The herald., 1893-06-08
THE fEIRESS.

OotWcSH lly SJCs anu IhC Coiuiiiis Va rs
ures ia the dusty ledgers-a young face
with clear, bright eyes-and fall in5o .
day dream and forget that l am old and
poor and commonplace.
She is tho only child Of Jere Harman
the millionaire mill owner, and as gentle
and good as she is beautiful.
have watched her grow into woman
hood. have watched her character
deepening and widening and developing
toward the ideal Of my dreams.
And all these years have been learn
ing to love her.
Surely loYe is not wholly wasted,
though it is hopeless. am better man
that l have loved Nellie Harman.
No. | build no air castles.
am 20 and she 10.
lam only her fathers boolrleeper, and
she is tho heiress Of millions.
Harman rode on my shoulder, hunted
my pockets for goodies and escaped her
nurses charge several times n day TO
toddle down TO tho mill in search of cher
Jack Spencer" Later sho brought her
school tasks, tho incorrigible Latin verbs
and the unconquerable examplesin frac-
tions, to the same old friend who was
never too busy to be bothered by little
Nellie Harman
She is as unaffected apd cordial in her
friendliness as ever, and sometimes when
she lays her hand ON my arm and looks
up into my face and asks why come SO
seldom to tho hall, and have | grown
tired Of old frienda, Of her--then | find
it hard TO answer lightly. to smile calm
ly, and go away with o heartache.
The girl docs not lack for friends.
Grim, stern old Jere Harnans little
bright faced child, motherless since her
babyhood. long ago found tender SPOT
in the hearts Of the village folk. In 6he
cottages her face is as welcome as SIM
shine. Tho children hang ON her gown,
tho women sing her praises, and tho
toughest millhand has always n civil
word for her and lift of the cap as she
passes,
She has her young friends, too, among
tho country gentlefolk. Young Harry
Desmond is often at the hall. It is ru-
AlQICNl Ollttb llt iS lub IOIlulHtC SulLOi vi
Jere Harmans heiress Ho is a fresh
faced, good hearted lad. Love i, for
youth, and they arc young together.
Gray haired Jack Spencer, what have
you to do with cloves young drcamF'
~ - v "
Tho strike!
Tho mill is shut down, and the strikers
gather in knots along the village street
and discuss tho situation. The cut rates
have caused the trouble. Jero Hal1nan
Is o hard man and hard master. He
holds the fate Of theso people in his
hands. A few cents less to them, few
dollars more to him. This seemed to him
to settle the question. The tilnes werc
dull--he would reduce wages. The Har-
man mill operatives went ont in body
The first day Of tho strike Big John,
the weaver who headed the strikers,
came to Jcro Hartman with delegation
to arbitrate tho matter.
To them Harman said: "Return to
work at my terms OF stay out and starve.
Monday hire new hands if you are not
back in your places, As long as own
this mill l shall be mpster here"
This was his final answer, and no words
of mine, no warnings Of the murmurs
and threats that grow and deepen among
the mon, will shake his will
There is talk of firing the mill among
the mad brained ones, and Big John
shakes his head
"That were chopping the nose Off to
spite the face, men. If the mill were
burned, how would that help us to work
and wages? Nay. 1t must DO other
means"
"Aye, we must live, but if we do not
get our rights by fair means we will
have them by foul. cried another.
They mean mischief. have warned
Jere Hartman, bit he will not heed.
The strike is ever.
The night is ended, and | sit alone in
the Office in tho gray dawn, sick and
dizzy with the horrors Of the nights cx-
perience. l shut my eyes, and the pic
ture stands out before me-the de-,
night, the hall with its lights glowius
out through the windows, the gay palty
of young people in tho drawing ro
the gleam Of torches outside, the mo
desperate men, the apgry, uptur
faces. There was tramp of feet, ho.,
shouts, and stone crashed through a
window and shattered the chandelier.
The music stopped with a discordant
crash There was instant confusion, and
above it all there were the hoarse cries
of Jere Harman.
l sprang through the piazza window
and faced the men. They knew me we'll,
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
masterw
"Come like honest men in daylight
and talk it over calmly" l urged; mot
at night like mob of rufdans with
stones for arguments"
Jere Harman had come ont to them.
They greeted him with an angry shout.
"We are to be put off no longer. Is
1t our rights by fair means or by foul,
Jere Harman?'
"Your rights began Jore Hartman
in his harsh, stern voice. | saw the
Nellie Harman had slipped out to
fathers side aud iaio ner nand pie
ngly on his shoulder. She did not
the angry men, for willingly not one
Them would have harmed hair of h
dainty head. saw that she would have
pleaded with her fsther to be gentle with