Milford chronicle., 1892-06-24

I ~ was seized by the white facea athletl
and hurled sprawling on the ground IL
front Of the Office.
aYi-hil give Il 70 him, Mr.. Middleton, p
abrieked a high. shrill voice, and leaping
with 10y At Dowling's discontinue, came
the enfant terrible Of the nelghborhood.
freckled, tow headed, impish Bulb Clay
ton. brother Of the pretty boOkkccper ami
supported BY his orphan sisters earnings,
"give il 70 him, Pm with you, and he
squared off and doubled up his puny fists
al Bowling, who staggering to bis feet
hurled a tornado Of curses ut the master OF
the mines.
.I'll pay you for this" he growled rs be
retreated. "I'll pay you and give you com
pound interest-curse you" then slunk
away pursued by the boots and contumely
of "Bub" Clayton and his followers.
There was short conference between
Middleton and his men which must have
resulted satisfactorily, for they shook his
hand at parting aud with smiling faces
proceeded to the nearest saloon to drink
their employers health. In point Of fact,
Middleton learned that Bowling had insti
gated the scheme, tainted and dared the
others to make these demands and insisted
on being their spokesman When Middle
ton showed them the letter from the archi-
tect whose plans for repairing the miners
cottages he had accepted, when he told
them OF the preparations he was making
for the approaching Fourth Of July cele
bration, they hurst into cheers and then
begged his pardon for having been tenn
porarily led Hstray.
When, after closing the door behind his
visitors and relaxing a bit from the strain
he had been under. Middleton turned back
to bis desk he felt a timid touch on his arm.
He looked up yfaight intoa pair Of lustrous
gray eyesswimming with tears
why, my child" be exclaimed. what
Is the,matter~
,,,That dreadful man" she faltered; he
will do something to you, am afraid"
Nonsense. my dear" said Middleton
patting her arm in quite fatherly man-
ner; don't cry. You are upset, and don't
Wonder"
''But, please" Bess said TREMENDOUSLY,
please look ont for that beast, and-and
carry a pistol or something His face
was murferous"
That night at dinner Middler0a was
strangely preoccupied Somehow he could
not Danish the events Of the morning, and
through the light and the flowers about
the table, IN Ine sparkling HmDeF IN MS
winegIass, he saw that sweet, troubled
face and the big gray eyes swimming in
tears.
After dinner Violet came out upon the
veranda where Tom sat smoking and de-
posted her fluffy draperies. her laces and
frills upon bamboo lounge She wore
her most aristOcratic expression while a
hardening abOut the pretty lips betokened
an OncOming contest.
atom, dear" she drawled, what g this
new absurliity Of which ! hearf"
"Absurdity2" repeated Tom, y don't
know, Violet to what you refer"
rs it possible that you propose to give
the miners a Fourth Of July celebration"
Indeed do Bonlres races, rockets
. rattling good old fashioned hurrah. And
every little chap is to have punk and fire
crackers aud every little girl torpedoes."
"You are only spelling these creatures"
began Violet, when to her amazement
Tom rose and lowered over her. looking
very big, very aggressive, very masterful
Once, and for all, Violet" be said
coolly, twill you have the goodness to stop
nagginR me about my businessi will