Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-07
BY CHARLES ]. BELLAMY.

BY CHARLES I. BELLAMY. Copyrighted by the Author, and pubHsheo
 by arrangement With n1m.
 The paymaster and the attorney stood at hand apt with suggestions; one of them had the smile born of fond he pes of unlimited fees; but the other an awkward fretted air at the sudden change from one to so many superiors The mill owner was detailing to this most interested audience the details of the hourishing industry he desired to enlist them in, and their eyes shone eagerly at the prospect of buying such stock at par. They imagined their thousands doubling on their hands in such an investment, doubling with out an effort of theirs, doubling in spite of their idleness, which added never one stroke of theirs to the of the muscular force that furnishes the wealth of the world.
 But what could possess Breton to make this change3 Was he rich enougha Absr1rdl who ever was rich enough2 Perhaps there was so,nc flaw somewhere, and this cunning lawyer knew all about it. They must not let themselves be fooled, so Ethey listened with still quickened attention, and waded suspic- iously into ono after another of tho big lcdgcrs, for few pages, to ferret out the secret.
 "Thc gentlemen nay ask," MT. Giddings. the lawyer, had noticed tho puzzled expres- sion OH their shrewd faces, ''why MT. Breton makes this offer. From the amount of stock wo propose to issue, it ought to be clear enough" and he laid his fat finger in the palm of his left hand. ''He proposes to keep just as big an interest hero as ever, but tho plan is to mako these mills, as they shall be extended, gentlemen, as they shall be ex- ended, tho most stupeDdous manufacturing .,j1tp i,,f must be more capital, and you are invited to join"
 Philip had but little to say to the unwcl- come visitors, whose carriages, of all varie- ties of elegance, lined the roadside without. lie moved about among them more like Q 3tranger than the least pretentious of them al.
 "Ellingsworth, MT. Ellngsworth," called ,Ir. Breton, ''why, he was with mo only last light. Can he be sick?'
 Yes, sick with shame, and Philip thought now quickly tho flush of pride would fado out of his father pleased face, if he know knew that his own son, the heir of his mil lions, had been discarded at last by the girl .ie had already taken into daughters place .l his heart. And it was this same man Philip had defended and argued for, that lad struck his deadliest blows at the mills, md now thrust his knife into the very home of the rich man. It would elnbitter the fathers life, when he came to know of yhe broken heart his boy must bear forever-but le need not know just yet.
 Now and then the young man went out Into the hall for a clear view of the massive mills, and glanced fearfully along their front, and listened But tho roar of the machinery did not abate, and through the jail like win dows he could see the tireless men and women forms stepping backward and forward, rais- ing and lowering their hands at the tasks that had ushered in their cheerless youth, and were wea. ing out their tedious lives Very likely there would be no trouble; could it Dc they had been influenced by his wordsa God forbid that any such responsibility should rest on him. Once, man appeared at door. Philips heart stopped beating for an instant; he thought him the first of a long line that would now rush forth from their prison. But the man only stood listlessly a moment as if there was absolutely nothing of importance on his mind, and then went back 50 Philip returned to the office
 "Is that Breton's SOD, that young man who looks so palo2 He don't seem to take much interest i'll this business"
 "I've always noticed business talent wears out ill one generation. The father earns and saves for the son to spend."
 ''True for you," said third, apparently of Irish birth. ''WeI, we won't want the boys services when the old man dies"
 "Hush, Breton is talking"
 "And, gentlemen, have never known a strike hcre, though I certainly don't pay any more wages than my neighbors" There was slight noise of something falling outside and Philip hurried out. The mill yard was as quiet as on Sunday; not 0 soul in the whole village apparently who thought of a strike but him. And whether he feared most an outbreak a day of peace he could not aave told.
 ''I wonder how the help will like the .hange," suggested Q white haired old gentle >4lan, with grim smile.
 ''These corporations are the neatest device of tho century for a gagging machine. What Uhe devils the use of the help grumbling, when there is nobody they can find to blame, only fiction of law"
 Philip was standing near the speaker, and vas so galled by his complacent enjoyment If his own unfeeling philosophy as to venture Q make suggestion.
 ''Isnt it just possible that this complaining ,ou wish to gag has some occasion.'
 A dozen craned their sleek wise necks, to soare at the man who talked so wildly.
 'Why, my kind hearted young friend,' re- piled the philosopher, glad of an excuse to voLt his practical wisdom, "dont you sec the poor will complain until the whole vast dis. lance between us and them is bridged over. We have got to protect ourselves, you won't ieny that 1 climb to heights on another's body. Everybody knows life is only fight the weakest goes to the wall. The poor are the weakest in this case"
 Could the mill owners son dispute such 1iain propositions! An odd silence pervaded ,he company. The gentlemen in the windows stopped talking to look at this curious young nan, who seemed disposed to question the ,lainest axioms of his class. His father litched uneasily in his chair and rustled bundle of papers to attract Philips attention. What had got into the boy!
 But of what possible account was his opinion Mr. Breton rose to his feet, and all eyes were turned toward the mill owner, on the course of whose ideas hung the fate of 9 whole village. The clock struck 10. "Gentlemen, you pronounce yourselves satisfied" he waited. His lawyer smiled complacently, the paymaster and his clerks began piling up the books. "Wen, then, there are one or two formalities, my lawyer informs me-What is that noise2" It was like rising north wind, not little hke the breaking of the angry sea on a rock bound shore. From the entrance to all the 1 mills swarmed jostling human forms. A thousand heads turning at frequent intervals l,oie tno,~c