The Penn's Grove record., 1894-07-06

FrsY Sal P my eyesaudth
tS6Apst SsaSA0 columns o
figures IN the dusty ledgers-a youn
face with clear, bright eyes-and l fa.
into a day-dream and forget that 1 al
old and poor and commonplace.
Shcisthe only child of Jere Harmon
the millionaire mill-owner, and as gen
tie and good as she is beautiful.
I lave watched her grow int
womaEhood. 1 have watched her chaI
acter deepening and widening and lie
veIoping toward the ideal OF IN.
dreams.
And all these years Ihave been learn
ing to love her.
Surely love is not wholly waste.
though it is hopeless. I am a bette
man that 1 have loved Nellie Harman
No. l build no air-castles.
am forty and she eighteen.
I am only her fathers bookkeepel
and she is the heiress of millions.
There was a time when little Nellie
Hartman rode on my shoulder, huntet
my pockets for goodies, and escaped
her nurses charge several times n day
to toddle down TO the mill in search OF
Cher Jack Spencer" Later she
brought her school tasks, the incor.
rigihle Latin verbs and the unconquer,
able examples in fractions, to the same
old friend, VINO Was never too busy tO
be bothered By little Nellie Hartman.
She is as unaffected and 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 the Hall, and have
L grown tired of old friends, of her
then I find it hard toanswer lightly, to
smile calmly, and 1 so away with a
heartache.
The girl does not lack for friends.
Grim, stern old Jero Harman's little
bright-faced child, motherless since her
babyhood, long ago found q tender
spot in the hearts Of the village folk.
In the cottages her face is as welcome
as sunshine. The children hang on
her gown, the women sing her praises,
and the toughest mill hand has always
q civil word for her, and q lift of the
cap as she passes.
She has her young friends, too,
among the country gentlefolk. Young
Harry Desmond is often at the Hall.
1t is rumored that lie is the fortunate
sutton of Jere Harman's heiress. He
is a fresh-faced, good-henrted lad.
Love is for youth, and they are young
together.
Gray-hairod Jack Spencer, what
have You to do with cloves young
dream?"
The strikel
The mill is shut down and the
strikers gather in knots along the vii
lage street and discuss the situation.
The cUt-ratas have caused the trouble.
Jere Hartman IS q hard man and a,hard
master. He holds the fate of these
people in his hands. A few cents less
to them, a few dollars more to him.
This seemed to him to settle the
question. The times were dull he
would reduce wages. The Hartman
mill operatives went out in a body.
The first day of tine strike Big John,
the weaver, who headed the strikers,
came oJere Hartman with q delegation
to arbitra!e the matter.
To them Harman said: "Return to
work at my terms or stay out and
starvo. Monday I hire new hands ii
you are not back in your places. As
long as l own this mill 1 shall be mas
ter here"
This IA his final answer, and no
words OF mine, no warnings of the MUIR
murs and threats hat grow and deepen
among the men, will shake his will.
There is talk of firing the mill among
the mad-brained ones, but Big John
shakes his head.
THAT were chopping tho nose of to
spite the face, men. If the mill were
burnt how would that help us to work
md wages? Nay; it must be 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 meant mischief. Ihaye warned
Jere Hartman, but he will not heed.
The strike is over.
The night is ended, and I sit alone
in the Office in the gray dawn, sick and
with the horrors of the nights
experience. 1 shut my eyes and the
picture stands out before mc-the dark
the hall with its lights glowing
out through the windowr, the gay party
of young people in the drawins-room
the CLEAN OF torches outside, the mob
of desperate men, the angry, upturned
There was n tramp OF feet,
hoarse shouts, and a stone crashed
through a window and shattered tho
chandelier.
The music stopped with n discordant
crash. There was instant confusion,
and above it all thoro woIe the hoarse
;ries for Jere Hartman.
/ sprang through the piazza window
faced the mcn. They know Inc
well, and Big John shouted:
"Wo've nauGht asainst you, John
We mean no harm to any,
'ut the master must Lear US. Bring
,ut the master"
'Come like honest inen, in daylight,
md talk it yer calmly" 1 urged; mot
t night, like a mob of rufiiana with
tones for arguments"
Jere Harraa had come out TO them.
They greeted him with an angry shout.
"We rro to be put ca no longer. Is
) rights by fair means or by foul,
ere Harman?"
"Your Tights-" began Jere
Iarman in his harsh, stern voice. I
NV that Nellie Herman had slipped
ut to her fsther'S side and laid her
and plaadingIy on his shoulder. She
ID not fear the angry ner, for will
,cly hot n OF them woald have
armed a hair of her dainty head. 1
,w that she would have plesded with
sr sths= 10 DO Esptlo with them