The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-04-09

mistake, this great stalwart, broad
shouldered miner! He was well past
forty; his hair becoming gray n
sparse on top-quite old to her.
He had been a bachelor all these
years. He might have known 1T was
sheer madness now to lavish all the
wealth of his great manly heart on
pretty, winsOme Jessie. She dld not
want an old fogy like him.
At first she seemed to hear his tale
with gentle tenderness and pity. Bad,
indeed, must be the woman whose
heart remains untouched by the love
of a true and honest man.. Then a
word or two she dropped almost UNI
consciously had revealed the truth.
Of course, Will Benson was h man.
He had been a blind fool not to have
seen it long it long ago. Will was
twenty years younger than himself.
On Sundays Will was quite a masher
(the Americanism had grown into
common use ever here. Will was just
the lad to please the girls fancy.
And so, having settled that matter
in his own mind, Armstrong walked
slowly and sadly away about his bust.
ness.
Il
1t was Saturday night. Bar and par
lor of the Miners Arms We're crowded
with men. Here the ~hard-earned
money few merrily; money which
should have gone to wife and weans
at home-money which might have
been a tower of strength in fighting
the battles that labor and poverty al
ways have to fight.
Will Benson was there in the midst
of a noisy throng, reeking with beer,
spirits and rank tobacco. He had had
a great deal too much to drink al
ready. Suddenly some n laid a hand
upon his arm. He turned tipsily and
encountered the serious, steadfast
gaze of Steven Armstrong, who en-
tered the public house.
Dunno tax ony moor the latter
whispered gently but firmly.
"Wbo told thee to interfere, Master
Preacher
mo one. / ask thee not to for the
sake o the girl who loves thee"
did she tell thee to COON pryin'
after me2"
sTha know betther nor that. l ask
thee for her sake, and fur tina W
good"
bah. I've heerd yond' stuff fro t
blue-ribboned fowlk afore now
"a be none o them. l hold that q
chap as Gamma TAX a glass or two an
stop when he ha' gotten enough is ma
worthy O. bein' called a mon. l be-
lieve in total abstinence ma moo nor
l do in drunkards."
"Then what t. devil be'est jawin' to
me about? the young man said quite
fiercely.
II ask thee not to spend all t meet
here. Think o. her who's to be that
wife. These chaps do thee no good,
They'll max thee spend tina brass,
and when tits all gone they'll only
laugh at thee"
"Shew me t. mon as II Taught at
| me! Ye daren't! It's that thyself as
are doin' it. Come outside, then, and
| We'll see who's t best mont"
Il Wilma fight wi thee-and GER
tainly not now" Armstrong answered
slowly and with dignity: it was not
the %retraction of a coward. His well.
| meant remonstrances had proved
worse than useless; and from that
time those two men felt each other to
be rivals.
Horror and CONSERVATION are spread.
ing far and wide through the grimy
Lancashire town. A terrible explosion
has just been heard. They know only
| too well what that means; and the
poor women. both young and old, are
rushing wild and terror"stricken to
| the pits mouth.
| Down in the workings the excite,
ment is at its height. Men are run
ming to the bottom of the shaft, run
ming for their lives; for the noxioas
after-damp is choking them and they
know only too well that many of them
are destined never to see the light of
day again. The cage is goin up and
| again as quickly as may be, but ii
| will only hold a limited number. They
must patiently wait their turn. and
that turn may meal life or death.
"There be room for one MORE the
miners shout. "Come along, Steve
Armstrong-it be tina turn"
But he does not move. No" he All.
swers; II be old an alone. Here's Il
young fellow as "a got a mither; lei
I'm go instead this time
II was Will Benson who stood by
the side. You, Armstrong, You
max room for me?' he exclaimed.
VI udt uUSt SuppoSc IL u uo' "A ISut
fair-when a want to fight"
You do this for ma sake?"
Not for thine, mon-for hers. Co."
The words We're few. There was no
time for more-but they had a rough,
heroic dignity about them. Benson
, stepped into the cage without another
word; the signal was given, and they
went up toward the light and air
! above.
From those about the pits mouth a
ringing cheer arose n stbe cage
reached the surface. They knew that
so many, at least, of their mates were
safe, and some of the women went
away with hearts full of joy and
thankfulness. The word went round
that Steve Armstrong had sent up
wiz eBnson instead of himself.
Pretty Jessie McDavitt was there.
When she heard the whisper she In
derstood. A woman's instinct is much
the same. after all, whether she be q
princess or only n rough miners lass,