Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-11-10
CHAPTER XXX.
INN.

Philip left his wife to fall asleep if she
could, and made his way to his study where
he and his father before him had fought out
81 many battles. His secret was out The
police might be at his door that very night
to claim his bride back from HIM. He had
beaten one man for her, but he could not de-
fend her against the force they would bring
against him. The air of his little village had
grown close and suffocating. How long
would it be before the storm would burst.
He tried to calm himself and calculate how
much time his crowding destiny would give
him. He was rich and powerful and had
many friends and nothing that could happen
to his wife could make him less formidable,
though it might break his heart There
was not a soul in Bretonville that had some
thing to hope of his favor, or to fear from
his displeasure. He could shut up his mills
and the village would become a desert; he
could lower wages and send starvation
knocking at every door And there was not
one creature in the village but knew his
power. He had not usel it to harm them yet,
but would not a man fC rget mercy in defend
ing his own home! And then what did they
know, after all, even the mob that had in
suited his wife? They might suspect, but
suspicion was not enough to give them cour-
age to aSSail all the bulwarks of wealth and
respectability about such home as Philip
Bretons Even the discharged servant,
Thomas Bales, did not hold the trump card
in this terrible game of life and death No
one held it but Giddings, the lawyer, and he
was provided for as yet.
Philip paused before the window. There
could be no vital danger yet 1t would take
time. His enemies were on the right track,
but there We're blind wndings in it that would
hinder the scent. Hinder it, but at last
what! His mills seemed to hold him in bond
age His life work was here where the dan
ger was, to show the world what an en-
ployer ought to concede to his workmen. To
set a bright example to soften the rigor of
his class Could he forsake his glorious
work. To be sure his workmen Were prov
ing themselves ungrateful, and murmured
louder against him today than ever against
his father They had taken their children
away from the schools to spite him, though
he would not suffer their little bodies to be
tortured in the mills any more. They be-
grudged him his luxuries, as if it were their
money that bought them. There were no
more smiles and hearty words for him from
the poor he had done the best he knew for,
and all the manufacturers around were laugh
ing at his failure, as they called it.
But a look of determination came over the
Young mans pale face. He believed he
could plant his feet like the rock and wear
out their impatience. The violence of his
people should not make him tremble. He
was their friend and they would come to be-
lieve it. He had not done all they wished.
but he could not see any further yet, and he
would take no step blindly because of re-
nroaches, If he We're not right he was nearer
RIGHT than thousands of his class By and by
their turbulence would subside, when it could
not stir him, and his measures would have
fl,NvV. fgaFr ff- of
smiles and prosperity. New blocks of mills
would stretch away in all directions, and the
homes of his working people would dot with
happy cottages all the hills and valleys near.
But Bertha Did he love his mills or her
the mores She should not be permitted even to
guess her own terrible story, or her life would
be clouded like his But the air of the vii
lace would soon be trembling with the news,
and the hand of pitiless justice would be laid
upon her Should he wait for its God had
granted him one week Of peace, and now this
month for warning Sas not the world
Target Were there not high mountains and