Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-01
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BY CHARLES ]. BELLAMY.
Copyrighted by the Author, and published
by arrangement with him.
BY CHARLES ]. BELLAMY.
CHAPTER XI.
UHGRATEFUL PoPULAcE.

UHGRATEFUJ PoPULAcE
Philip Breton sat late over the tea table,
one evening some days after. His father had
been detained down in the village, and had
come home with a good deal on his mind
Indeed, the old gentleman, who generally
laid aside his hardness outside his own doors,
had sat in silence wrinkling his forehead
very inartistically almost throughout the
meal
"Poor folks are always ungrateful,n he ex-
claimed harshly ut last as he shook his head
severely at the maid servant who offered him
the cake basket.
"Here have whitewashed every house for
them, and it was only tonight heard some
grumbling old woman tell her husband, she
wondered how old Breton would like to live
in one of his own tenements"
Philip said nothing. 1t had been his habit
lately, when his father got on this theme, to
keep silence. He was puzzled to know what
to say.
"Why. look at H. Phil The insurance on
the burned mill won't make up for the lost
time in rebuilding, and this is the time they
select to ask for fire escapes Yield them an
inch and they want an ell. suppose they
think / ought to run the factory for big
benevolent institution. Every man that is
poor curses me for it, and not one shift.
less family in town, I'll warrant, but
would lay the fault on my shoulders. By
the way, Phil, you have been to college; you
ought to know if there isn't any way can
stop the tongue OF that tall brown haired
fellow. Can't the law touch him? l have
discharged him, but he does more mischief
than ever"
Discharged Curranw exclaimed Philip.
"You don't mean it! why, he is the man that
saved Bertha's life" ho continued hurriedly.
"You must take him back at once-you must
take him back at once, no matter what he
has said"
"No matter what he has done either, sup
pose" said Mr.. Breton, with some heat.
"Perhaps / know more of the interesting
young man than you d, )" he went on indis.
creetly. 'It may be as well for you if open
your eyes little-what is it, MaryT'.
"Three men at the door, sir. They want
to see you, sir"
~ think they are workmen" The mill
owner found three Of his workmen in his
study; all standing when he entered because
they felt less awkward on their feet.
"Send my son in, }" he called to Mary "Hc
might as well learn how to meet this sort of
occasion"
The delegation of workmen did not look
very fierce One of them kept gazing long
ingly out of the window, and smoothing his
napless felt hat Another, out of whose
soiled coat pocket stuck the stem of a clay pipe,
was studying the ceiling pf the room with an
intensity only explainable by his fear of his
masters eye. They were two of the men who
had peered into the parlor windows of this
very house on the evening our story conf
mences. The third was John Graves, whose
eyes were fixed un0inchingly on the mill
owner for whon he had message. When
Philip came in he was Little startled to sec
his quondam host, but the man had other
things to think Of than the possible identity
of this elegantly dressed young gentleman
with the ungrateful tramp he had kept oncc
over night.
'tThere's meetin' Of the mill hans down
in the hall, sir, and they sent us up to ask a
favor"
Mr. Breton had seated himself before his
long office table and pulled up n file of busi-
ness letters.
"You have too many meetings. be said
loudly ''You talk so much you aren't fit to
work. Some of the noisiest Of you will find
themselves out of q job somo fine morning;
one man did the other day."
The two other men looked anxiously at
their spokesman. If they had dared they
would have begun to make excuses for COM
ing. Their wives and babies must DO fed,
and talking about their rights wouldn't ever
feed them. Let others who could afford TO
offend him go to the meetings But the poor
fellows were afraid 10 raise their voices, even
in apology.
"But the willingest of us all don't want to
be roasted to death, and it amt bit pleas
anter to us men folks to think of teein' Our
wives and children burnt up before our eyes.
Our women aint quite SO purity rs those OF
the rich, but we prize 'ein as much We
come to ask for fire escapes OH the miRs So
il there should happen to come n fire in day
time, when the mills were full. the I"mr crit
ters could git out II was quite ong
speech for John Graves in such sGGna' pres
encc. and he delivered 1t in tn. u"ro;ononi
Yankee drawl which carries ti,n ',,s-.r or
low c,anlY " ,". . disti'.' =. :. a, r::.
"Tbere is no danger" hs answered With q
gruff laugh, land in business We can't spend
much money providing against very unlikely
events. Fire escapes would le n piece of useless
extravaganza" Mr. Breton looked sharply at
his visitors over the file Of letters 1T would
make necessary another cut in your pay"
Bill Rogers fingered his pipe uneasily in
the significant silence that followed, and
finally drew it half out Of his pocket through
force of habit In distress. Then he found bis
voice.
eyer iokin', squire yer wouldn't cut us
poor devils down again The last cut seemed
as if it would kill us, TIL we found how little