Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-03-30

Hts attitude became still more insOlentlu
aggressive.
gressive. 1t seemed as if he wished his
insulting and offensive air to be marked
by the occupant of the vehicle. If that
was his object, he attained it, for, stand
ing in the front rank of the crowd, the
carriage passed within an arms length
of him, and for an instant the gaze of
the young proprietor rested full upon
him. But it was with a cold impas-
sibility that only added fuel to the an
ger and hatred raging in his breast. It
would have gratified his imperious and
discontinued spirit if the mine owner
had exhibited some sign of shrinking or
annoyance, but the frigid stare which
met his own lowering look abashed him
in spite of himself.
II am less than the dirt under his
horses hoofs," he muttered between
his set teeth as his eyes followed the
sumptuous equipage disappearing in
the distance. but our turn will come
one day, and them He left the re-
mainder of the sentence significantly
unspoken.
He pushed his way roughly through
the crowd and was Joined upon the road
beyond by two or three of his most in
innate associates. He gave no heed to
them, however, but walked modify on,
with his head bent upon his chest and
his eyes cast down. Though a work.
man like themselves, his companions
evidently regarded him with a respect
not altogether unmixed with fear, and
for time they kept step with his long,
impatient stride, without venturing to
interrupt his meditations.
HE seems decent sort of young
fellow, the new proprietor" remarked
one of the number at length.
: He don't favor his father, as I can
see," said another, land that take to
be good sign for us. Old Monckton
was as ugly as a hitching post and
harder than flint, whereas the son is
what you may call handsome and ought
to be liberal and easy according"
THAT'S good logic, John, )" replied
the man who had first spoken. Hand
some is as handsome does, eh, John?"
1--we an idea, mates" put in the
third man. Its this: move we draw
up paper, addressed to the new mas
ter and signed by all hands. Matthew
North. here, could do it up in great
style. He's got education. in a way,
and writes like book print"
"And what is this paper that Mat
thew North is to draw up addressed to
the new master?'" There was a ring
~ coov~, ~, <ha doov, x,o,ca orI tho 1orb
eyes cleaned sternly from under the
frowning brows.
why" was the hesitating reply,
"a sort Of petition like, sa~ing as we,
the hands employed in the Monckton
mines, presents our duty and welcomes
our future boss, with good wishes, ct
cetery. Then you throw in, promiscu-
GUS, as how things has been pretty con-
siderable hard on us for a spell back,
and how we would be grateful for o
raise of prices and wages; likewise, al
30, reduction of hours. All fair and
sauare and respectful, az is proper be-
tween master and men,"
Having concluded this speech with a
flourish, the speaker glanced at his COM
panions as If expecting some sign Of ap-
probation, but the man addressed az
Matthew North broke in with loud,
angry laugh.
Present our duty" he repeated
sneeringly. "Why not humbly petit
tion for the privilege of living at all?
Are we not poor, enslaved and degrad-
ed enough already that you wish to
formally sign away the small fragment
of liberty we have left:"
Now don't lose your temper, Mat
thew" responded the other deprecat-
ingly. ut was just q notion of mine
which spoke out frank and friendly.
IS among old side pardners. But if
sou don't approve, why. there's an end
Of it. We all agree that you have the
longest head among US, Matthew, and
we're bound for to follow your Lead"
You are a pack OF children and
FOOLS" rejoined North harshly. BE
cause this man is young and what you
choose to call handsome you believe he
will be just and generous. Wait and
see! Old Monckton-Miser Monckton
was a coarse, ignorant, grasping
scoundrel, but he was one Of us, for he
handled pick in these very mines in
his youth. This man, his sen, is gen.
tleman!" The hatred and contempt
with which he uttered the last word
cannot be described. "Yes, q gentle
man. He was educated abroad; he
knows nothing of US or our condition
and cares less. To him we are merely
the drudges which lie inherited with
his fathers wealth. We are not men
in his eyes; We are less than his horses
and dogs, and SO long as we consent to
toll, starve and risk our lives to PAM
per his luxury we and our wives and
children may rot in our poverty and
degradation.
North had the true demagogue's pow
err, and his belief in his own words lent
him rude eloquence which was ire
sistible over the class with which he
consorted. The kindling eyes and quick
breathing of the three men he now ad-
dressed testified to the influence he
welded.