Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-09-15

soon, WOulu be upon US.
How slow his friend moved Philip ac5r,
ally hated the people who were too stupid tc
get out of his messengers way.
Had Curran finished, was this all that was
left of his elcquence! Yes, he was stlppinc
down and moving toward the door. Philips
friend was almost there, tho man must not
escape thus, and plunge again with the vo
man whose life he had blasted into the OBJ
scurity he seemed to love. Philit, leaped to
his feet and almost shouted to the people
All turned their faces expectantlg toward
him. Curran with the rest his pale worn face
Philips friend was cOsla almost to him now
If Curran could only be detained for one
} moment more.
sit will of course be for the interest of all
of YOU he knew he was talking weakly, but
il was no matter, ''to earn the most wages
you can, to lose the fewest day to turn off
the most piece work. OF course, he spoke
too stupdly; Curran turned on his heel and
moved toward the door Almost instantly
then Philip Breton gave a sudden short bow
to the audience and disappeared back of the
platform. He bounded down the narrow
stairs, four at a time, and rushed around to
the front Of the building ike one mad, to
stare for moment in the faces of the escap-
ing crowd. Then, wilder than ever at the
thought that Curran might have gone out
among the first, he ran back and forth
after one group and another, but all
in vain. Then he forced himself to
stop and think, and forthwith made
inquiries for Currans boarding place. He
reached the place at last and ran breath
lessly up the stairs. In another moment he
would know tie truth if it killed him to bear
it. He must remove the poisonous shadow of
precincts of his nature. Certainty was bet
ter far, for the nerves can brace themselves
against the clearly defined features OF ever so
hideOus a monster far better certainly than
this crawling Shiny terror that made him
ashamed of a manhood that could cherish it,
He dared ask Curran for the truth he did
not shrink from it. If the man were inno-
cent he might strike him down for the insult
to the purity of his wife. Philip thought
such atonement would seem just and proper
But if he were guilty, ah if Bertha was
guilty through him what death was terrible
enough for his penalty!
A portly woman, with the unmistakable
expression of the eXpectant boarding mistress
on her face and in her attitude, met the pale
faced young man at the top of the stairs. She
did not recognize the pro trietor of the Bre
ton mills, i'll his slight form. She would have
looked for a man of lofty stature and COM
manding micn, and not a mere lad whom
nobody would glance twice at on the street.
"Where is Curran9 II want him"
'sWhy, he's Just gone he Grove off to Lew
iston."
''To Lewiston' Are you sureT' Why, this
must be some important parsonage after all,
he was so peremptory. Poor people can bully,
but there is a shamefacedness or an over af-
fectation of authority that betrays them;
their self consciousness lets the whole secret
out
Either Lewiston or Raleigh; l can't tell,
really, sir Shall get you a carriage, Nh
Mr.
''Two horses and buggy; driver, too.
Tell them it is for Mr.. Breton; and" he
shouted after the woman, eff they give me
poor horse he will be dead before they ever
see him again"
1t seemed an hour before the horses drew
up before the boarding house door, and an
other hour before they had left the village
behind. Then the little patience Philip had
forsook him. He caught the reins from the
astonished driver, and at the threatening
snap of the whip the horses took their fastest
gait.
1t was little past 0 o'clock the next morn
ing that Philip Breton, pale from sleepless
night, knocked at low studded door in an
i'll ventilated tenement house, where they
told him Curran lived. Within was Bertha,
the high bred woman, wonted to the costliest
luxurieS of wealth. And she was willing,
then to live in such squalor as this to be
with the man she loved. Could change have
been cruel enough to have touched her? Per
haps an infant hung hungrily on her bosom,
and Curran, fallen back into his vulgar tradi-
tions, lounged in red flannel shirt sleeves in
her presence. Could he bear the sight! But
she might be alone; his heart beat faster with
terror and hope She would lift her sweet
eyes pleasantly to him--so easy it is for wo-
men to forget the agony they have caused.
She would hold out her shapely hand to him,
but it would bo stained and worn from hard
ships. Should he fall at her feet2 Would he
be able to remember she was another's-dead
to him9
He knocked again, possibly no one was at
home.
"Come in" 1t was mans voice.
As Philip opened the door he saw the man
he sought by the window, eagerly looking up
and down the street, as if waiting for some
sign. There was no guilty fear or shame in
the calm face that was turned to his visitor.
'DrelOn.' he gave MIN MS nanu WIN
hearty good will. Somehow l could not
speak last night, but you have begun a noble
work. Why had rather feel the proud sat
isfaction you must have, would rather be
in your place than the greatest man in the
whole world"
Philip was afraid to look about him. Per-
haps Bertha had no wish to speak to him, or
else she was not here; there was no atInos-
phere of a woman's love and care in the
place, somehow But Curran went on in his
quick, eager way, ''The rich men have the
most glorious privilege ever men had. Each
man of wealth can let the fountains of light
and joy into the lives of a village in some
way which shall make his name blessed for
ever. Instead Of that, whole generations Of
us have to break ourselves in pieces in the
effort to wear away their rock. We fail, as
the wretched 1000 creatures who strike here
today will fail, to gain one privilege more
| for ourselves, yet our children may profit
| from our sacrifices perhaps, or their children.