Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-29

learned in Paris,
Wont you, come in? l am sorry my
husband is not st home. Is 1t on account
OF the strike you come? | feel very anxious.
Your mother CALLED yesterday, and we had
long conversation about It,"
Yes, the mater takes a great interest In
the workingman. although l can't say do
| myself | merely wished to have an in
formal chat with MIR. Sartwell on the stua-
tion, and that is why | called at the house
rather than the office"
Barney stepped into the hall and kept his
hat in his hand to show he had hanson
! waiting. He had no intention OF staying
| more than a moment or two lie had
thought 1t best to have something to tell
his mother about his visit to wimbledon, for
she was a relentless cross -quostioner, and
| If he could have a conversation to report
| she might take the will for the deed and
give him the check.
The door of the drawing room was thrown
| open and when the two entered they found
Edna Sartwell sitting there in deep chair
! reading a book with such interest that she
| evidently had not heard word of the coll
| loQuy at the door. She rose in some con-
fusion colorng deeply as she saw stranger
come in with her stepmother, The latter
said nothing. but directed a glance at her
| thct, speaking as plainly as words told her
to leave the room.
Barney's first thought on seeing Edna was
| that she was about to escape from the room,
and that this deserton must be diplomati-
cally prevented. Barneys great burden in
| life, so he often told his friends, was that
the young ladies Of England were in the
| habit of throwing themselves at his mead,
| which remark caused Haldiman once to say
| that they had a quick eye for his weakest
point of defense Now here was a Stun
| ming girl, to use Barneys own phrase
about her, who was actually about to walk
| out Of the room without casting second
glance at him. A young man always likes
the unusual
Not your daughter, Mrs. sartwell?" said
Barney, in his mcst winning manner.
My stepdaughter," answered the lady,
coldly.
"Ah, thought you could not have
grownup daughter" murmured Barney,
delioately. He always found this particular
kind Of compliment very successtul with
'adies well past middle age and in this
case his confidence was not misplaced.
DO not let me drive you away, Miss
Sartwell," he continued l am Barney
Hope" he added. seeing that Mrs. Sartwel
did not introduce him, and called TO see
your father and talk with him regarding the
strike SO, you know, 1t is matter that
interests us all. and beg of you to join in
the conference"
The moment ne mentioned her father and
the strike he saw he held the attention
Of the girl who paused and locked at her
stopmother. That perplexcd lady was in a
quandary. She did not wish to offend Mr..
Hopes son, and she did not want her step
daughter to remain in the room. She hest
tatCd, and was lost.
pray let me offer you chair in your
own drawlngraOm," said Barney. with that
gallantry which he always found irresistible,
"and you, Mrs. Sartwel. Now we will have
comfortable informal chat, which | know
will be of immense assistance in my talk
with Mr. SartweH for | confess l am a lit
tie afraid OF him"
Edna opened her eyes at this; she had
several times heard people say they stood in
awe Of her father and she never could
understand wh7.
Mrs. Sartwell sat bolt upright and folded
her hands iniher lap, frOwning at her step
daughter when she got the chance unseen
by Barney. she gid not at all like the turn
events had taken but saw no way OF in
terferng without seeming rude to her
guest
you see," chirruped Barney, "the mater
takes a great interest in the workingman;
so do l." He thought this noble sentiment
would appeal to Edna Sartwell. II think we
alive alias It were-should feel a GER
tain responsibility, don't you know You see
what l mean, Mrs. Sartwell?"
Certainly 1t does you great credit, Mr..
Hope" replied the lady appealed to- al
though she uttered the phrase with some
severity, as II it were an aspersion.
,"Oh, not at all. | suppose II was born
in me. | think 1t natural for all rightly
brought up persons to take a deep interest
in their fellow creatures. Don't you think
so. Miss Sartwell?"
Yes" said Edna family, without looking
up.
For workmen are all our fellow creatures.
you know" cried Barney, with all the en-
thusiasm OF a startling discovery.
Am | my brothers keeper?" said Mrs |
Sartwell, in gloomy tones.
quite So quite So" assented Barney. who |
took the remark as original. 81 couldn't |
have stated the case better if had thought |
all day about it, Now, the mater imagined !
that perhaps Mr. Sartwell would consent |
to meet the men and talk II over, making, |
perhaps, some trining concessions, and then |
everything would be lovely. You see what |
| mean?"
1T seems a most reasonable proposal" |
said Mrs. Sartwoll with a sigh, but my |
opinion is of no value, especially in my own |
house"
"oh, don't say that. Mrs. Sartwell. I am
sure every one must value your opinion most |
highly-every one who has the privilege OF
hearing 1t. l assure you, l do. Now, what
do you think Miss Sartwell?"
The young man beamed on the girl in his |
most fascinating manner, but his charming
facial expression was in a measure lost
for Edna was looking on the carpet, ap,
parently perpleXed.
Il think" she said at last, that father.
who spends nearly all his time dealing with
the men, must understand the situation bet
ter than we do. He has had a great deal
of experience with them, and as | know
has given much thought to the difficulty, so
real value to him"
Barney could hardly repress a long
whistle. So this was how the land Law |
This demure miss actually had an opinion
of her own, and was plainly going to stand
with her father against the field. Here
tofore everybody had agreed with Barney.
excepting, of course. those rascally students
who We're no rospecters OF persons, and more
had all women agreed with
him, therefore, this little bit of opposition
so decorouSly expressed, had new and re-
freshing flavor. The wind had shifted; he
must trim his sails to suit the breeze.
There, Miss Sartwell, you have touched
the weak spot in our case Just what said
to the mater. Mr.. Sartwells on the spot
said |, and he ought TO know Almost
your very words, Miss Sartwell."
An ominous cloud rested on Mrs. Sart-
Wells brow, .r.r
Surely" she said severely, the owner
OF business should have something to say
about the way 1t is to be conducted"
THE tendency OF modern times" cried
Barney airily,, waving his hand appears
to be entirely in the opposite direction. my
dear madame It is getting to be that who
over has a aYuin business. the owners
shall have the least And am not sure but
this Is, to a eertaln extent, logical | have
often heard my father say that Mr.. Sartwell
was the realnaker of the business Why,
thcn, should be be interfered with?"