Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-08-11
CHAPTER XI.
UNGRArEFUL 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 wrinlsing his forehead
very inartistically almost throughout the
NEAL
"Poor folks are always ungrateful," he ex-
claimed harshly at 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 l 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. lie was puzzled to know what
to say.
"Why, look at it, 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. l suppose they
think | ought to run the factory for a 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 hims / have
discharged him, but he does more mischief
than ever"
discharged Curranr exclaimed Philip
"You don't mean itl why, he is the man that
saved Bertha's life,n he 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, l sup
pose" said Mr. Breton, with some heat
"PerhGps know more Of the interesting
young man than you d, !" he went on indis.
creetiy. at may be as well for you if open
your eyes little-what is it, MaryF'
''Three men at the door, sir. They want
to see you, sir"
81 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.
s'Send my son in," he called to Mary. "He
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 clay pipe,
was studying the ceiling Of the room with an
intensity only explainaDle 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 COM
mences. The third was John Graves, whose
eyes were fixed unfinchingly on the mill
owner for whon he had message. When
Philip came in he was little startled to see
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 traSlp he had kept once
over night.
There's meetin' Of the mill hans down
In the hall, sir, and they sent us up to ask q
favor"
Mr.. Breton had seated himself before his
long Office table and pulled up flle Of bust
ness letters
"You have too many meetings" he said