The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-10
Although he looked at us slyly yet his
manner seemed to reflect
masters cordiality.


masters cordially.
morning, when Harry was seen by the
neighbors driving his fathers light
surrey and the fast grey horses with
Billy Hunter on the back seat) at a
rafting pace down the hill.
They went first to Tommy Fitzmau-
rice's. Tommy Cat the period of which
am writing) was ward politician,
and in spite Of Harry's fiery eloquence
and his own affection for Harry, quite
content with his moral lot. Now, al
though he joined the two at once, he
gave Harry the corner of a wet blan-
ket in his greeting.
'I'll tell you,' said he, with rather
shamefaced expression, Il don't know
which way Mac is going. ! hope he
looks at the strike the way ! do, and
that's the way you do; but I'm under
too big obligations to Mac to fight him
ia this, and risk his job and that's the
truth"
"But have you considered what mis-
chief hopeless strike like this Will
work 2" began Harry, eagerly.
II haven't slept two winks this night,
considering nothing else" growled
Tommy, but amt fixed TO fight Mac
and don't want to either
"And what will Mac do?" said Har-
ry- biting off a useless argument at his
cigar end. biting il hard.
seThat | can't say" Tommy answer
ed, II was there right after the meet
ing last night. He wasn't home.
/ left word that I'd be over this
morning; but when j went over before
breakfast he was gone. Left word he
would see me, this afternoon. / sat
down and wrote him all about the
thing: and told him was on the chase
after him; and If / didn't catch him,
would he come over to pas for talk
/ guess he will: but Wen try running
him down, first. because the committee
NAV do more mischief than even Mac
can undo. If we wait They said he
had gone to Movers. The son was
after him with a story of his mother
being dead" The Meyers were MOI
Movers really, but some unpronounce-
able Russian name Of which the first
two syllables ran into some similitude
70 Meyer, and Meyers they had been
christened by their gentle acquain-
tances. The father was very old and
the family were supported by son
who dealt III junk and rags. They were
not popular in the Eighth Ward, be-
cause they were dirty. IF one consid-
cred. there was no especial reason why
they should be clean; a feeble, old
woman deformed by rheumatism, the
only person TO care for an old man,
and d son who lived by collecting and
sorting rubbish. But no one did con
slider.
"And I guess" said Tommy, medi-
tatigely. that the Alderman is about
the only person in the world who ever
give chem n civil word; and ne does
| it from habit, without knowing"
All this time, Billy was listening
with mind distraught, YEARLY con
ming the ugly possibilities of the future
/ wishing that he had not been so fool
| hasty as to mad Alderman McGinnis"
| and struggling after a way or. Of these
| troubles that should not be through
| fayors asked. II never asked any
body to give me nothing" he thought,
f" 'cept only Mr.. Mathews at the store,
| to wait month for the grocery bill
| when ma was so sick" He looked at
the two young fellows, on the front
seat. well dressed and prosperous.
| "Much they care!" he groaned in his
heart; and for the first time in all his
hard working. self denying life, he was
stung by the grudging envy OF the poor
against the rich, and felt the desolate-
ness Of the humble man. Then he
caught a turn Of Harry LOSING s
stern, young profile, and he remember.
| ed Fitzmaurice's waxeful night, and
his honest conscience smote him. !
guess they amt 50 easy about IT. after
IaH." thought he, II do believe the
strikes beginnin' to make me 70
wrong, already; suspecting every body
even my friends
IT was a relief to be diverted by the
Movers house, the scolding stock o.
the ward, a lean and liyid two-storS
tenement, where, plainly, tenants dc
their own repairs and patched th'
rickety outside staircase and mendet
the crooked windows from the Meyers
Junk heap.
"Hello, Meyers!" hailed Tommy
The father came out, hearing them
followed in q moment, by the son
The old man had q patriarchal, whit
. beard shining, bald head and fore
head scored by innumerable wrinkles
He fastened dim eye on the visitors
the only sign Of life that he gave. III