Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1892-09-08

you would see It Is your own fault that you
are starving and not the fault OF the men you
would murder"
He gazed gloomily at her, yet stood quietly
under an Influence that seemed to bring calm
and comfort to his desperate mood.
| LOOK ut yonder factories" she continued
with unconscious oratorical power, raising her
young voice and pointing to the silent build
lings below 'look at them, Joe, with their
closed doors and smock-stacks covered with
those barrels to keep them from rusting these
idle days. Who closed those doors2 Why the
mon you followed few years ago. Where Is
L"muel Buckthorn2 In Congress again; put
! there by your votes. Why the boys call the
they themselves sent MIR. Dallas to Washing
ton"
"Yere mighty wise," growled Darile, with
mingled anger and admiration. 81 s'pose the
grand folks at the house told ye this. What
/ else hev yer learnt2"
"Miss Ethel taught me many things in those
happy days." answers Margaret softly, land
now that she is gone il seems sometimes as
though my life had gone with her. You know
when grandfather was dying, Joe," here she
struggled with a sob and smoothed the folds
OF her black dress, "Mr. Fletcher came and
talked to him. Oh" with wonderful light
ing of the eyes and a tremble In the rich voice.
how he talked II you and / could always
listen to such We would never wish harm to
one OF them again. He was pale from the
you men burned his factory down, and yet he
went up to grandfather's bed and said: Mar
garet tells me that you are sick and
suffering, Gwynne, and l thought 1t might
make you feel better II called and told you
that l bear no i'll will. God knows, feel only
pity for you misguided men with your mis-
taken hatreds and starving families
"Grandfather-he died the next day, you
know-just turned his face to the wall and
cried like child. God bless you, sir he
said, for coming. 1t is on my conscience that
l raised hand against you. You've been a
good boss, and know 1t isn't your fault that
the people are idle and starving. Would to
God we had listened to you from the irstP
kept up as long as l could said Mr..
Fletcher, without reducing wages, and then |
called the men together and told them must
give them less until the panic was over, but
would not close the works unless obliged TO-.
You know what happened then. They burned
my factory, threatened my life and home, and
now | must go elsewhere; but II it is any
comfort for you starving men to know 1t, go
a ruined man. Joe, Mr.. Fletcher Is good
man."
"Yet yer good man leaves yer to starve, 1t
seems" sneered Dartie.
Margaret's pale face grew warm with the
crimson blood as she replied:
81 could not take money from him God
knows he thinks have plenty, for, after Miss
Ethels marriage, just before she sailed, she
called me and said: Margaret, these are
hard times, and worse days are ahead, and
could not feel happy II thought OF you as
suffering. l have placed q sum OF money in
the bank for you, and you can draw IL as you
need 1t. My brother will try to sell our home
and his property here, and will follow us TO
England soon-so use what leave you caro-
fully, and in few months l will write and
see that more is placed to your account. You
will not be forgotten"
| Margaret paused many times to wipe away
the tears as she repeated the words.
"Well, an where's yer money, thenr de-
manded Dartle.
"Joe," answered Margaret, with her dark
Earnest eyes turned toward the quiet town,
"do you think that could have money in the
bank and see poor folks a starving around
me7 I've drawn out every penny, and thank
God had 1t to givep
"An' staryin' an freezln' yourselves to do
itP cried DartIe.
81 am young and strong and 1t doesn't
matter" said the girl. "There are many sick
and old ones in the town that need 1t more
than l."
Dartle looked at her glowing. inspired face
with awe, while new emotion was born in
his breast and mastered him.
With something very like a sob he bowed
his head.
can ye such slip of girl, tool God be
thanked Tor such as ye, Meg. pve been bad
man, but God helpin' me, from this hour on
Pm changed oneP'
With smile Of newly-born trust Margaret
took the hand held out to her, and together
they went down into the famlne-stricke en-
town.