Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-05-17

crowd gathered In moro closely tnAn ever,
while dozen hands dragged out the old wo-
man from her terrible situation and wiped
the dust from her white, ghastly face. The
orator had ceased his eloquence, and all dan
ger Of accident seemed now averted, so
Philip Breton, was passing on his way.
But Bertha. for tho occupant Of the car
riage was no other than she, found her way
blocked in oil directions By an angry mob.
Pull her out, scarlet face, screamed the
w6mcn. Tear her pretty rags of from her
The barefootcd children threw Garth at her:
Ian, dirty fingers pluckcd at her delicate
skirts. How dared they touch herl she
shrank from the pollution of contact with
such creatures as these, with terror that
would be inconceivablo TO man. She saw
them gather around the restive horse, who
Geemed as impatient OF their touch ns she;
they were beginning to undo his harness. In
another moment she would be lost. But the
horse was strong, could he not break through
thcmi She did not care how many he should
trample to death; she would rather, thou
sand times rather, die herself, than endure
their insulting touch. But rough hand
caught tho whip from her grasp; the crea-
ture's impaired nails hurt her; another hand
was on her shoulders; and vile words, whose
meaning she only felt, were ON every tongue.
Her heart grew sick; oh, she prayed God
would not let her faint; oh, not now; oh, not
now-yet her vision seemed failing, she could
not see the horses head, and tho terrible in
suits the people hurled at her grew indistinct,
like roaring of many waters in her ears
But she saw hideous faced hag reach her
bare, brawny arm into the carriage and clutch
at her feet; they were lifting her out. But
hand like iron flung the virago back.
"Stand off. 1t is my wifeln The mill own
er's wife. The crowd fell back for moment,
by instinct, the lull would only last for mo-
ment He must make the most of it. He
had only time TO refasten little Of the har-
ness, when q sharp stone struck him ON the
check and drew blood.
"How many husbands can woman have?"
screamed q woman on tho sidewalk
"Jails the place for her, growled man
again.
''Let go the Bit" demanded Philip, never
quailing. But Bales only grinned at him, as
Philip had seen him before, and frightened hi;
hold on the horse.
"You'rc too small to give orders; amt i'll
your pay now" But before the fellow had
time to put up q guard, his young master
had struck him blow in the face that fairly
staggered him, large man as he was
"Oh, that's your game, is it, Mako way,
boys, all want is room. I'll finish him up
quick"
Tho man wanted to make use of his weight
and strength in the directest way possible, so
he rushed forward to close with his antag-
onist, throwing up his hands toprotect him
self. But he miscalculated and his cheek
bone fairly cracked with the force of the
second blow. Bales drew back for another
attack. The smile of contempt was Gone
from his bruised and bleeding face but O
very dangerous look was in his eyes. His
young master had lost his first paleness,
bright red spot burned in each cheek and his
black eyes flashed forth defiance The dis
charged servant ducked his head and came at
Philip like maddened OK. The crowd held
its breath; the slight form of the master
would 60 down, and the victor would pound
his young life out of him. Was the lad
crazy to invite q battle with man of almost
twice his weight? Tho young man did not
finch a hairs breadth He raised his arm
again. What good of battering against the
fellows thick skulli He was upon him-no,
Philip had leaped aside at the last moment,
and, as Bales went past, had dealt him
blow in the temple that sent his great form
reeling to the ground.
Before the crowd had time to move Philip
had leaped into the carriage and caught the
reins from his fainting wife. He turned his
horse into an open space and the half fastened
harness let the carriage run against the ami.
mails legs. 1t was better thah thousand
whips, and he broke into a wild gallop.
Bales had only time to get his feet and shout
after the young mill owner:
"This Is only the first roundl"
Philip heard his words and muttered to
himself: 81 ought to have killed him, since
had to beat him. There isn't gold enough
in California to buy him over now"
"What did they mean, PHILIPPE Bertha
was lying on the sofa in her own little blue
room. Philip had put pillow beneath her
tired head, and was kneeling by her side
watching for the color to come back to her
frightened cheeks,
'Thank God she did not know, not yet"
He looked down at the veins in her pretty
hands; how many there were to-day.
"It was only their tenseless jargon They
are angry with me, you know. Do not think
about it again"
She opened her Great blue eyes on him.
She was going to IT, ank him no donbt for her
rescue out of the X rrible peril.
"You look SO small and weak. wouldn't
have thought you had any strength" That
was all she had for him.