Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-04-06

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$50 you haze returned, Ralph Monckt0n,"
she said cdrelessly.
unmodulated voice, and without the
slightest change of expression in his
cold, colorless face. he replied:
II remember you now. You are
Imogene Duke"
"Thank you for the mental effort
made in my BEHALF" she answered
mockingly. "Yes. l am Imogene
Duke"
You We're 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 boy-a rather I'M
pleasant boy. l thought, she retorted.
with provoking candor. "You have
not changed much"
He bowed gravely. And your ia
ther." he questioned, "is he well?"
Certainly none the better for any
interest you have shown in his well
fare, she returned sharply. II am told
you have been back nearly month,
yet you have not thought it worth your
while to visit your father old friends. 81
do they affect the usages Of civil
lied society in this barbarous region?''
he asked, with a drawl and slight
lifting of his handsome eyebrows.
Il wonder why you have consented
to become dweller in this barbarous
region, she replied sarcastically.
1T was not my own wish, assure
you," he said composedly. ut was
my fathers strict injunction that !
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 grilny
delivers in Monckton pits have reason
to be flattered."
A touch of color shot into the girls
cheek. Il 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 il
wretched at best. Your mines, Ralph
Monckton, are byword in the whole
country"
Really" he asked indifferently.
"Then the whole country is indebted tt
me for bit of gossip and scandal.
feel quite the public benefactor. But
am amply rewarded by this charming
conversation with my fair neighbor."
las l rode past your gate just now, .
she pursued. biting her lip to keep dowr
her vexation, II heard deputatior
from the miners complaining that 9
portion of one Of the galleries called
Ten Foot Drive is in dangerous con
dition. liable at any moment to imperi
the lives of those working there.
also heard your overseer, Joyce, rough
ly refuse the protection required"
YES" he said languidly, "Joyc'
understands those people. have grea
confidence in Joyce"
II heard them also ask the privilege
Of laying their case before you," sh'
continued. with flash of anger in he
clear eyes. ut was denied"
Excellent Joyce" said Moncktol
carelessly. He knows how such tri
6es bore me-"
Bore you! Triflesi" cried the girl in
dignantly. "Surely you are not il
earnest"
MY dear young lady," he said, lift
ing his white, shapely hand in protest
why excite yourself over the vagarie
of those i'll conditioned vagabonds
Joyce is paid to look after them. LIE
us leave them to Joyce and speak o
more important things-ourselves, TO
example,"
"You have been warned" she retort
ed coldly, gathering up the reins as sh
spoke. 1.-The lives of those poor me,
are in your hands, and if they come t
harm through your neglect you viii
be responsible. That is what had t
say, and have said it. Good day."
"A remarkable young person." com
mented Monckton as her horse bound
ed forward under cut Of the whip
carrying his young mistress out Of sigh
In a moment. But she amuses me
and she is certainly very beautiful"
II can't make him out" was tn
girls reflection as she rode homeward
with perplexed and irritated frowl
wrinkling her pretty forehead. us b
utterly weak and selfish, as he seems
or is it affectation? I don't like him
but he is very handsome"