Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-05-26

l sprang through the piazza window
and faced the men, They knew me
well, and Big John shouted:
'We've naught against you, John
Spencer. We mean no harm to any,
but the master must hear us. Bring
out the master !"
"Come like honest men, in daylight,
and talk it over calmly" urged mot
mt night, like mob of rufians with
stones for arguments"
Jere Hartman had come out to them.
They greeted him with an angry shout.
"We are to be put off no longer. Is
it our rights by fair means or by foul,
Jere Harman?"
'Your rights" began Jere
Harman in his harsh, stern voice. l
saw that Nellie Hartman had slipped
out to her fathers side and laid her
hand pleadingly on his shoulder. She
did not fear the angry men, for will
ingly not one of them would have
harmed hair of her dainty head. 1
saw that she would have pleaded with
her father to be gentle with them.
"Yes, our rights!" yelled voice in
the crowd with an awful oath. He was
drunken or blind with rage-surely he
did not see the girl at her fathers side.
A stone whizzed through the air. 1t
might have been Jere Harman's death
blow; instead, it struck her. 1t cut
great, cruel cash just above the temple
They sprang toward her-her friends,
her lover-but Nellie Harman put her
two hands out to me with sharp,
gasping cry.
Jack, Jack ?" she said, and caught
her in my arms.
/ have lived over the agony, the
Joy, of that moment all through the
long, lonely hours of this night.
1t was big John himself who brought
the doctor and cried like a child when
they told him she was dying. His little
crippled child she had loved and cared
for, and it had died in her arms. "Aye,
and that harm should have come to
her, who was more good and innocent
of wrong than the angels!' muttered
Big John, brokenly, as he went away
softened and sorrowful.
Jere Harman sent me out to tell the
men that he had yielded, and in the
silence of death they went away.
The strike is over.
As sit here in the gray dawn, wait
ing, fearing, dreading the coming of
the morning and the news it may bring,
hear the clatter of horses hoofs 1t
is servant from the Hall riding to the
village on some errand.
"What new,?" / call ont hoarsely,
and learn that the worst is over and
that she will live.
Nellie Harman lowered between life
and death for long weeks, and l
worked as [ had never worked before
Jere Harman left much of the manage
ment of the mill in my hards, and |
put heart and brain in the work or /
should have gone mad i'll those weeks
with the longing to see her face. When
she was well again spent many even
ings at the Hall, talking business with
her father, who came seldom to the
office i'll those days. He had broken in
health with the recent troubles and had
lost energy, but he was gentler and
kinder than of old.
Harry Desmond was always there. l
was but dull guest. l could not en-
dnre his light the triumph
in his eyes, the happiness i'll his laugh
| could not endure that he should call
her by name or smile on her.
| was mad fooll
told Jere Harman that L must go
away that must have rest, change
vacation. Gordon, the young fore
man. could take my place, l urged,
and he consented, though grudgingly.
The last evening | promised him to
spend Mt the Hall and go over the ac-
counts with him.
Never had Nellie been brighter or
gayer l felt vague pang that my
going was So little 10 her.
II was early when Desmond left, and
| Immediately rose To go. Jere Har-
man grasped my hand cordially in
farewell. and Nellie said simply Good.
bye." and went down the path slowly
aud sadly.
Suddenly l heard light, flying step
behind me as | reached the shadow OF
the trees.
Ii was Nellie.
stepped back in the darkness. She
stopped, as if listening, and then came
toward me.
II thought | should overtake you,
she whispered, slipping her arm through
mine. did YOU think | could Leo You
GO away tonight without IA last wordY'
There Was something IN her voice,
tenderness, that explained all She
had come out to meet her lover, Des.
mond. aud mistaken me tor him IN the
darkness hut b. have her 81 near was
very sweet She seemed not Ia care
for speech She sas very still-iust
clasping my arm aud leaning over so
gently against nay shoulder The
temptation was great was going
away just 10 take away with nae the
nemory of a moments heayen
Kissed her.
"Forgiye me, pleaded dosper
ately. "fom Thought me yonr lover,
Deslnoad, and 9as eruei. mad, ~
take that kisa- suliie, forgive me. "
"ilut | kissed yoa, Jack, she
whispered "Ani yov soat 60 ola.
Jack you sont - whsa. ave soa ~.
Iack sponesT, gray hal. "a and forty,
eommoa piaes aai poor she lased
hin
That Il my Romance frank Lsslie Z
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