The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-06-05

! sent the men an ultlmatum-to smut uI
or stop work. I will not be dictated tc
by any third party; it's an outrage thai
that mill-owners stand it."
"But have the men no rightsa" ques.
toned Wakeman, who was notoriously
weak in his management.
81 do not discuss their rights" re-
joined Parsons. "The question is simply
this, will they work as wish, or will
they nots They get their money regular
ly; they are paid for the time they work
if they are dissatisfied, let them get ou:,
and'give..others chance to ill their places.
I know you Will laugh at me, but tell
you that when the land was owned by
the aristocracy and ruled by them, when
class distinctions existed, man was nap
pier than he is to-day. It is very beauti-
full in theory, but independence is poor
practice for everybody"
"Ouite Sermon" muttered Foster,
lighting cigar.
Parsons laughed. 81 do not mean to
preach, but once started, I am carried
away with the subject. I have often
wondered where my ideas came from,
for my father was democrat in the pure
use of the word. I think that the spirit
of some old feudal ancestor is reincar-
nate il me, for have certain sense OF
superiority that ] have no right to by my
own merits. I don't mean the reincar-
nation of tho Buddhists-I wouldn't re-
frain from kicking a miserable yellow
dog because it might contain the soul
of my mild old nurse, I'd refrain simply
out of consideration for the dog-but
what ! do mean is the reincarnation OF
ancestral spirit which may have been
latent for generations; hereditary, in
other words. Let me illustrate by a
story. Last year while in England 1
looked up the branch of our house
which remained there while an ancestor
of mine emigrated about 170O. l did
not make myself known. The family
name is the same, but the English
branch holds title, and everybody does
not know what the family name is. The
immediate family was in London, and L
was shown through by an old house
keeper. My pulses thrilled as l trod the
old ancestral balls, and almost bewailed
nv fate at having q younger brother for
an ancestor. 1 tapped the armor with
sense of pride, and listened to the old
woman's stories with q feeling OF per-
sonal admiration, for the men she spoke
of we're as much mine as the noble
lord who fingered in Mayfair.
When we reached the portrait gal
lery, I fingered before each face with
strange sensations, but there was one
picture that suddenly attracted me, and
as soon as I saw it seemed to remember
tho original. The picture was that OF a
beautiful girl of about eighteen years OF
age, and she seemed queen by the very
pose of her head. I was so entranced
that my guide noticed it, and began this
story-I give it in her own words: She
was the daughter of old Sir Francis, who
died about 1740. He was fierce, head
strong man, holding his people in sub
lection, and feared by all. His only
daughter inherited some Of the old mans
strength, but she was kind as she was
beautiful, and an angel of goodness to
all her interiors and greatly loved. One
evening in summer, however, while
walking unattended through the park,
rough soldier addressed her. She turned
away, but the man caught her, in his
arms and tried to kiss her. At this
point interrupted the narrator, and said
that knew the story. looked at the
face again and knew the rest. Her
cousin, who was passing, heard the
screams and fastened to her defence,
stabbed the man and left him lying dead.
LA, sir said the. housekeeper, as II
finished, that's right; ye must have
heard the tale"
"Had youl" inquired Foster, in
terestedly.
"No," replied Parsons, slowly; 81 had
never heard the circumstances narrated
before, but the first words of the house.
keeper called up the scene as IN q
picture. 1t seemed as though / had heard
the scream, and bursting through the
bushes had seen the girl struggling in
the mans grasp. 1t was like q memory
of long-ago happening in which was
an actor. Then I saw the girl turn to
her rescuer with smile; the man before
her inspired her with no sense of pity,
for he had attempted to be her equal"
"AhI I see," laughed Wakeman;
"and you feel as she did; you are prob
ably the reincarnation OF the cousin. Did
you marry herr"
For moment the young mans eyes
grew angry, and then he answered,
quietly enough: 81 asked the house
keeper, and she said that he did. The
girl was the old mans only daughter,
and the young man was his heir, so they
were both ancestors of mine. I attempt
no explanations of my part of it, but tell
you the story as it happened. I do, how
ever, know how the girl felt, and to-day
I hold myself as far above the lower
classes as did the old knight in his own
time. Have not right9 Perhaps not
in these later days, but cannot destroy
the feeling"
A servant entered at that moment. eff
you please, sir, Mr.. Peters would like to
see you."
"Tell Peters to come in. My foreman
at the MILL" he exclaimed to his friends.
The man walked sheepishly into the
richly furnished room.
"Well9" queried Parsons.
"The man are gong to strike at noon
Tomorrow. sir, unless these conditions