Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-02-18
CHAPTER X.
WEAK WOMAN.

beautiful hostess, whose WOuIeu serenity hstd
oil gone, then be rose to his feet, and stood,
while she spoke his name in the briefest form
of introduction. He did not seem offended
by the stare of surprise Mr.. Breton had for
him. 1t was new experience 20 the mill
owner. meeting hja workmen in fashionable
parlors.
.Curran, is it! was sure had seen you
in the mill, but you had on a white lpron
them Mr. Breton laughed Familiarity, but
he did not hold cut bis hand.
Couldn't Curran see how rudely he was
treatedi Mr.. Breton's laugh and tone rasped
Bertha's finer sensibiEties, SO that she was at
once indignant with him, and disguised with
Curran who seemed to bear it so uncon-
sciously. Curran's brow was unruffled; he
had only folded his arms across his breast,
sometimes a sign of excitement with him
sMr. Curran had the good fortune, be-
Heve, to do my daughter a great service"
Mr.. Ellingsworths manner was the perfec-
ton of well bred rudeness. 1t expressed the
infinite elevation and polish Of the person
who assumed it, far above the very natural
feeling of disgust at the presence OF so vulgar
a person as this workman. hsuggested IRE
sistibly the great contempt such person
ought to call forth, but at the same time
that Ellingsworth was unapproachable by
even as vulgar thing as contempt.
.Indeedp exclaimed Mr.. Breton, as he
seated himself, II will thank you, too. 1t was
good job for you, and will see 1t don't
hurt your interests any, either"
"How do you like your work. went ON MIR.
Breton in his harsh min voice. ~ hope you
Amt one of those who don't know when they
are well off,"
~ can keep from starving; that Is well of,
suppose"
Mr.. Breton was at loss but for q moment.
.sBut you poor people don't save what you
get You ought to economize"
Curran's eyes flashed dangerously, but he
bit his lip and kept silence.
Mr.. Ellingsworth saw a scene was immi-
nent. How little tact Mr.. Breton showed in
patronizing the young man so provokingly
before the golden haired goddess whom he
had no doubt fallen in love with. Something
must be done.
Excuse noe. Have you had any serious
trouble with your wound, Mr.. Curranp
~ have only lost few days; that is moth
ing,n he answered quickly.
ssBut it must be considerable for poor
mani" broke in Mr.. Breton, with his grand
air; ~ will direct my paymaster to make it
up to YOU
Curran glanced across the room at Miss
Ellingsworth. He expected to see her face
flushed with anger She would leap to her
feet in indignant remonstrance to shield him
from such impertinence, all the generosity of
her nature in revolt against such return for
his devotion to her.
She was looking at him, but much as girl
looks at strange animal she has been pet
ting, when suddenly they tell her he bites.
Curran turned away from her and ground
his teeth Then he looked at Mr.. Breton.
"Can't your paymaster make up for the
pain, too, as well as the lost timer
Mr.. Ellingsworth was at his wits end. He
saw the cloud gathering in the workman's
eyes, and that his lip trembled with sup
pressed feeling when he spoke.
"How long have you been in town, Mr..
Currang he said to change the conversation
if possible into safer channels.
''Only six months"
"Why," volunteered Mr.. Breton after an
awkward silence, 'that is about as long as
loudly The old gentleman looked sharply
at him. az don't suppose you would tell who
has been making the trouble.n
Eyes, sir" Curran had risen to his feet,
the flush of offended self respect in his cheeks,
When came here found the mills paying
YOU IL per cent dividends, while the help
who ground them out for you, were crushed
almost to the earth. felt bound to tell them,
as | now tell you, that the owner has no
more God given right to all the profit of their
work than they to all the profit OF his
investment
"And YOU are the man who has been stir
ring I'D this mischief herein cried Mr. Bre-
ton, almost starting from his chair. He had
caught him at last then. "And do you say
that a man isn't entitled to the interest on
his money! My money represents a thousand
such lives as yours; it ought to have thou
sand times the pay" He had more terrible
guns than of the batteries of logic for the
rebel. but he could not resist the temptation
to explode the fallacies of his class before he
kat him go.
The Young mans eyes flashed beautifully.
"Your money represents a thousand lives,
then, out of which you have sucked the life
blooda And at how much do you value a
human life? As much as 81, 900 for soul! A
thousand dollars for all the joys and hopes
and possibilities of human life? Your val
uation is too miserably small. l tell you,
and Curran threw out his right hand in a
magnificent gesture, 81 tell you, human
creature ought TO have for its service good
portion of the comforts and delights the
world is so bounteous with. Anything less
Is slavery, a slavery worse than negro bond
age Do you call it pay that you give the
hopeless men and women that weave gold for
you on your looms2 Rather say the daily
recurring fact of hunger chains them to your
mill"
Mr.. Ellingsworth had sunk back in bis
seat in despair; he might as well resign him
set to the situation since it seemed beyond
hts power to change it, Mr. Breton was
likely to hear some startling truths before
he succeeded in refuting this dangerous
young man. Perhaps it was just as well,
too; there is no sense in a mans making his
money as the rich do by one kind or another
Of imposition or injustice and then affect
such ridiculous Inconsistencies. There Is
no sense in being blind and stupid about
how one comes to be rich, the comfortable
fact remaining. What was the use of Breton
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