Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-03-10

hour or his life must be emblttered by some
reminder of what lie had hoped for and lost.
The balmy south wind that morning was like
her breath; the soft murmur of the water in
the raceway below the mill was like her
voice; a blonde face looked down from one
of the windows of the weave room, there was
a fitting expression on it like Bertha And
so it must be forever
AT the head of the counting room table sat
Mr.. Breton, smiling and bland. Before him
were piled the heavy tonnes containing tia
records of his great factory; by his side stood
two clerks to assist in handling and explain
ing them. Around the table, attentive and
eager, were gathered as many as could get
there, of sirewd, hard business men. A
dozen more of the same unmistakable species,
stood about the room and leaned against the
windows, quiet and observant, listening TO
all that could throw any light on the matter
under discussion. 1t was the momentous
meeting of the prospective stockholders in the
corporation looming up in magnificent pro-
portions before their fancies
The paymaSter and the attorney stood at
hand apt with suggestions; one of them had
the smile born of fond hopes of unlimited
fees; but the other an awkward fretted air at
the sudden change from one to so many
superiors. The mill owner was detailing to
| this most interested audience the details Of
the fiourishing industry he desired to enlist
them in, and their eyes shone eagerly at the
prospect of buying such stock at par. They
| imagined their thousands doubling ON their
| hands in such an investment, doubling with
cut al effort of theirs, doubling in spite of
their idleness, which added never one stroke
| Of theirs to the sum OF the muscular force
that furnishes the wealth of the world.
But what could possess Breton to make this
changed Was he rich enoughi Absurd!
who ever was rich enougha Perhaps there
was some Jaw somewhere, and this cunning
lawyer knew all about it, They must not let
themselves be fooled, so sthey listened with
still quickened attention, and waded suspic-
iously into one after another of the big
ledgers, for few pages, to ferret out the
secret.
"The gentlemen may ask" Mr.. Giddings,
the lawyer, had noticed the puzzled express
sion on their shrewd faces. ''why MIR. Breton
makes this offer. From the amount of stock
we propose to ISSUE it ought to be clear
enough and he laid his fat finger in the
palm Of his left hand HE proposes TO keep
| just as big an interest here as ever, but the
| plan is to make these mills, as they shall be
extended, gentlemen, as they shall be ex-
| tended, the most stupendous manufacturing
| enterprise in the country. For that there
must be more capital, and you are invited to
| JOHN
Philip had but little to say to the unwel-
| come visitors, whose carriages, of all varie-
ties of elegance, lined the roadside without.
| He moved about among them moro like u
| stranger than the least pretentious Of them
| all.
"Ellingsworth, Mr. Ellingsworth," called
Mr.. Breton, ''why, he was with me only last
| night. Can he be sick'"
| Yes, sick with shame, and Philip thought
| low quickly the flush of pride would fade
| out of his fathers pleased face, if he knew
knew that his own son, the heir of his mil
| lions, had been discarded at last by the girl
| he had already taken into a daughters place
in his heart. And it was this same man
| Philip had defended and argued for, that
| had struck his deadliest blows at the mills,
AMI now thrust his knife into the very home
| ot the rich man. 1t would embitter the
| fathers life, when he came to know of the
broken heart his boy must bear forever-but
| ne need not know just yet.
| Now and then the young man went out
| into the hall for a clear view of the massive
| Mills, and glanced fearfully along their front,
| and listened But the roar of the machinery
| did not abate, and through the Jail like win
! dows he could see the tireless men and women
| forms stepping backward and forward, rails
| ing and lowering their hands at the tasks that
| had ushered in their cherries youth, and
| were wearing out their tedious lives. Very
| likely there would be no trouble; could it be
/ they had been influenced by his wordss God
| forbid that any such responsibility should
rest on him. Once, q man appeared at o
door. Philips heart stopped beating for an
instant; he thought him the first of a long
line that would now rush forth from their
prison. But the man only stood listlessly
moment as If there was absolutely nothing Of
Importance on his mind, and then went back.
So Philip returned to the Office.
SIS that Breton's SOB, that young man who
looks so pale' He don't seem to take much
interest in this business"
"rve always noticed business talent wears
ont in one generation. The father earns and
saves for the son to spend"
True for you" said a third, apparently of
Irish birth. ''Well, we won't want the boys
! services when the old man dies"
"Hush, Breton is talking
| "And, gentlemen, / have never known q
strike here, though l certainly don't pay any
moro wages than my neighbors." There was
a SLIGHT noise Of something falling outside
| and Philip hurried out. The mill yard was
as quiet as on Sunday; not soul in tho
whole village apparently who thought OF
! ytrile but him And whether he feared most
an outbreak or a day of peace he could not
| have told.
Il wonder how the help win like the
change" suggested a white haired old gentle
uan, with grim smile.
''Theso corporations are the neatest device
Of the century for gagging machine What
| Al sNF hi.
when there is nobody they can find to blame,
only fiction OF law.n
Philip was standing near the speaker, and
was so CALLED by his complacent enjoyment
of his own unfeeling philosophy as to venture
to make suggestion.
"Isnt it just possible that this complaining
you wish to gag has some occasionT'
! A dozen craned their sleek wise necls, to
| stara ct tho man who talked SO wildly.