Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-03
CHAPTER xI.
UEGRATEFUL PoPULACE.


 one evening some days after. His father hae been detained down in the village, and hae come home with good deal on his mind indeed, the old gentleman, who general, sald aside his hardness outside his own doors. izad sat Ill silence wrinkling his forehead very lnartistically almost throughout the meal.
 'Poor folks are always ungrateful," he ex- claimed harshly at last as he shook his head 9verely at the maid servant who offered him e cake basket
 'Here have whitewashed every house for
 e1n, and 1t was only tonight I heard somo
 @llnbling old woman tell her husband, sho
 >ldered how old Breton would like to live one of his own tenements''
 Philip said nothing It had been his habit
 ely, when his father got on this theme, to
 silence. He was puzzled to know what
 say.
 Why, look at it, Phil The insurance on
 burned mill won't make up for the lost
 1e in rebuilding, and this is the time they
 cct to ask for fire escapes Yield them an -ch and they want an ell. suppose they tlink l ought to run thc factory for a big benevolent institution. Every man that is FOOT curses me for it, and not one shift tess family in town, Ill warrant, but would lay the fault on my shoulders. By tlo way, Phil, you have bc1n to college; you ought to know if there isn't any way I can stop the tongue of that tall brown haired fellow Can't the law touch him? i have uischargeu him, but he does more mischief than ever" .s.
 ''Disaharged Curranr' exclaimed Philip ''Y oil don't mean it! why, he is the man that sc,ycd Bertha's life," he continued hurriedly. You must take him back at once-you must take him back at once, no matter what he has said.'
 ''.So matter what he has done either, sup rose,' said Mr. Breton, with some heat ''t'erhaps l know more of tho interesting young man than you d. ," he went on indis. c-eetly. "Itinay be as well for you if open your eyes little-what is it, Marys'
 ''Three men at the door, sir They want to sec you, sir"
 ''I think they arc worlz1nen.'' The mill owner found three of his workmcn in his a55ldy: all standing when he entered because they felt less awkward on their feet.
 ''Send my son in," he called to Mary. "Ho l1lirht as we'll learn how to meet this sort of occasion"
 The delegation of workmen did not look very force. One of them kept gazing long ingly out of the window, and smoothing his ua-2less felt hat Another, out of whcse soiled coat pocket stuck the stem of clay plpe was studying the ceiling of the room with an intensity only explainabe by his fear of his masters eye. They were two of tho men who had peerod into the pallor windows of this very house on tho evening our story com r,ences The third was John Graves, whose e-cs were fixed un!linchingly on the mill ov1.2cr for NhoTa Eo had a message. When Philip came il he wcs 6 title startled to sec lis cuo-n,la12i host, but the man had other t:-:.2c,s ;> think of than the possible identity cI t:.:; c.er2Itly dressed young gentleman v..51 5,so ;i.lgratcf21l tramp he had kept once oyc> light.
 '!-] here's 9 mcctin' of tho mill hans down in ti.e hal, sir, and they sent us up to ask Q fayo""
 Fir. Breton had seated himself before his loar olIico table and pulled up a file of busi- ness letters.
 '.Iou have too many meetings" he said lonGly. ''You talk so much you aren't fit to work. Some of the noisiest of you will find themselves out of @ job some 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 be fed, and talking about their rights wouldn't ever feed them, Let others who could afford to offend him go to tho meetings. But tho poor fellows were afraid to raise their voices, even in apology.
 'But the willingest of us ell don't want to be roasted to death, and it amt Q bit pleas anter to LIS men folks to think of seein' our wives and children burnt up before our eyes. Our women oint quite so purity SIS those of the rich, but we prize 'em as much. We come to ask for fire escapes on the niRs. Sc if there should happen to come q fire in day time, when the mills were full, the poor crit ters could git out" It was quite a long speech for John Graves in such august pres ence and he delivered it in tho monotonous Yankee drawl which carries high tragedy ol | low comedy without distinction of accent ''Thcre is no danger" he answered with 6 | gruff laugh, land in business can't spend much money providing against very unlikely 1 events Fire escapes would be apiece of uselcs: | extravagance." MT. Breton looked sharply al his visitors over the file of letters. Ut would make necessary another cut ill your pay" Bill Rogers fingered his pipe uneasily ir the significant silence that followed, art finally drew it half out of his pocket through | force of habit in distress. Then he found his voice.
 "Yer jokin', squire; yer wouldn't cut us poor devils down again. Tho last cut seemed IS if it would kill us, till we found how little 1 U takes to keep soul and body together if g i ritter don't expect nothin' else. Why squire, dog has the best of some on US now for folks let him steal" The tall man thrust hack his pipe into the depths of his pocket and his face hardened into sullen expression as he added solemnly: "I cal'late another cut would fill all the jails in the country. Yer might as well give us the least we can 1.-Two or nere as support us in prison"
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