Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-05-10
MADGE.
Tho Child of the Quarry.
BY AINEMoSYNE.

Following a narrow footpath. Charles
Manton, the newly appointed executive
officer of a mountain quarry in Penn
sylvania. came upon it suddenly, and at
the same time scene that shocked him
on account of its cruelty.
As he turned sharp point of rocks
he saw men at work, and heard one de-
mand. with repulsive oath:
why didn't you bring that water
sooner. you young whelp?'
II came as quick as ever l could.
The spring is most dry and / had to
wait for the pail to fill" was answered
in terri fed tones by young girl.
Lying again? You've been playing.
Take that, and learn not to keep me
waiting"
The angry man struck the innocent
offender with the pail. She staggered
and fell, with blood streaming over her
face. Before the blow could be re-
peated Manton sprung forward, shout
ing:
Don't dare to strike that child
again! Shame be upon you, for brute
and coward"
Who'll stop meP" was questioned
by the man. as he came forward and
assumed threatening attitude.
II VIII"
You? Who in the thunder are
you'"
The superintendent of this quarry.
You can 90 to the Office and get the
money due vou?"
"You discharge me?'
ii do, and"
| Before the sentence finished
the wretch had leaped forward and
| struck at him. Manton was not UNI
prepared. was young, 1.-the, muscular
and u trained boxer. Avoiding the
! blow aimed mt his head, he dealt ONT
in return that sent the rutlian sprawl
ing among the rubbish.
| Half dozen of his companions
sprang up, hammers in hand, to take his
part. Manton coolly confronted them
with revolvers, held them at bay, and
commanded them to instantly return
to work under penalty of discharge.
Sullenly they ODE, ed, and the cause of
the disturbance hastily SUNK away.
II thank you, sir. said the fore
man, coming forward. for discharg-
ing that man. lie has been source
of constant trouble"
Il will tolerate no one that NAL
treats Il child. But" suddenly re-
Numbering. 81 hope she is not much
injured"
The child stood looking at her pro-
tector in an amazed. almost worship
ping. manner She WAS far more ac-
CuslOmed TO kicks and cuffs than kind
words Her aye was about fifteen;
her skin brown rs Il chestnut from eX'
posture TO sun and wind her feet small
and shapely, but grimed and bruised
her hair unkept and sweeping down in
nkJ tangles. Her tall, slight, but eX-
ercse-dcveloped and graceful form wa:
partially covered by an old, torn ant
faded calico dress. so torn as TO expos,
one limb nearly to the knee, and thu
half-fastemed waist gave plainly Il
view plump and prettily-moulde,
shoulders.
Suddenly she seemed TO realize he
; condition; that other eyes than thos
to which she was accustomed wer,
looking sharply at her. The rel
blood curdled up. turning throat
: cheeks and brow to crimson. and max
ing good use of her fingers to close til
garments she dartod from sight.
With more than usual interest Man
ton questioned as to her history.
at is a short story" answered tn
foreman. About dozen years sine
Il terrible accident happened here. N
one could tell just how, but Il blast {
unusual size exploded. throwing hun
dreds of tons of earth and rock int
the air and naming and killing a gre;
many"
"The father of this girl was anon
the unfortunately
= WAS blown into a thousand pieces
left his motherless child with no on
to care for her. and the men-most {
them are tender hearted for all the
rough looks and ways-supportcd he
until she was able to take care of hel
self"
by carrying water?
!: .:And waiting upon the men,"
e What is her name?"
.r 1--WE call her the child of the qua
I'd rv,' but her fathers name was Colemf
. "a man who had seen better days,
imagine-and he called her .Madge'.
Its no place for girl she mu
discontinue the work"
And starve?"
Il will see to that Now | will go
the office. look over the books and ell
deavor to master the details of the bus
ness"
The work detained him until la
hour. Then he started alone to wa
to the little tavern where he had s
>. cured lodgings. The distance was CO
q sidera bic, the road lonely. and pc
,; ton of it through dense timber.
to this, or the darkness of the night.
s, gave no thought. Perplexing probler
:. occupied his mind. He was recall
!. to himself by stumbling over somethr
:. directly beneath his feet, stopped to i
!. vestigate. found by touching it was
:. human form; ia sed il and hurried fo
: ward to an open space.
:: 1t was the girl of the quarry. wi
y face white as the moonbeams that ne
* streamed from above. apparently
n, lifeless as the stones by the waysiC
=, and with blood trickling down a
81 curdling among the masses of loosen
Al hair
p, A man fertile in resources and {
iio cisive action, Manton carried her on
20 where n Little spring tr ckled out of 4