Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-02-11

The bi~l began TO move slowly up and
down plslip felt the water throh through
the hose as il touched his side, but it was
only che fltful squirt FOR the stronger, who
SEEMED Ii hold tire mills So his mercy, had
foand his Voice again,
keep yer money, Old man; yc1 win need
every penny Of it, for you've cheated yer last
out IL scr help In them mills. aer iail hez
got to go.n
Philip saw his father turn toward his mills,
the pride Of his life, and look az fondly at
their grim walls as man on the woman he
loves, and the tears of futile agony wet his
cheeks. That moment the gouns man aged
ten years.
The, crowd fell back again, and another
speaker mounted tho strange rostrum. He
looked youngsfor such a crisis, but" there was
a new suggestion q power in his lips and the
sullen crowd wondered what he thought no
could say to persuade them.
81 suppose began Philip slowly, rs IL
every minute might not be worth fortune,
~ presume and his voice sounded dry and
hard, 'syou viii want your wages rs usual,
next pay day. Is there any one OF you foos>
ish enough to imagine you will get them n
the mills gon
Then the young man glanced at the buf]y
stranger, who, clearly enough, was taken
ahack by this new style Of appeal to crowd.
Possibly this broad shouldered friend OF
yours is going to find a living for you. You
have got to find it somewhere, and you won't
have particularly good characters to recon-
mend you TO new tyrants
"Mind, men, don't say but It is quite
fair, but mill owners manage their business
about the same way. IL is all very well to
complain, but the first necessity Is place to
work; IL there isn't that, you surely can't
have any rights. ! may as well tell you, tho
mills arc heavily insured, and you can't quite
have tho rare satisfaction Of seeing that old
man ruined. But doubt II he will caro- to
put any more mills under such extra risks.
Some OF your women and ignorant people,
who don't see the fun Of starving, may think
you have done poor nights work"
The stranger had disappeared, and tho
faces Of the men, clustered about their on
gfne, had lost their sullen cast Tho young
mans black ayes glistsned In the now ecstasy
OF an orators triumph
Zone thing win promise win do what
can in your behalf. i know tho lines OF
most of you have fallen into hard places, and
promise If 1 can see any way to tighten tho
burden of life on your shoulders l will help
YOU
The mon returned to their work with a
murmur of approval. Was 1t too latei
The brakes started up again. The men
ran up the ladders again, with the hose in
their hands, in the renewed battle with the
fire. Philip had moved the crowd. He had
chosen instinctively the only method for the
crisis, while the flames cracked and flashed
in high carnival But was it not too late}
The men were working with new energy;
now hopes were In their hearts. The mill
owners son had promised to help them; he
sympathized with their cherries poverty,
and who could do more than hel
II thu whole line of mills went it would be
upon their consciences, and the thought put
fresh strength into their weary arms and
moro fearless courage into their hearts. But
precious time had been lost and the wind had
changed SO that now the rod, greedy tongue
Of flame Tapped the frowning brick walls OF
the next mill, and lavished their hot, wanton
kisses as if il were love and not hate whose
fury would consume Thorn.
When the moon was setting IN the west,
that night, Mr.. Breton found his son all
grimy with smoke, with clothes torn, and
drenched in water, out of all semblance TO
the gentleman Of elegant leisure. He stood
by the snoldering ruins of Number Two
mill
aren't you coming home tonight Philip,
nay dear boy7 How proud Bertha would
have been if she could have seen her hero to-
wight"
Berthal What strange influence her
words and manner at parting had left upon
him; as if, some way, in leaving lRr just
when he did, he had lost her forever. God
fortid He could not shake it Off; 1t was
with him as he waited almost alone in the
great mill yard; all the excitement and re-
possibilities of the night he'd not dispelled
It. lie looked down modify into tho srnok-
ing mass OF cIumbled walls and roof and
blackened tinbers, and watched for the little
forks of fame that started up boldly, now
and then, as If it were not yet too late for
new battie, and then seemed abashed at find
ing themselves alone IN the dark and sank
back.
"You kavesaved the mills,p said his father,
wringing his bruised hand till it hurt him.
"God bless you, my son. didn't guess how
much there was in you.'
Philip looked up at the scorched walls OFF
on the right, and the long pile Of massive
structures away to the left, mistaken by the
whirlwind Of FIRE. In few hours more they
would be alive with rushing belts and wheels,
and with the feet of the men and women,
telling how strange it was there was place
left for work today Yes, he had saved
them, "but at what pricea' He spoke half to
himself. If he only knew what Bertha had
meant
'What pricef Oh, your promise to do what
you could for the men and all that. 1t was
guardedly put, my boy" And his father
laughed approximately. "Inexorable parent
must be considered, though, ha, ha. You will
catch your death Of cold. Well, If you viii
stay, good night"