The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-19
LURIINE.

manager of tho Judin's Trust Mining COM
pany. Before going to tho mines 1 was
called to San Francisco to confer with the
directorate. l was comparatively young
mt tho timo and inclined to tho pleasures
OF tho world. For the purposes of my mar
rativc think L may say, without being
accused of vanity, that was possessed Of
II rather prcsontable person, and, moreover
of the power of making myself agreeable
Tho result was that ut once became a
prime favorito with my employers, who
showed me many social attentions.
This was particularly the case with the
president of the company, ~ stout, jovial
high living person whose hospitality to mo
extended even beyond his own establish
mcnt-in fact, SO far on ono occasion rs an
invitation to supper party mt the house of
pretty grass widow, whose name was IA
German one, common cnough-so common
indeed that at tho timc it made no imprcs.
sion upon me, and 1 soon quite overlooked
it, rs my genial employers continually adj
dressing her rs Lurlino lod i'll tho freedom
of her bohcmanism, to my also calling
her by that name, with the moro cercmoni-
GUS prefix OF madame" added, however
do not wish to he misconstrucd CON
corning Nine. Lurlinc. Notwithstanding
what have chosen to call her bohemian.
ism, she WAS OIL visiting terms with the
wife and family of tho president, and, so
far as / have ever known, she WAS n wor..
nh of unquestionablc morality. Too much
SO perhaps. She WAS bright and extremely
handsome, and we wcro soon on terms of
friendly intimacy. We sang German songs
together and were even quito sentimental
In very innocent way.
noted from her establishment that she
WAS very we'll to do-thcre was no vulgar
ostcntation, but the horse was elegantly
appointed, there were we'll trained servants
aud tasteful cquipage, to say nothing of
her toilets and jewels Madame seemed tc
enjoy lifo to pcrfection-sO perfectly, in
fact, that she mover by any chance referred
to tho past and of course never dreamed
OF doing so. But, rs pleasure was not my
only pursuit, was obliged, after n fcw
days, to go to other occupations and so
nado my adieus and took my departure
for tho mountains and tho mines.
The sccno of my duties was q disagrcea-
bio ono. 1t was, in fact, about rs abomina-
bio n spot rs could be hit upon-a dis
NAL, uncomfortable camp dependent upon
mo company; hot in summon cold in
winter, without flowers or grass or trees; a
background of rock ribbed mountains
foreground of sandy descrt-tho only beau
ty being in tho wild blaze of colors in the
sunset sky The great bare hills, however,
contained wonderful treasure and large
monthly dividends attcstcd to the prosper
ity of tho place.
1t was in tho old "high pressure" days,
and our salaries were commensurate with
tho profits of the company. We worked
like horses and were paid like princes.
Como easy, go casy'-tho old adago was
here verified. Every ono was lavish. Ev-
crything that money could procure was
thcrc-cverything for the man, but moth
ing for the soul. Wo were all pronigatc in
our spending. All? Well, no. Tho old
assayer Herman Smitt, was the sole cx-
ccption; he was perfect miscr There
was no excuse for tho mcanness of the
man, for he received large salary, even
:or those days--no less than $500 monthly
The only luxury no seemed to permit him
self was tobacco of which no smoked the
cheapest grades in his huge porcelain pipo.
Ills only diversion was music. He had an
old wooden flute, wrapped here and there
with linen thread where il had cracked
through age and hard usage. 1t must be
admitted that hp was II master of this i'll
strumcnt When tho mill was shut down
for repairs he could be heard playing at
night in tho darkness of his ROOM impro-
fising tho most exquisite music. The soft,
clear notes flowing out into silence like tho
'oiocs of angels, enough to quite carry ono
away, and-bah! to think of its being only
sd Smitt, after all
Every pay day a heck for $3.50 was
mado out to tho order of Mrs. Herman
Smitt; the remaining $40 he drow in coin.
| say every pay day"-that is inaccurate.
Sometimes largo checks were drawn in
tho favor OF well known lifo insurance
companies. From this it was evident TINT
he regarded their policies rs u good form
of Investment. l could draw tho mental
picture OF his fat economical old spouse
quietly dcpositing tho ronttnnces In some
solid German savings bank, and eventual
ly of tho twain returning, by some cheap
limo, to their fathcrland, thoro to live In
great comfort upon half tho interest Of
their hoard, TO be courtcd and onvied-
perhaps hntod-by noighborS and relatives.
also wondered if some day some fat head
ed son or nephew would not spend 1t all in
tithc of tho getting upon naxcn hnired
madchons and long ncckcd bottles.
1t was mono of my business, and did
not care, except that know did not re-
gard Smitt ~ y credit to the establishment.
did think of dismissing him, but ho was
so thoroughly competent in his art that it
would have been as irrational as 1t woult
havo been unjust. He worked hard and
well, and, rs | havo said, it was mono of
my business what he did with his earn
ings.
AS timo passed I grew used to him,
even rather partial, for one dry In mo-
mont of weakness sccing that no looked
very tired and worn, l employed boy to
holp him with his work. At first no did
not want him, but when explained that
a