Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-02-22
CHAPTER vi
TON AND SAVANNAH

friends; but after few days he
scarcely ever spoke to Mary about
Savannah. Mary knew, however, that
they we're together.
Savannah made no attempt to look
for other lodgings, remaining with
Mary, much TO the lattcr's secret
annoyance. It was difficult, however,
TO tell her TO 90 away; because none OF
the women whose husbands were out
on strike would have her for a lodger.
whilst among those with whom she
worked Savannah was unpopular.
Bat in the little circle she was all
kindness and gentleness, and especially
was she attentive to Toms father. She
would sit with the old man by the
hour together, reading TO him or talk
ing TO him about his favorite subject,
his son. and doing all in her power to
win the old mans Election.
Tom himself, too grew into a habit
of coming into the room where the
two were. and staying there until Sa-
vannah left, when he declared that he
had better walk back with her. for
fear OF her being molested by the
strikers
When they w,.a alone they rarely
spoke, and Tom tried TO persuade him
self that he was doing as he did from
sense of nothing but duty. When
the mill closed he would go-as usual 10
Mary, either to her cottage or for a
walk with her, and showed more af-
lection towards her than before Sa-
vannah had come to WallSden Bridge
| lie told himself n hundred times a day
how good u girl she was; and how much
| she cared for him and he for hcr and
how happy they would be together, and
| how entirely she trusted him, and
| what IA brute lie would be II he be
traycd her in anything. And more
| shan once he determined that he would
| lsl, her to hurry on their marriage.
lie thought that IL once everything
were settled, andno turning back were
| possible, IL would be all as II had been
before. lie would not indeed admit
| Chat anything was changed; but,
buried right ut the bottom OF his
thoughts, he knew there was a feeling
II which he was ashamed and afraid;
and it was that which led him to 10
on repeating to himself the assurances
about his fidelity and love for Mary.
lie was lighting hard battle, and the
| odds against him were many
Mary OWNED only very little of
the struggle that was going on, but it
| was enough TO make her miserable.
| Apart from the fear that Toms love
| was slipping away-a fear that was in
finite pain to hcr-she had the flrmcst
| CONVICTION that her instructive dis
trust OF Savannah Morbyn was well
| founded, but she could not breathe n
| wo'd of this To her lover; neither
could she find any means of ascertain
Ing the truth.
Another source of great anxiety TO
Mary was the growing animosity
shown toward Tom by several of the
men who were out on strike.
rs there anything fresh about the
| strike, TomP' she asked him one
| evening, when the hands had been out
about three weeks
"No. The men IRE FOOLS" exclaimed
Tom, somewhat pct ,lantly. II can't
| think how they can be such idiots to
| make SO much of such a fellow as
| Gideon"
mo chance of settlement, | fear,
Is thcrc?'
Not the least. The whole business
seems to have fitted into Gorringe's
hands as II he had planned It. Thinys
have been bit slack, and II he'd kept
tho concern going full work he might
have had the STUFF on his hands. But
now the slackncss just fits him. lie
| told me to-day he had enough applicu-
tions on hand from really good work.
crs TO I'll up the vacancies twice or
three times over. And he'll do II II he
has TO turn ont more work, aud then
these fools who have been dupcd by
Gideon will see what they've lost"
"Therod be trouble II he were TO do
that" said Mary. I'VE don't want TO
sec all new faces turning out the old
ones in the village" She was think
Ing of savannah,
Hell do-it rather than be beaten,
answered Tom. "Iiesidcs, now the men
who are out demand that anyone who
has been taken on shall be sent away,
even II they do give in about Gibeonr'
~ wish they were, for there's been
little but trouble since they came,
said Mary speaking OUT of the fullncss
OF her thoughts,
at would be Il downright mcanncss
TO cast, them ndrift In such way"
answer Tom, warmly, also thinking Of
Savannah. Then, remembering that
perhaps Mary might see this, he flushed
slightly and snid well, in one way
you're right, wish tho trouble was
over, Mary; we two should be more
settled, shouldn't we?"