Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-18


The eyes of the two women met. Theil
wills met and struggled for the mastery ii
that moment Undisguised hate was in one
face, lofty contempt in the other, There hao
been one gentle, wistful expression in BcrthaE
face as she first alighted, but there was NJ
trace of it now. She had drawn herself NJ
to her full height, so that the other woman
seemed like a child before her, and her hand
as it fell to her side, opened outward in &
gesture of disdain for the creature her father
had chosen for his wife. 1t was hardly q
second before her rare lips parted. They al
least had not changed. Jane WINGED for feaI
of some bitter taunt. She had learned how
terrible blow well trained tongues can give
but the words were only some polite common
place; the tone-well, it caused Mr.. Filings
worth to glance critically at his wife. She
seemed vulgar in his eyes for the first time
Jane tried to brazen it out, but her face only
took ON an expression of pugnacious insignih'
canoe.
"What was it you were saying" resumed
Mr.. Philbrick as Philip overlook him.
81 had forgotten"
Speaking of business" suggested the
other, and then continued himself, not dis
pleased at an extra turn Business, L say,
is heartless and cruel as death. 1t is pitilesS'
and pity is the noblest of emotions; it is I'M
|
it when it grinds SO terribly"
Mr.. Philbrick thought his TRADE would
surely fetch an enthusiastic retort But
| Philip only walked on by his side in silence;
no seemed intent on some beautiful masses Of
cloud just behind the sun, as he sped on bis
way to the west.
Cant afford it, can't afford it," went on
the old gentleman, gesticulating with his
foreflnger, that is what you would say l
presume: of course you can't if the upper
classes waste the wealth they do. l tell you
there is no sense or excuse for q man spend
ing ten and twenty and fifty thousand dol
lars year. Why, it is good workman in
your mill who earns ten thousand dollars in a
lifetime, adding all his days wages together.
| There ought to be more fairness about these
things. Such men as you, Philip Breton, get
too much-more than any reasonable creature
could want. Now, you ought to go right to
work and distribute your surplus-l mean
| your real surplus-back where it came from,
among the poor 1t takes but very little
money to buy what can make a life comfort
able and complete. The rich are always COM
| planning that they don't enjoy life more than
the middle classes, but they manage to waste
what would make thousand wretched homes
| happy without one pang of conscience"
"But what do you want me to DOR asked
| Philip in establishment
The old gentleman's face was flushed with
| enthusiasm.
"Why want you to take hold, and begin
to mako things equal, by paying back your
surplus in one form or another. Give them
better homes to live in. Shorten their hours
so they can have a little existence besides
drudgery; pay them better wages"
Philip looked distressed and doubtful
He had thought the subject over carefully
and believed he had done great deal already
for his poor. His philanthropic friend would
turn the whole world topsey turvey.
"Why, you know what the books say
that giving so much would spoil all the spirit
and patience of the working classes"
"Mere arguments devised to sootho the
| consciences of the rich,n explained Mr.. Phil
brick with a grand air. Though there is
such a thing as unwise benevolence, en-
couraging paupers and beggars; but man
| who works every day of his life isn't beg
gar Your father made good investment
that brings you in say quarter million
year. That is rather above what you pay
your best workman; but it doesn't hurt your
manliness any, my boy. The poorest paid
hand in your factory works a great deal
harder than you you needn't be afraid of
degrading his manhood until he gets quarter
million"
"But wouldn't they hang off on their oars
unless they had to struggle for ivelihood''
MY dear Philip, you wouldn't think it
necessary to starve horse, and hang bag
of oats just before his nose to make him go.
Better feed him the oats, and healthy ami
NAL likes to 60 Do you lie off on your oarsl
You could afford it u thousand times better
than they. Give them chance for hope and
ambition, and it will produce the best work
ever known. Who lives here9"
StoDDaj in front of n trTappfi,l 1i+tla cot.
tage, through whose open windows one could
see into cheerful, well furnished rooms. A row
of maple saplings had been lately set in front,
and plenty of green shrubs and ample vines
gave the place most charming air.
"John Graves, one of my workmen His
daughter married rich, and it is her hus-
bands money which has worked the remark
able transformation" Philip was very glad to
change the subject. Johns wife was sick
supposed to be an invalid. See that ladylike
woman watering the hanging pot9 that is she,
Ellingsworth's money made the change. As
for Graves himself, he used to be bowed al
most like cripple He was melancholy as
an undertaken, and he had good reason TO be,
poor fellow He used to pull great SLOUGH
hat down over his face TO hide as much as he
could of himself. Well, you wouldn't know
him now; he is as respectable looking man
as one often sees, and they say he works as
hard as ever
He isn't degraded any, Them asked Mr..
Philbrlck slyly, as they walked on again, "by
his good fortunen
81 cannot carry out your proposal it isn't
in my line. l am a business man and must
work in character 1 actually feel as if had
made quite a step, for me-
"A step!" cried his companion, eagerly |
reaching out to clasp his hand. "A stride, |
only want you to go clear TO the goal"
~ am too slow for you," smiled Philip, |
sadly, as he shook his head. "What 1 have |
attempted seems enough for one life work. |
don't want to risk it all by a new expert
ment. Here we are at my house, won't you |