Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-03-24
when Philip Breton sat down a noisy hum


of voices followed as the people read and
commented upon the prospectus. The agures
looked anything but duh 10 them. The bright
possibilities that came up before their imag
nations as they read were such as no gentle
cadence OF poetry could have given them.
Apparently they would never have tired Of
reading the wonderful words of hope and
good cheer over and over, except that the
outer door swung open and tas mans form
entered Philip Breton from the platform
saw it and the pride sickened ON his heart
The crowd about the door passed the whisper
around, and it was hardly one short minute
when the building shook again with cheers
as they shouted the name of Curran.
Yes, IT was nc who pushed his way well
into the room, and then stopped and took
one of the printed sheets, as if he were UNI
conscious of their cheering, and read till his
face, that had looked so stern ard terrible,
softened like a child Then he mounted
settee for his platform and uncovered his
head with q new grace that became him as
well as his strength The old bitterness had
gone from his lips; it had given place TO a
touching sadness that sobered every face that
was turned toward him.
s'He means to deal well by you; he wants
TO make you shareholders in your work"
Philip had risen excitedly to his feet The
sight of the man who had been with Bertha,
who came perhaps but this instant from the
woman he had wronged so terribly, was at
first almost maddening to him. All, how
grand and beautiful he was, with his deep
mighty chest and shoulders, and his limbs
like pillars of some temple There were no
laws for such men as he; the hottest and
purest of women love to make themselves
base and common things to win smiles from
his proud eyes, and men forget their venge-
ance, and only remember how small and
mean they seem before him. But who could
look at his melancholy face and the calm
dignity that rested upon him always, and be-
leve he could be vilel Yet perhaps nothing
was vile or low to him, and even sin was
glorifed in his eyes when it suited his caprice
to sin.
Philip had come TO the very edge of the
platform and beckoned a friend TO him
do you see the man talking-the man with
the auburn hair curling about his neckl no,
don't look YETI" his voice was husky with
excitement "Get behind him while he is
talking and stop rim before he goes out.
must see him and speak with him; | would
rather $4,000 than lose him Quick, now"
As Philip sat down again and watched his
friend trying to make his way through the
close packed crowd he heard Curran's voice
again. What was there changed in its Ii
had lost its old ring, there was a queer drag
in it sometimes, and when he used TO raise
his voice till every. nerve tingled for sym
pathy, he seemed now to let it fall, and his
long, sonorous sentences died down at the
end like a mutfled bell.
"If others were like him. he was saying,
"the reform / would die for would come
soon, would be upon U.S.
How slow his friend moved. Philip actu-
ally hated the people who were too stupid to
get out of his messengers way
Had Curran finished, was this all that was
left of his eloquetces Yes, he was stepping
down and moving toward the door, Philips
friend was almost there, the man must not
escape thus, and plunge again with the wo-
man whose life he had blasted into the OBJ
security he seemed to love. Philip leaped TO
his feet and almost shouted to the people
All turned their faces expectantly toward
him, Curran with the rest his pale worn face.
Philips friend was come almost to him now
If Curran could only be detained for one
moment more.
at will of course be for the interest of all
of you,r he knew he was talking weakly, but
it was no matter, ''to earn the most wages
you can, to lose the fewest days, to turn off
:he most piece work" OF course, he spoke
too stupidity; Curran turned ON his heel and
moved toward the door. Almost instantly
then Philip Breton gave 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 like 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 Curran's boarding place He
reached the place at last and ran breath
lessly up the stairs. In another moment he
would know the truth if it killed him to bear
it. He must remove thepoisonous shadow of
suspicion that was polluting all the hottest
precincts of his nature. Certainty was bet
ter far, for the nerves can brace themselves
against the clearly defined features of eyor so
hideous monster; far better certainly lan
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 limo
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 hispenalty!
A portly woman, with the unmistakable
expression Of the expectant boarding mistress
on her face and in her attitude, met the pals
faced young man at the topo the stairs She
did not recognize the proprietor of the Bre-
ton mills, in his slight form. She would have
looked for man Of lofty stature and COM
handing MEN, and not mere lad whom
nobody would glance twice at on the street
"Where is Currans IL want him."
"Why, he's just gone; he drove off to Lew
istonn
''To Lewistonl Are you sure" Why, this
must be some important parsonage after all,
he was so pereTnDtory Poor people can bully,