Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-11-08
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( Romance ola Strike

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A Bohemian family moved from a
small Connecticut town to this city 'to
give the girls chance to get married.
as their father frankly put it. Il
made fine living there; can't KICK"
he said to an English speaking neigh
Dor ON Avenue b, but the girls have
only been two years in this country
and the American fellows didn't take
to them. Their ways are SO different,
don't you know. Well, | was for stay
ing in Connecticut until my two daugh-
tiers We're Americanized, but my wife,
she was afraid they might die old
maids. Besides, they felt lonesome in
that American town, so sold out and
moved to New York"
Tie conversation took place about
year ago. The family took apartments
In the heart of the Bohemian quarter
in the vicinity of Seventy-second
street The old man found work at his
trade, and his two daughters learned
to make bunches and got jobs in a
neighboring cigar factory. The income
of the family was increased; the girls
Joined a Czech dancing school; their
mother gossiped or quarreled with
her neighbors who spoke the same Ian
guage as she; the paterfamilias was
elected doorkeeper of a Bohemian So
ciety; everybody was happy.
"All this comes of following my ad-
vice." the housewife often reminded
her husband. eff it hadn't been for me,
we would still be rotting in that &C
cursed Yankee town." And when a
young fellow called at the house one
evening, and the older girl explained
that he was one Of the best rollers in
her shop, the old lady's exultation
knew no bounds. Hes In love with
Marussy," she said. Hes dying to
marry her. | can see it in his eyes.
Wen soon have a wedding"
The head Of the family is of a pas
sive disposition, and although he often
wishes his wife did not talk SO much
he accepts all her suggestions and
prophecies. The young man called
again. His visits became more fire.
auShI "SSns ohA q P1OpoooA oc
expected by the girls mother every
day.
The old woman was getting impa-
| tient.
"Wellf" she would say to her daugh-
ter.
what do you mean"
Il mean-you know what. He has
been coming here now about two
months"
"Oh, you are at II again." the girl
would answer, blushing. "If you don't
give 1t up, I'll tell him to stop coming"
The big cigar makers strike broke
out. The two sisters joined the others,
$12 q week and told her daughters
that 1t was a sin to revolt and that
they must go back to work. The girls
obeyed, but the young man was an
active member Of the union, and when
he saw Marussy among the "scabs" he
stopped calling at the house.
"It's because I'm scabbing," said
Marussy. with tears.
well, let him propose to you If he
would have you join the union," de-
cided her mother.
''How do you know he cares for me
at all? He never said he did. He only
called"
IF he doesn't care for you, what busi-
ness had he to kiss you? Do you think
didn't see it?"
Shut up, mamma. I'll drown my
self II you don't" implored the unhap-
by girl.
That's all right. I'll settle 1t my
SELF" snapped the old woman.
That evening Marussy's mother way
laid the young cigar maker and ask
ed him what he meant by kissing her
daughter and then stopping to call.
How do you know l didn't mean
| to propose to her" he answered, flush
ing red.
Then why don't you go to work and
do 1t? Have you seen many girls like
her? | have been here about half an
hour now. / have seen hundreds OF
your striker girls. They look like cats,
and Marussy is beautiful as queen"
Il know she is. But she's a scab,
and l can't marry a scab."
you're scab yourself, and IL you
don't come around and propose to her
| I'll have you arrested for breach Of
promise"
II never promised anything" famed
out the cigar maker.
But you kissed her, and a kiss Is as
| good as a promise. So the American
lawyers say"
"How do you know kissed herY'
81 saw It."
But nobody else saw it. You have
no witnesses. See"
Next morning the young man saw
Marussy on her way to work.
81 love you, Marussy," he said. But
you are q scab. II you join the strikers
I'll marry you"
"Will you? You're only fooling me.
| You only want to get me into the un-
ion."
The young man offered to pledge his
word in the presence Of two witnesses
! that he would marry Marussy II she
! Joined the organization.
The engagement was celebrated the
next evening.-New York Commercial