Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-01-26
CONTINUED
CHAPTER !.
A PICTURE AND ITS CRITICS.


PICTURE AND ITS CRITICS.
"Let's take squint i'm
It is on the sidewalk in front of the fine
residence of Ezekiel Breton. Surely every
body within the length and breadth of hum
dred miles Ellst have heard the name of the
wealthy mill owner, whose energy and
shrewdncss have passed into byword The
house is brilliantly lighted, and the windows
wide open as if to invite the attention and
admiration of the humble passers by.
Three men, laborers, if coarse, soiled clothes
and dull, heavy tread mean anything, have
come down the street and now stand leaning
against the tall iron fence.
''Why shouldn't we see the show, boys!'
continued the long whiskered man, with an
unpleasant laugh. "Its our work that's pay
in for it, l guess. How long do you think it
would take you, Jack, to scrimp enough to-
gether to buy one of them candlesticks!
Hullo-therc's the boss himself" and he
thrust his hand inside the iron pickets to
point out portly gentleman whose bald
head was fringed with silver white hair.
Mr.. Breton had paused moment before the
window.
"Comc, let's go on urged the man with a
clay pipe, cdging off a little into the shadow;
"hell see us and be mad"
"What's the odds if he does!n and the
speaker frowncd at the rich man from be-
tween the pickets. HE can't get help no
cheaper than us, can he? That's one good
pint of bein' way down, you can't tumble a
mite. But just look at him, boys; big watch
chain and gold bowed specs a-danglin,. See
the thumbs of his white hands stuck in his
vest pocket and him as smilin' as if he never
did nobody a wrong in his whole blessed life.
There now is somethin' purifier, though"
The old gentleman moved unsuspectingly
aside and revealed young girl, large and
fair, with great calm blue eyes. She wore a
pale blue silk with delicate ruffles at her
half barred elbow and at her neck, kissing the
warm white skin.
"Well, suppose my girl Jane might look
just as good in such clothes as them. But she
wouldn't no more speak to Jane than as if
the girl wasn't human. And as for poor
man, he might pour his life out for her purity
face and she wouldn't give him look. A
few dollars and a suit of clothes makes the
odds.n
"What's she laughin' at? said the tall man,
taking his clay pipe from his mouth.
"Can't you sec! There's the boy standin'
iist beyond her. Breton's young hopeful
Nothin' less than the biggest kind of game
for her, cal'late.n
II never seen him before, remarked the
third man, reverentially. II s'pose he'll be
our boss some day"
"Hes been to college polishin' up his wits
Taint goin' to be so easy as it was to grind
the poor. The old man now didn't need no
extra schoolin'."
II aint SO sure now," said the tall man.
blowing out wreath of smoke. "The boy
looks more kind about his mouth and eyes.
See him look at the girl. caIlate she don't
think he's very bad"
"Wait till he gets his heel on the necks of
thousand of us, as his father has. Wait
till he finds we aint got Il penny ahead, nor
q spot of Gods earth for our own, but lie at
his mercy See how kind he'll be then.
'Tant the nature of the beast, Bill Rogers"
Bill Rogers took u long look at the slight
form of the mill owners son-at his fresh,
young face and small, pleasant black eyes.
VI wish the lad had chance. believe Id
trust him, Graves Hadn't VIC better be
startin'! The meetin' will begin purity soon."
"What's the hurry? Curran is always late
himself. Well, come along, then"
Just now Mr. Breton is leaning lightly on
the mantel near one of his pet heirlooms-
the siver candelabra. Near him stands a tall,
elegantly formed gentleman, only a trife
past middle age, whose clear chiseled mouth
has the mercst hint of smile ON it, as if he
had just said something bright 1t was smile
he always woro when he had spoken-a smile
with an edge to it. But Mr.. Ellingsworth
had to make that smile do good service, for
he never laughed The funniest jokes had
been told hm--the most ridiculous situations
described to hinl-but he only smiled.
"What am | going to do with the boy"
Mr.. Breton's voice was always loud and
sharp as if making itself heard above the
roaring of his mills. "Why, marry him to
your daughter the first thing. Eth! Phillip"