The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-05-20
BRIER HALL.
A Serial Story in Eight Chapters
Written by Members Of Mrs. VIM,
Pepnock's Sunday School Class,
Marlboro, Ohio.
CHAPTER vi.

mhriDOrO, Ouio'
CHAPTER vi.
The way events had shaped them
selves after the party at Briar Hall, added
to the suffering from her lame ankle,
made Pearl Leland q poor, dis2irted
girl She sent telegram to her mother
in California, telling her Of the accident
and that she felt homesick and lonesome.
Ned h I'd not called, but merely sent an
inquiry after her health; and she saw
him pass by, once or twice, with Anna,
radiant and smilingly happy. She knew
that Ned could not expect TO share her
life aud fortune, but yet she liked his
society and it was hard for the spoiled
girl to be discarded.
The dispatch was sent on Monday
morning and an answer was quickly
returned that her mother would be
with her in few days. and before the
end of the week she was fCl6el 20 her
heart. Mrs. Leland soon discovered
that there was other trouble beside the
spraiued ankle and Pearl begged to be
taken home. So her mother began at
once to make preparations for the jour
ney. Pearl could not even put herIfoot to
the floor, and it seemed like great un-
dertaking to start on go long q journey
without some ono to assist in caring for
the baggage and to assist In moving
Pearl, although they were going to take
a sleeper. They we're much surprised to
receive ncte from Tom Martin offer
ing his services for the trip His father
lived in Arizona, and he said that he
had decided t, leave college, as his at
tainments were sufficient for the station
he expected to occupy In life. He had
taken special course in civil engineering,
mining, and metallurgy, and as the bump
of ecquisitiveness was pretty largely de-
veloped, he was anxious to find position
in which his training might be brought
to yield reward. AS Pearl vouched
for Toms good character and gentle,
manly ways, Mrs. Leland accepted bis
kind offer AS soon as they could COM
plets their arrangements, they bade adieu
to the college and students who were
sorry to see two Of their loved compsn'
ions turn away to the setting sun, with
out hope of ever meeting them again,
and a mum Der accompanied them as far
as the city to see them Off on their long
Journey. Here were two of their mum ber
who had drank with them from learn.
ing's fount, the stream divine" volun.
tarily turning away before they had fin
ished the college course. Miss LELAND
longed to shine in society Ito be cilled
the Belle of the Pacific Slope" and
her grace, besauty and wealth seemed
to affori good reason that her desire
might be gratitied. Tom proved himself
a most faithful attendant, always seemed
to be present at the right time, but wai
not intrusive. He occupied blrsh ad.
joining the apartment Of tine ladies.
In due time the party arrived at San
Francisco and Pearl expressed great sat
isfaotion at being at homs again; tba,
her school days we're over and she could
apply herself to other things. She had
a great veneration for her father and en-.
joyed the distinction which his public
office conferred upon her; and to be
noticed az Judge Leland's daul ht .. was
the crowning joy of her life. Tom left az
soon as tina ladies were safely beneath the
home roof, and retraoed his steps TO bis
fathers house. There he spent q few
weeks In visiting and becoming aq uainted
with the various lines of employment
of, red to the ambitious young man; re-
fore chosiog the special path for him.
He finally took q contract as mine super
visor IN large sDd opulent company
He entered upon his duties with earnest
ness and ZEAL and soon found that great
waste and dishonesty had been praoticed
upon the company. He WAS shocked at
the miserable code of morals praoticed by
the mir They swore and stole, drank
and gam bled as II life would be one long
riot; and when trifng chance offered,
did not hesitate to take the life of their
fellow men, If he could have shut his
eyes to thess grave offeDsos he would have
been a model overseer; but 1t was too
bideous; so lately had be been one of
the respected students In community
of some hundreds where every one seemed
to think the best was expected of him I;
and now to he one of this bowling mob
The longer he staid the greater became
bis aversion ana the miners became more
and more inGens,d at him. They nick +
nsmed him and taunted him in every
possible manner, in the hope he would
resign, and some even limited at speedy
taking off that might happen any day
His life was anything bnt pleasant
One morning hs and one Of the owners
Of the mine started to walk across the
country, along road that led through
forest Tom was going TO inspeos some
work that was being done on sluice
that came down from distant noun
tsin and the othsr man was going to
little town not far of. They separated
soon after leaving camp and Tom walked
on In ignorance Of anything unusual
He fpished his work aud returned, com-