Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-02-23
CHAPTER X.
WEAK WOMAN.

Curran glanced k"enly at the face of his
beautiful hostess, whose wonted serenity had
all gone, then he rose to his feet, and stood,
while she spoke his name in the briefest form
of introduction. He did not seem offended
by the stare of surprise Mr.. Breton had for
him. 1t was new experience to the mill
owner, meeting bis workmen in fashionable
parlors.
"Curran, is it, was sure had seen you
in the MILL but you had on white apron
thcan Mr.. Breton laughed Familiarity, but
he did not hold out his hand.
Couldn't Curran see how rudely he was
treatedl Mr. Breton's laugh and tone rasped
Bertha's finer sensibilitieS, so that she was at
once indignant with him, and disgusted with
Curran who seemed to bear it so uncon-
sciously. Curran's brow was umruffled: he
had only folded his arms across his breast,
sometimes sign of excitement with him
"Mr. Curran had the good fortune, be-
heve, to do my daughter great service"
Mr.. Ellingsworth's manner was the perfec-
ton of well bred rudeness. 1t expressed the
infinite elevation and polish of the person
who assumed it, far above the very natural
feeling of disgust at the presence OF SO vulgar
a person as this workman. 1t suggested ire
sistibly the great contempt such a person
ought to call forth, but at. ths same time
that Ellingsworth was unapprqachable by
even as vulgar thing as contempt.
"Indeeds' exclaimed Mr. Breton, as he
seated himself, II will thank you, too, it was
good job for you, and l will see it don't
hurt your interests any, either"
'How do you like your work" went on Mr.,
Breton in his harsh mill voice. 81 hope you
amt one of those who don't know when they
are well Off"
II can keep from starving; that is well off
suppose"
Mr.. Breton was at loss but for moment
But you poor people don't save what you
| get. You ought to econonlize."
Curran's eyes flashed dangerously, but he
bit his lip and kept silence
Mr. Ellingsworth saw a scene was immi-
nent. How little tact Mr.. Breton showed in
| patroniZing the young man SO provokingly
| before the golden haired goddess whom he
had no doubt fallen in love with Something
must be done.
Excuse rne. Have you had any serious
| trouble with your wound, Mr.. Curranr'
II have only lost a few days; that is moth
ing" he answered quickly.
"But it must be considerable for poor
mani" broke in Mr.. Breton, with his grand
air; II will direct my paymaster to make it
| up to you"
CurTan gla1ced across the room at Miss
Ellingsworth. He expected to see her face
flushed with anger. She would leap to her
feet in indignant remonstrance to shield him
from such impertinence, all the generosity of
her nature in revolt against such return for
his devotion to her.
She was looking at him, but much as girl
looks at strange animal she has been pet
ting, when suddenly they tell her he bites
Curran turned away from her and ground
his teeth. Then he looked at Mr. Breton
Cant your paymaster make up for tie
pain, too, as well as the lost time!n
Mr.. Ellingsworth was at his wits end He
saw the cloud gathering in the workmans
eyes, and that his lip trembled with sup
pressed feeling when he spoke.
''How long have you been in town, Mr.
CurranF' he said to change the conversation
if possible into safer channels.
"Only six months.
"Why," volunteered Mr. Breton after an
awkward silence, that is about as long as
the mill hands have been fault finding SO
| loudly The old gentleman looked sharply
at him. 81 don't suppose you would tell who
has been making the trouble
"Yes, sir" Curran had risen to his feet,
the flush of offended self respect in his cheeks
| When came here | found the mills paying
you II per cent. dividends, while the help
who ground them out for you, were crushed
| almost to the earth. | felt bound to tell them
as l now tell you, that the owner has no
more God given right to all the profit of their
work than they to all the profit of his
| investment"
"And you are the man who has been stir
ring up this mischief here!n cried Mr.. Bre-
ton, almost starting from his chair He had
caught him ut LIST then. "And do YOU say
| that a man isn't entitled to the interest on
| his money! My money represents q thousand
such lives as yours; it ought to have thou
sand times the pay" He had more terrible
guns than of the batteries of logic for the
rebel, but he could not resist the temptation
| to explode the fallacies of his class before he
let him go.
The young mans eyes flashed beautifully.
"Your money represents thousand lives,
then, out of which you have sucked the life
oioou' Anu aV ho" Lnuch 40 you Value
human iifei AS much as u ,ooo for soul' A
Thousand dollars tof all the JOYS and hopes
ana possioilities OF nufnan htes Your val
uation 10 too miserably small. tell you, ;"
and Crrran threw out his right hand in
magnificent gesture, u tell you, human
creature ought to have for its service good
port'on OF the comforts and delights the
| world Is 80 bounteous with. Anything less
IS savery, q slavery worse than negro bond
az. Do you call it pay that you give the