Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-11-14
The Story Of a Strike.

Dear Captain Legendre-Win YOU
come and stay with us for the 18th OF
August? | need not tell you that we
have very little nducement to offer
In the way of shooting; but May Fos-
ter and Violet Pomeroy are to be OF
the party, and the presence Of two
lively young ladies may perhaps atone
for somewhat Indifferent sport. A
hearty welcome awaits you. Believe
me, your affectionate friend, Mary
Seabrisht."
Gerald Legendre smiled ais he read
the above letter By the same post
he had received an invitation to a
we'll known shooting lodge in the north
of Scotland. 1t offered many attrac-
lions to an ardent sportsman But
Mrs. Seabright's invitation was also
tempting, though not precisely in the
same way. During the season Cap
tain Legendre had made many pill
grimages from WOolWich in order to
sit under the lime trees of ROtton
Row with pretty Violet Pomeroy Her
limpid blue eyes and masses Of white
gold hair, combined with the choicest
and most fashionable millinery, had
made a sensible impression upon him.
For time he sat and pOndered. Then
he rose from the comfortable arm
chair in which he was seated and eX-
claimed: "Deuce take it all. L be
lieve I'm in love, else why the dickens
should | have a laundering to go to
the Wilds of Wales, when I might get
a thousand times better sport if I ac-
cepted old JOhns0n's invitation? Upon
my soul that little mink must have
possessed me-"
He referred to Miss Pomeroy, for
although he had constantly met May
Foster in society, she had not been
blessed by Providence with any par
ticular good looks. She was simply
an ordinary, pleasant, neat-lOOking
girl; and as such he had not felt an
inclination to pay her devoted atten-
ton. If May had been the only at
traction the proba bilities are he would
have refused Mrs. Seabright's invita-
ton without hesitation. AS it was, he
sat down and accepted it, saying that
he would be delighted to appear at
GWynhynlleth on the 18th of August.
He met Miss POmeroy in the park
that afternoon, and when he told her
what he had done he was rewarded
by beaming smile. He thought her
prettier than ever, and looked forward
with thrill Of pleasure to being under
the same roof with her On the APP
pointed day he arrived at GwynhynII-
eth House and was met Il the station
by Mrs. Selbright
'Such IN SfOrtune"' she exclaimed.
after the fnSt civilitieS had been eX-
changed between them. "ThOSe tire
some miners Of ours are ont on strike
They refused to return ~ work this
morning Tom lis in Despair, and says
nothing else is wanting to complete
our ruin" SO saying she drew aside
her dainty muslin rObe-a confection
straight from Paris-in order to make
room for the young man by her side
n the victoria.
AS they drove through the main
street of the little mining town they
We're stopped by Il huge and uproar-
iouS procession. composed of men,
women and children. Bright hued
banners fiared aloft, bearing such in
scriptionS as Down with the tylant"
1.-The rich mans day is over" Labor
versus capital etc A band of
ragged musicians played disc0rdant
music on Shrill wind Instruments
Children cried, women chattered in
high staccatO tones; and as the ele-
gantly appointed carriage came TO
lalt an angry murmur rose from the
male portion of the popuiace. Stand
ing by the roadside was an empty
barrel. Suddenly Il wild looking, red
headed man mounted upon it, and
pointed toward Mrs Seabright
There's a sight for you. he cried
with whitening sarcasm. "Carriages.
horses and fal-lals for their wives
Aha! the gentry want for nothing:
whereas we poor devils hardly know
how to keep body and soul together.
Why should they have everything,
whilst we have nothing? Look there,
mates; that's my wife, yonder." point
ing to an untidy, haggard woman,
sucking an infant at her breast; "she
don't make much of a show alongside
Of the fine lady seated in the carriage
there, do she7" and he laughed a laugh
chat was i'll to hear.
Mrs. Seabright shuddered and drew
nearer to her visitor.
This is very dreadful" she said Il
feel SO terribly afraid" turning pale
as she spoke.
Her companion tried to reasSule her.
expressing an opinion that there was
nothing to fear.
L am not so sure of that" she re
piled That man ON the beer barrel
is one Of the most desperate charac-
tiers in the place. and whenever the
men have anything to ask he tries to
turn their demands into mischief He
likes to fight"
owen Davies rude oratory seemed
% appeal to his hearers, VINO adj
vanced towards the carriage with
threatening attitude. What might
have happened it is difficult to pre-
diet had not the spirited horses in
the victoria taken fright and bolted in
the direction Of the crowd. Thus I'M
eXpectedly charged the rabble wavered
and then divided, leaving a passage
down the center of the road. Before
tho cOa.hman cOu11 1.aStra i'm tho terri