Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-01-30
Billy Hunter came back from tn.

Billy Hunter came back from the
meeting at almost 12 O'Clock dead tired
His wife had the coffee hot for him and
brought him in steaming cup without
asking a question. Judith Hunter had
been out at service before she married
Billy. and che had learned a good many
things besides cooking beef 10 turn.
Billy sat with his legs out and his
head sagging on his breast. II was .
spring day, but Iowa springs have chilly
nights following sunny days, and the
warmth Of the fire in the alright stove
was grateful to him. To another OBJ
server it might seem 4 plain, little par
lor. and he might smile over the min
Cling Of the gorgeous chromos that
came with their garden seeds NEATLY
framed in brown paper) and two or
three photographs Of famous pictures,
but to Billy the fresh paint and bright
paper. the ribbon and lace tides. the
one plush easy chair and the glistening
cabinet organ made II dream OF lux
ury. They had eight rooms in the house.
II you include the lean TO. which
was such a comfortable laundry and
summer kitchen for Judith. 1t was
very good house indeed, and the garden
was 80 large that Judith kept tiny
poultry yard In the summer 1t was
beautiful to sit on their own piazza and
be shaded by their tree, really a tree
large enough to shade. and TO look at
the honeysuckle and geraniums and the
green rows of onions and parsley.
No landowner in town could be
pruuder yesterday than Billy had been
of his little domain. Now his handsome
brow wrinkled sullenly above his black
eyes. and he gazed about him in
dreary stare. seeing and not seeing, like
a man taking farewell. He sighed be-
fore he drank the coffee His wife, still
saying no word. smoothed the short
curls which his hat had matted on his
forehead. He patted her hand. She was
a tall woman. as tall as he. and OF u
fine supple figure. Her eyes were very
bright and her skin very clear. and she
had delicate. irregular features. which
changed 30 prettily when she talked
that no one ever found fault with their
irregularity.
Its you that I'm thinking about
Judith, you and the kid. said Hunter.
He nodded his head toward the open
door. through which one could see
cradle rocker.
Wen do. Billy" said Judith.
Come. now. You eat piece OF pie
it'l do you more good now than for
breakfast-and I'll get your pipe. Are
they going to strike. then,"
''well. as bad. They voted TO send a
committee to Hollister and ask him to
submit their differences to an arbitra-
ton committee or they'll strike Mon
day. Hollister won't listen TO them.
not to anybody. guess, and not to
Robb and Luke Wigger anyhow. He
sent Luke of week ago, and the other
man is Johnny Mellin. who's mild as
skimmilk and was put on to represent
us He'll set there and get red in the
face and say That's right to whoever
| speaks last. "
"But did you speak to them. Billyf
Did you say the things you were going
tor
Billy's face grew red "Yes. I did.
| and wish hadn't. never made
speech before. but felt 80 worked mp
about this thought could talk to the
boys jest give EN- plain sense-how
| this here strike amt got show on
Gods earth Of succeeding-but you II
say You got a fool for husband. Judy.
got up on my legs. and l got scared.
was Jest as scared as ! used to be
when I'd play hockey when / was kid
and met Father Mahan. and he'd be
saying. Is your mother sick. Billy
Hunter, that you'r re out Of schools' /
could feel my voice wabbling under
me. and all I could get out was some
fool things about a strike that failed
was worse than no strike. and then
Robbie got up. so slick and with
such a lot of fine. big words about or
ganized labor and the great union be-
hind us. and capital already on the run,
and he worked 'em mp about those new
fellers land they are q disgrace; they
can't manage their blast nohow, and
they may be killing somebody any day..
and he got the boys fighting mad.
and he called me his cautious friend.
like was coward And then they all
hollered. You see he's got such way
with him, a little. smiling. white
teethed feller and smart as q steel trap.
and there amt anything on earth we
workingmen like like feller who can
talk"
Cant he see himself it's crazyi"
"He sees we've got $4,000 in the
treasury and how we've been cut down
and cut down this winter. and he sees
HOLSTERS got some big orders on now,
and that's all he does see. II you tell
him HOLSTERS obstinate's the devil. he
Jest laughs and says he's heard folks
threaten to bite of their noses to spite
their faces before, but they don't do it.
all the same, and Hollister can't bluff
him. I don't think HOLSTERS 30 bad as
they make him out. but he's got the
DEVILS own temper when you git his
mad up. They'd have struck this very
same night if it hadn't been for young
Fitxmaurice.
"But he don't belong to the union, +"
said Judith. who was now seated BY
her husband. listening with absorbing
k4-x--x ssuoupH h. Il, ~
"Well. we've had him for lawyer,
cause he worked for nothing. and he
was . poor boy that's worked up, and
be certainly has done well by ua Well.
ne came In In time to sec Robb wipe up
the floor with me, and he made q
speech; said he just got back to town
this afternoon with Alderman McGin-
mis-. and he wasn't prepared to speak.
but be hoped they would give them.
selves time to see things clear. Two
things was necessary-to have . good
cause and . fighting chance to win; %
he got them to appoint the committee.
That was the best he could do Fitx il
. good man. but he can't stop the boys
They've got a head Of steam on. and
they're bound to let her whix It's q
kind Of crazy fever. They're mad at
me. boys + helped many time Now
they're mad. "
His wife looked at him wistfully.
IF they strike. win II be q long strike.
Binf"
"God knowsl went to 80 Harry