throw her a look of de-
tiance as he went from the room; and
five years had passed away on leaden
wings; to her five years of weary wait
ing and longing, of hoping against hope,
for just one word from him. Was he
sick and suffering? Was he carrying
on a miserable existence, or, horrible
thought! was he dead, occupying some
unknown grave, with nothing to mark
his last resting place? were the harrow
ing thoughts that had thrust themselves
constantly upon her. And why did she
think so much of him to-day, when five
years had elapsed; time, one would
think, to have almost healed the wound.
Her thoughts were suddenly inter-
rupted by the entrance of a servant
with the morning mail. 1t consisted
of the Morning Times and a business
like looking letter. Taking the paper
and glancing at 1t carelessly, her eye
was arrested by a long column, head
ed, Trouble in the Mines" She read
it through, with a sigh of sympathy for
the poor miners, who were being treat
ed so u~njustly and laying it down, she
broke the seaI of her letter.
1t was just a brief note from the over
seer of her mines, stating there would
be nc profit from them that month, ow-
ing to the exorbitant demands of the
miners following in a few minor expla-
nations. As she readit a dark suspi-
cion flashed across her mind. Could it
be that he was ~defrauding her-perhaps
grinding down those poor, unfortunate
men? Her mind was soon made up;
she would go to the mines. Here she
had been brooding over her trouble
when she was needed elsewhere. With
her, to decide was to act, and the reso-
luton was no sooner formed than she
set about making preparations for her
journey.
A dull, leaden, threatening sky over
head, cold and disagreeable all around;
the miners gathered together in little
knots, talking excitedly and angrily,
showing plainly by their scowling looks
that some evil was pending somebody.
A man known among them as Jack
Lorley, stepped from among the group
and raised his hand as though to speak
to them, and all hushed into silence.
Under ordinary circumstances, one
would turn and look %curiously at the