The Press., 1894-05-03

l
 unmodulated voice, and without the slightest change of expression in his cold, colorless face, he replied: | "I remember you now. You are Imogene Duke.
 'Thank you for the mental effort made in my behalf," she answered mockingly. ''Yes, am Imogene Duke.''
 "You were little girl in short frocks when saw you last," he said, with the same deliberate voice and manner. "You have greatly changed. !" "And you were a boy-a rather un- pleasant boy, thought, ; she retorted, with provoking candor. ''You have not changed much"
 He bowed gravely. And your fa- ther,' he questioned, "is he well?"
 Certainly none the better for any interest you have shown in his vel 1 fare,' she returned sharply. 1T am told you have been back nearly month, yet you have not thought it worth your while to visit your fathers old friends. |"
 Do they affect the usages of civil | ized society in this barbarous region?" he asked with a drawl and slight lifting of his handsome eyebrows.
 II wonder why you have consented to become a dweller in this barbarous region, :" she replied sarcastically.
 Ut was not my own wish, I assure | you," he said composedly. "It was my fathers strict injunction that l should take personal charge of the mines."
 Which you have obeyed by never once going near them and deputing your duty as proprietor to petty ty- rant as ignorant of your interests as he is careless of the needs of your en- ployees.'
 You, at least, appear to be well informed," he responded, with the faintest trace of irony. 1.-The grimy delivers in Monckton pits have reason to be fiattered."
 A touch of color shot into the girls cheek. II know only what is common report, she replied steadily, "that the men in Monckton mines are poorer paid, more harshly driven and more shamefully neglected than the workers in any other mines in the state. And heaven knows the lot of a miner is wretched at Jest. Your mines, Ralph Monckton, are a byword in the whole country
 s'Really?' he asked indifferently. "Then the whole country is indebted to me for bit of gossip and scandal. l feel quite the public benefactor. But I am amply rewarded by this charming conversation with my fair neighbor.
 ''As rode past your gate justnow, ' she pursued, biting her lip to keepdown her vexation, 1T heard deputation from the miners complaining that a portion of one of the galleries called Ten Foot Drive is in dangerous con- dition, liable at any moment to imperil the lives of those working there. I also heard your overseer, Joyce, rough ly refuse the protection required.
 "Yes,' he said languidly, Joyce understands those people. I have great confidence in Joyce"
 1T heard them also ask the privilege of laying their case before you, she continued, with fash of anger in her clear eyes. It was denied.
 Excellent Joyce" said Monckton carelessly. "He knows how such tri- l fies bore me.
 "Bore you! Trifies!" cried the girl in dignantly. Surely you are not ill earnest ;
 My dear young lady, he said, lift ing his white, shapely hand ill protest, ''why excite yourself over the yagaries of those i'll conditioned vagabonds? Joyce is paid to look after them. Let us leave them to Joyce and speak of more important things ourselves, for example.
 "You have been warned" she retort-