The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-09-25
THAT WRETCH.

''Flossie, what do YOU think that
wretch has done nowp" exclaimed
Lucy Caslin breaking into the room
where her sister and aunt sat sewing.
'.Nothing very dreadful, / hope ''
replied Flossie. looking up from her
work.
Nothing very dreadfulp echoed
Lucy. THAT is just like you Flossie:
! really believe you love that black
hearted wretch"
No, Sue, l cannot say tina. 1 have
any particular love for him, but don't
want to condemn a man until l know
what he has done," returned Flossie.
laughing.
"WelI, he is driving his tenants from
the old shanties by the coal bank"
'Sue, can that be really true?" said
Fl2ssie, in a shocked voice.
''It must be, for Ted Finn, whose
mother occupies one of the huts, told
me SO. Mr.. Dane said that unless the
people vacated at once he would tum-
BILE the shanties down on their heads
the bruter'
Lucy, my DEAR" interrupted her
aunt, there must be some mistake
do not believe Mr.. Dane would be so
cruel; although more grave and silent
than most men of his age he seems
kind and courteous to ALL"
Lucy pursed up her mouth in scorn.
''Now, Aunt Mary you are always
taking that mans part. You think he
cannot do wrong"
"Oh, no. Lucym smiled Aunt Mary.
t'But you have taken an unreasonable
dislike to Mr.. Dane"
'Well, perhaps l have But we won't
discuss him further; we must think of
the needs of Mrs. Flynn. Why can't
she move into the old storehouse in the
corner OF the orchard until she can find
home?
Atnl Mary nodded assent, while
L .ossie rephed:
AN excellent idea, Lucyr'
"rhen Ill run over and make her
the offer" said Lucy; and, hurrying on
her hat and shawl, she was soon in the
midst of the santies, which consisted
of live or six dilapidated old buildings.
She noticed that the men and women
all had an anxious look, and that the
teams standing there belonged to Mr..
Dane, the new owner of the coal bank
and factory. And-yes, there was the
owner himself hurrying up the moving
process. Lucy was too indignant to
notice that his face, too. wore an
anxious look and that he started at
every sound. She only thought of him
as hard-hearted wretch, who was turn
ing poor people out in the cold.
Presently he approached her.
"Miss Lucy" he said. ''for heavens
sake don't tarry here longi and tell
Mrs. Flynn to be reasonable and hurry
up. for will
Here Lncy cut him short with look
of scorn as she flashed out:
"You hard-hearted wretch. how dare
you speak to mep Don't be afraid
will not lntrude in your precious houses
very long, neither shall Mrs, Flynn"
but, Miss Lucy" he said you must
have heard"
Yes" Lucy interrupted. s'of course
l have heard that the wealthy Mr..
Dane is turning five or six poor
families out of his houses-if they are
worthy of that name"
Then she opened the door of Mrs.
Flynn's shanty and stepped inside,
leaving Mr. Dane with an amused look
on his face. But this soon gave
way to grave expression which did
not leave his face until the last wagon
which contained Mrs. Flynn's house.
hold goods was loaded and driven
away Then, with asigh of relief. he
nailed up placard, inscribed with
with these words:
GAN persons are warned to keep
away from these grounds. Dangerous?
Meanwhile, Lucy had installed the
Flynns to their new quarters, with a
good many remarks not very flattering
to the new owner, in whicn she was
joined by Mrs. Flynn, who would 'hke
to serve him the same way, the beastp'
The next morning neighboI
dropped into the Caslin cottage, and
almost her first words were:
WAS it not fine thing that Mr..
Dane got the people away from the old
mine yesterdayPn
eWhy?" inquired Flossie.
".Why?" echoed Mrs. Brown. "Have
you not heard that the mine fell in last
night? The shanties stood right over
it,.
MOP exclaimed Flossie and Lucy in
the same breath.
at is true, anyway" replied Mrs.
Brown. The little level spot where
the shanties stood all caved, in, and il
looks as if there had been an earth
quake there; and / think it was kind
of Mr.. Dane to take his teams and
move the people out when he told them
all month ago they had better move
as soon as possible for the place was
dangerous. And my husband said
that yesterday morning, when the
mine boss sent Mr.. Dane word that the
old rooms might fall in at any moment,
he ordered the teams to be got ready,
and then told the men at the factory
that if some of them would go over
and move the people out he would pay
them for it and go with them, too; and
then he went and rented that double
house of Squire Miles's-to move them
into.p ...t ~
81 did not know that" said Flossie,
while Lucy's face burned at the
memory of her hasty words.
at is strange that Mrs. Flynn die
not tell you. She moved into Your ele