Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-29

saw it and the prido sickened on his heart
The crowd about the door passed the whisper
around, and II was hardly one short minute
when the building shook again with cheers
as they shouted the name Of CurTan.
Yes, Il was he who pushed his way well
into the room, and then stopped and took
one of the printed sheets, as IL he were un-
conscious of their cheering, and read till his
face, that had looked so stern and terrible,
softened like a child Then he mounted
settee for his platform and uncovered his
head with q new grace that became him as
well as his strength. The old bitterness had
gone from his lips; it had given place to a
touching sadness that sobered every face that
was turned toward him.
"He means to deal well by you; he wants
to make YOU shareholders in your work"
Philip had risen excitedly to his feet. The
sight Of the man who had been with Bertha,
who came perhaps but this instant from the
woman he had wronged so terribly, was at
first almost maddening to him. All, how
grand and beautiful he was, with his deep
mighty chest and shoulders, and his limbs
like pillars of some temple. There were no
laws for such men as he; the holiest and
purest Of women love to make themselves
base and common things to win smiles from
his proud eyes, and men forget their venge-
ance, and only remember how small and
mean they seem before him. But who could
look at his melancholy face and the calm
dignity that rested upon him always, and be
lieve he could be vilel Yet perhaps nothing
was vile or low TO him, and even sin was
glorified in his eyes when it suited his caprice
to sin.
Phllip had come 10 the very edge Of the
platform and beckoned friend to him.
'Do you sec the man talking-the man with
the auburn hair curling about his neck! no,
don't look YETI" his voice was husky with
excitement. Get behind him while he
talking and stop him before he goes out. .
a ust see him and speak with him, would
ather $4,000 than lose him. Quick now
4s Philip sat down again and watched his
friend trying to make his way through the
| lose packed crowd no heard Curran'S voice
again. What was there changed in it! 1t
had lost its old ring, there was q queer drag
| in it sometimes, and when he used to raise
his voice till every nerve tingled for SYM
pathy, he seemed now to let it fall, and his
long, sonorous sentences died down at the
end like muffied bell.
"If others were like him. he was saying,
''the reform / would die for would come
soon, would be upon us"
How slow his friend moved. Philip act1-
ally hated the people who were too stupid to
get out of his messengers way.
Had Curran finished, was this all that was
left of his eloquence' Yes, be was stepping
down and moving toward the door, Philips
friend was almost there, the man must not
escape thus, and plunge again with the wo-
man whose life he had blasted into the OBJ
scur"tv he seemed to love. Philip leaped to
his feet and almost shouted to the people
All turned their faces expvctantly toward
him, Curran with the rest his pale worn face
Philips friend was come almost to him now.
! II Curran could only be detained for one
| nHment more.
at will of course bc for the interest of all
If you," he knew he was talking weakly, but
1t was 10 matter, ito earn the most wages
you can, to lose the fewest days, to turn off
the most piece work" OF course, he spoke
too stupidity; Curran tlrned on his heel and
moved toward the door. Almost instantly
then Philip Breton gave sudden short bow
to the audience and disappeared back of the
| platform He bounded down the narrow
stairs, four at time, and rushed around to
the front of the building like one mad, to
stare for a moment in the faces of the escap-
! ing crowd Then, wilder than ever at the
thought that Curran might have gone out
among the first, he rSn back and forth
! after one group and another, but all
| il vain Then he 1orced himself to
stop and think, and forthwith made
inquiries for Curran's boarding place. He
reached the place at last and ran breath
lessly UP tho stairs. In another moment he
would know the truth if it killed him to beal
it. He must remove the poisonous shadow OF
suspicion that was polluting all the holiest
precincts of his nature. Certainty was bet
ter far, for the nerves can brace thcms2ve:
against the clearly defined features of r-'~~ sc
hideOus q monster; far better certain y
this crawling Shiny terror that made IN
ashamed of manhood that could cherish ii
He dared ask Curran for the truth, he dit
not shrink from it. If the man were inno
cent he might strike him down for the insui
to the purity of his wife. Philip though
such atonement would seem just and proper
But if he were guilty, ah, if Bertha wa
guilty through him what death was terrib,
enough for his penalty!
A portly woman, with the unmistakab,
expression of the expectant boarding mistres
on her face and in her attitude, met the pal
faced young man at the top Of the stairs 81
did not recognize the proprietor of the Br
ton mills, i'll his slight form. She would hay
looked for Il man of lofty stature and con
manding mien, and not mere lad whol
nobody would glance twice at on the stree
"Where is Curran! II want him."
"Why, he's just gone; he drove off to Lev
iston."
''To Lewiston? Are you sure!" Why, tn
niyls t,- son!i Important parsonage after III
he was so peremptory. Poor people can bully
but there is shamefacedness or an over a
fectation of authority that betrays then
their self consciousness lets the whole secrt
out.
EITHER Lewiston or Raleigh; l can't tel
really, sir. Shall get you a carriage, Mr..
Mr."
'Two horses and buggy; a driver, toc
Tell them it is for Mr.. Breton; and"
shouted after the woman, 'if they give me
poor horse he will be dead before they eve
SEQ him again"
1t seemed an hour before the horses DIRE
up before the boarding house door, and al
other hour before they had left the villae
behind. Then the little patience Philip ha
forsook him. He caught the reins from th
astonished driver, and at the threatenin
snap of the whip the horses took their faste'
gait.
1t was little past O'Clock the next mori
ing that Philip Breton, pale from sleeple
night, knocked at low studded door in a
i'll ventilated tenement house, where the