Evening star., 1897-01-23

eyes were all for her father and she gave
no look to the young man, in whose face
ana attitude were undeniably stamped both
guilt and discontinue. She was the first
to speak.
oh. father. I am so glad you came; we
We're just speaking of you"
Yes, Edna. there are one or two adages
bearing on the subject - complimentary
and the reverse"
Edna laughed brightly
we have been trying to settle the strike,
and Mr. Marsten thought you would be
angry If you knew he had been here
thought you might call it interference /
told him that was all nonsense but 1 could
see he was not convinced; so you come at
finally"
Il see I came just in time am only too
glad to have assistance in unraveling this
perplexing tangle, and l welcome help from
J any quarter
'There!" cried the girl triumphantly,
turning to her lover, who had by this time
partially recovered his composure. Isn't
that just what / said?
MIR. Hope told me an hour ago. Marsten
that you had visited him yesterday. and
had done me the honor to call at Wimble-
don afterWard; SO l came home fearing 1
might miss a second visit Mr.. Hope spoke
very highly of you, and do not wish to be
less cordial than he in expressing my own
opinion of your most disinterested devotion
to the welfare of your fellow-workman"
Marsten moistened his dry lips but made
no attempt at reply. Timorous little Mr.
Hope had not kept faith with him, then
and after counselng him to silence, had
blurted out all the particulars as soon as
he came again under the influence of his
masterful servant, and thus had precipitat-
ed this deplorable encounter Edna looked
from one to the other slight shade of ap-
prehension on her face. The words of her
father were all that she could ask. their
tone was unexceptionable and it-yet-there
was frost in the air. She spoke with less
buoyancy than before. still with confidence
that all was as it should be.
That was one of the very points which
troubled US. Mr.. Hope asked Mr. Marsten
to say nothing about the Surbiton visit,
While felt sure you wouldn't mind"
ou did quite right. Marsten, in saying
rothing about it when Mr.. Hope asked YOU
| not to mention 1t, but Edna is right also in
stating that it would have made no differ
| ehce to me-
| Now" said Edna to the young man.
you see how groundless all your fears
were, and how a few simple words of ex-
planation clear away all difficulties, I hone
you will visit us whenever you want to
talk to my father-you would be pleased to
| have him come wouldn't you, father? Mr..
Marsten has done his best to settle the
strike even though he failed"
Il quite appreciate that. Marsten, and my
| house is always open to you."
Edna glanced with a smile at Marsten
his eyes were fixed intently on Sartwejl
who continued suavely:
| However, it Is only right that 1 should
| let you know there will be no more need to
discuss the strike. I have been played wit h
long enough. 1t is now my turn to strike
! On Monday the works will be going again.
! l nave on file four times many applica-
tlons Tor work as l have vacancies to fill.
| My clerks are at this moment writing ont
some hundreds of kilograms, asking the re-
ce1vers to report for duty on Monday morn
Ing. shall have no more traffic with the
union"
"Oh!' cried the girl in dismay.
Nv ont give M
| the men? asked Marsten, speaking for the
| first time. There were only a few votes
against us at the last meeting''
" ou have from now until Friday n;pbt
! l give you up to the latest moment. and
that is why 1 pay six times as much and
| use the telegraph rather than the post.
| Letters would do quite as well mailed on
| Friday. The works open on Monday. with
| OF without you, SO you see you have little
| time to lose.'
! Il shall at once go to London and call a
! meeting of the men. May see you al your
| office tomorrow
Certainly. My Office is always open; but
remember, 1t is an unconditional surrender
now; IN have no more parleying"
| Iooa-oye, said Marsten briefly, turning
on ms heel and hurrying to the gate, father
| and daughter watching him until he dis
appeared Sartwell sank down in one of
the chairs. murmuring as he did so:
| Thank God.'
why do you say that father"
| Say what? Oh! Because a certain tep.
sion has been relaxed. 1 have seen Hone
and Monkton off together for GERMANY
| this morning, and they will be gone for ~
| least fortnight. This leaves me a clesr
field, and will crush this strike as / wonid
| an egg she'll"
Sartwell nervously clenched his ripb,
mana, as II the egg shell were within it.
I am sorry for the men, father"
| SO am l. my dear If they stand out. bn,
| 1t Will be their own fault. Experience is
| said TO teach specified class of indiyiduais
| and they nreDaripp For
bitter dose Of it."
VIII you not take him back, even !,
they hold out?" -
Him? Whom? Oh! Mars.en II thew ae
| not come back in body, will never ALLOW
another union man to set foot in the works
again. But never mind the men; I want r.
| talk about yourself"
| About meT'
Eyes. About the situation here at home
| 1t is not exactly what wish II to be. anC
! intend to try an experiment"
do you mean what happened yesterday
between mother and me?"
Il mean the whole situation. What han