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

aaas = s.a.sa
| He could not leave her thus with that won
| derful light in her eyes. No doubt the IRE
was sub3ueSi, and how little he could 40 at
best; there were 50 many stronger than he
But suddenly tongue Of flame leapea up
| into the black SKY ike lightning.
n would So love to stay, darling, but the
mills are on flre--rny fathers mills might
| save them DON'T you understand-it would
| be Infamous In mo to-
| Ionly said you make a mistake"
| Till he dies Philip Breton never viii forget
| that scene; the darting flames beckoning him
1 away, and this beautiful woman for whose
| first fond cares be wohld have given every
| thing but his manhood and honor, inviting
| him TO stay. And in her changed face no
| thought he saw such sweet promise OF love
| il be STAYED and such sure presage OF evil II
| he went.
| "Good night,r he said with faltering voice
| as he drew up the reins.
| Good night" she answered slowly as she
| turned to 20 in, and he thought he heard her
other sentence over again, "You make mis-
| take
| It was Number Two mill on fire, but all
1 that ingenuity and strength could do seemed
| doing as well without Philip. The men were
| as busy as bees Fifty manned the brakes OF
| the hand engine, and pumped as vigorously
| as il there was no such thing a. lame backs
| and aching muscles, while on top OF the en-
l CINE beside the bell, which rang with every
l stroke of the brakes, stood their foreman
keeping time with his arms and whole body,
| and encouraging them with his hoarse, ex-
| cited voice. Then there were three MIGRANTS
| In full operation and a crowd of men to keep
| the hose In condition. and four more In rub
Der suits to hold the MOBILES and direct the
| streams Of fast flowing water where 1t would
| quickest subdue the fierce flames There
| seemed nothing for Philip TO do. He was
| worth no more than the crowd Of chattsYing
| women. who stood as near the fire as their
l rough voiced mon would lst them now odd
] their thin white faces looked, half hid By the
| shawls tied about their heads 1t was great
| event in their dull, moRotonous hyds; tho
| very foundations Of their world scanned
| shaken. and they could not talk fast enough
| to express their crude thoughts at the brcak-
| ing up Of old associations.
| "Carry the hose up - the next story"
| shouted the foreman
1.-THE ladder Is not long enough" answered
| one Of the men in rubber suita
"Can't you climbi Who can, thenr
This vas Philips opportunity, and he hur-
| ried up the ladder two rounds at time
| Then he swung himself of on the lightning
| rod. It's sharp edges cut his tender hands,
| but in his eagerness he did not notice 1t. In
a moment more he had pulled himself up to
| the window sill and burst In the sash. Then
| he reached down for the hose and cheer
went up for the rich mans son who was not
| afraid of work.
| He heard his fatherS voice below thanking,
| the men for their devotion, as the sullen
| flames seemed to give way before their tire
1 less efforts But it was no time now for idle
/ Fluctuations The fire seemed under control,
| but if the mastery were relaxad, Is would
| leap high again in It's fury, and the other
| mills must go too for oil they stood now so
| cold and proud The smoke grew thinner In
| the window where Philip stood, 80 he could
| look down ON the sweaty faces and bending
| forms of the mon at the brakes Everything
| depended on them, and how strong they sent
| the water through the hose he held, and
| forced back the fire inch by inch from its
| prey. If they could only keep it up few
/ moments more the mills would be out of
| danger Each stroke of the brakes made the
| hose throb against his side almost like q
| giants pulse God grant them strength a
few moments more.
Suddenly he heard a loud voice raised
| above the murmur of the crowd
"Wise boys We be- to clench the nails in
| yer own coffins. Amt this mill yer Jail and
| it's bosses your jailers? Is there fool of ye
| all, but knows old Breton who grfns so nice
| tonight on we, but knows him for tyrant,
| who grinds us TO powderp
| Philip saw a short, burly man whose hair
was cropped close to his round head shout
| ing and geSticulating wildly, as be made his
| way up TO the engine and then leaped upon
| tt. The brakes stop moving and the fire
| sends up new tongues and leaps along the
| smoking beams and rafters in fresh fury,
| while the men listened breathlessly to this
| stranger. The women TOO gather nearer, and
| look in curiosity at their husbands and
brothers who drink in so eagerly his poisoned
| words
| 'I s'pose We thought We didn't work long
enough for yer ninety cents day. But We
| hev Ay, boys, that big heap o brick stands
| for that old mans meanness; it's the machine
| to crush we. It's the way he bleeds ye But
\ how sweet he is tonight Ye never noticed
| it before, did yea He's seed you starvin'
on the wages he paid, and yer purity darters
gone to the bad for the want Of a few things
| all gals kinder like Some on ye, too, has
| got old and cripples ia his service. He amt
| ever guy u mite, has hei Now it's your
| turn
| And the man shouted loud above the hiss
| ing, cracking flames that leaped out OF a
| dozen windows in wild glee. 'Let his mills
| burn fur warnin' TO such as he who make
| so much sorror and misery in this ere purity
| world that if Satan tortured their cruel souls
| forevermore, it wouldn't be a feather in the
| balance. Let him know the despair of a
| poor man for once"
| 1t was almost madness that glittered in the
| fellows dartjng eyes, and his voice grew
hoarse and terrible as he pointed his thick
fingers at the mill half hid in smoke, lit up in
spots with forks q flame.
"Let every plank of it 60 It's only served
to make him richer each month, and ye
poorer. Such machine as that don't de
sarve to stand Let his riches he's used so