Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-02-16
tcoNTINUED.1
CHAPTER VII


"Ini't your father goingF
Itwas the same evening, and Philip Breton
was assisting Bertha into his beach wagon
for twilight drive.
"Father has left town for a few days
Didn't you knowi Suppose you let me have
the back seat The world is large enough to
afford us a seat apiece tonight"
Bertha adjusted her wraps and the horses
stepped off down the street as gayly as IL
their driver had not been disappointed.
There was not very much conversation to-
day; indeed there never was unless Philip
afforded it. Bertha considered she did her
part in looking well, smiling prettily at his
witticisms, with now and then q remark, il
she felt inclined. But today Philip was
moody and silent. So Bertha gave herself
up to the sensuous delight Of riding, and only
spoke in mild exclamations of admiration Of
the scenery as they left the village behind
and followed up the winding river.
But suddenly Philip saw a mans form
swaying easily while he took great strides
along the footpath.
"Curran," he exclaimed, and stopped his
horses close beside him. The man turned, and
one might have thought he did not recognize
the occupants of the carriage, except that
there was the least bit of flush on his face,
which bore the lines of interrupted medita-
tion. Then he bowed slightly to Philip.
"And you don't recollect me, / suppose"
smiled Bertha.
~ am not so stupid" he said, letting his
steel blue ayes rest admiringly upon her.
"We arc going to Lockout, too. You must
get in wito u.s."
"No, won't crowd you; don't move"
And he tarned little away from them as if
to continue his walk
"Certainly you must r. said Bertha; ''see,
have whole seat to myself and it is so stupid
Please"
And Curian took the seat she offered him,
holding baek her wraps till he was seated,
and then releasing them.
"Do you think shall ever learn to weave
cotton clothY' asked Philip, to call his atten-
tion to their days work together.
~ presume so, if you really mean to. But
it is lucky you haven't got your board to pay
meanwhile"
But CuIran lid not smile, and was very ill
at ease He seemed to ba lifted, body and
soul, into the very life he was accustomed to
rebuke The beautiful horses of the rich
were harncsscd today to his pleasure with
their gold plate trimmings. What right had
he heres He said nothing of it, but felt intense
ly the falseness Of his position. Tho delicate
springs hurt hin,, and every sign of lavish
wealth in the dress of his companions. He
wanted nc interests with tho rich; his life
work must be against them; he desired no
association with a luxurious manner of life
which he ought to Lpbraid. There must not
be one chain Of gold to unite him with the
wealthy class in whom he saw the enemies Of
the people.
And yet he was taking delight in this wo-
mans presence, new delight such as the
women of the poor had never given him.
And was not she tho very essence of luxury
and rcfinement9 He hated himself for it, but
for all he tried to look elsewhere he kept Sec
ing the sparkle of the diamonds on the
whitest hand no had ever seen. He enjoyed
the lilies of the valley set in mosaic at her
throat, which showed its creamy white
against the delicate ruffles, and the comb
with its band of Roman gold almost the
shade of the ripping hair it restrained. But
were not these tho very extravagances the
poor had to struggle to earn for hers He
ought to be Illuminating withering sentences
for such as shc
II will get out at the rocks and walk tho
rest Of the way" said Curran at last, as they
could catch glimpse of Lookout in the dis
talce. ''The workmcn l want to talk to
would hardly understand my coming with q
carriage and pair"
Tho ''rocks" came but a mile from Lock.
cut and the horses trotted so well that the
spot was reached in few moments more. The
road at this point had been cut through a
side hill of sandstone by dint Of great blast.
ing and the jagged edges jutted out angrily
at the passers by.
"There must bo q wonderful landscape on
the other sidc of tho rocks" said Bertha, as
Philip stopped his horses for Curran to
alight. "Iavo you plenty of tine!" she
asked, before the workman could express his
thanks
"An hour to spare"
Sho looked wistfully at tho envious rocks
that shl5 them. in and then at Curran's
grave f2"p.
II wo,i.u ~ l...,u to SEQ that view from the
top of tho rocks if had some one to helr
me-"
Curran's face suddenly flushed with
pleasure. ~ should like to help your
In u minute more Bertha was climbing the
IOChS WIFI ucl ootdilS5o eoCOID anu HHtP eSt'
holding his horses quite q little distance back
''You didn't talk very much during oui
drive" said Bertha, as she stood with hel
companion looking off down the valley. "L
it SO wicked of us to be richG"
He shot sudden deprecating look at her
"Don't force me SO far. cannot say il
nown
Bertha smiled "Then leave me out of it
say Philip instead
HE is enjoying the fruits of terrible injus
tice.n
"But would his father have been rich un
less he had deserved it?n asked Bertha.
SIS it just reward of merit, then, that 6
thousand human creatures should well nigf
starve, and he be richa If he has deserved Il
be rich, you must say they have merited star
vation." #se
The girl liked to hear his earnest, thrilling
tones, and watch his eyes flash and his nos
trils dilate with such rare passion.
''Is it just, he went On, shat no mattel
how unweariedly a tlaborer works, his idl
neighbor, as surely as the sun sets, shoulC
lay intolerable tribute on his profits so tina
he must stay forever poorl Isa days worl
worth nothingl Then why does it bring il
some capitalist thousands Of dollars for
stroke of his pensn
Bertha understood but little of what h
was saying, but she could look intently a
him with wide open blue eyes, which had
pretty trick Of changing expression as if il
closest sympathy with a speaker. Curral
felt no one had half listened to him before