Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-03-21

by. He gazed at her with very
loyal desire to stand between her
land hard work.
The weight at Suasan's hearl
grew heavier as the afternoon
! wore on. The clothes were dried
and brough in, looking like woven
snow, the little house set in ORDER
and then Susan took her sun-6On-
net and went out saying to hel
mother: ~ will walk towards the
mill and meet Ben"
He was not on the road. Soc
had scarcely expected it, for she
was a little in advance of the
usual thne for leaving work. She
caught sight OF Mr.. Graves the
mill owner owe Hooking the con
struction of some improvements
in the boom, and as she drew near
er could see that most of the force
of wOrkmen were engaged there
Ben would not be there, for his
duties lay IN the lighter work uu-
der Mr.. Graves's direction or IN
the Office.
"Ben ?" she said, Looking into
the office.
"He's not here" said workman
calling good-naturedly to her from
where he was setting some mac in
ery IN order. "But 1 guess you
won't be long finding him for
seen him come out o there not five
minutes ago"
"Thank you" SAID Susan. 81
believe" she added to herself
feeling more tired than she hsC
before realized. "rll sit dOwr
here and rest a minute and watch
for Ben. He can't be far Off"
Another man passed the door
and, seeing her stopped.
"Here," he said, giving her
piece OF folded paper, "Ben gave
this and made me promise I'd 60
round and give 1t to you tonight
But l guess it'll do just as vel
nOw."
In surprise and dismay shC
opened the paper; then sat for {
| few moments IN maze eft despair
Dear Susy," it read, "Tm 90
ing away for a little while to make
a strike for something better, anc
saying goodbye is such bard WORK
that | don't want TO. You'll teal
from me soon, and then you'll say
l did best to 60, thougu Pm afralC
you won't think so now Wait I'll
you see what I'm gong to do fol
you and you will know how [ love
you, so goodbye, dear Susy."
How long Ben's sister sat bal
stupefed by the terrible blow she
never could tell. Tie sounds
about the mill lessened as all handi
gathered for an effort of strength a
the boom. 1t could not, however
have been many minutes before
her eye, always quick to observe
surrounding objects, took in a
6rSt vaguely, a thread of smob'
which slowly curled up in corDe
of the Office. Very thin it was
but growing thicker with ever
moment.
"Where there is smoke ther
must be fire." said Susao, gOinE
toward 1t. "What can it be? HOy
would the fire get here 2"
No one ever knew that les
than a quarter Of an heur before
match had been flung by the care
less hands OF Jim Slade as he stoO'
at the Office door and lighted hi
his pipe, while he waited for Be
to Join him. 1t had fallen upon
morseI of sawdust in which it ha,
smouldered, appearing at first t.
take but little hold.
But it sometimes seems
though influences for mischief ar
carefully tostered by the ham
which works mischief alone, fO
the glowing spark reached tror
p, ope to another grain of sawdnst
growing stronger every moment
The Office was OUly corner OF tn
mill rallied off by high balostrad
!, of light pine. EverthlDg was il
an unfinished state, and 1t chance
that a waste basket of loose pa
I pers and a pile OF dry shaving
lay close to the hidden foe.
into these it leaped just as SuS
, an approached, and the drea
fame flew up before her wit
: every sense called into active pla
by the sudden emergency, TO
vOuUg girl sprang towards hos
, connected with a force puDp re
by a stream from high mp tn
mountain side. Ben had sbOwi !
- to her with great pride one da
before Jim Slade came, dasDln
ou1 xuafffOn hf