Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-17
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$And the Young Man Sawed 8
* BY Hayden earruth *
BY Hayden carruth


Copyrighted, 1900: Daily Story Pub. Coz
Young Mr.. Gilmore DeLacy Mortimer
sat in the parlor. He was clearly ner-
vous. as any sensible young man should
have been when waiting for so hand
some and altogether charming a young
woman as was Agnes Van Vliet. Espe-
cially If he had become engaged to her
just the evening before, as Gilmore had
to Agnes, but had not yet said anything
about the matter to the young lady's
mother, which was the young mans
exact position. And above all if this
mother was "a widow, and a somewhat
naughty dame with ideas of her own,
and the courage to express them, which
was precisely the case with Mrs. Van
Vliet. SO not a bit of blame attaches to
our hero, young Mr.. Elmore DeLacy
Mortimer. because he was nervous as ha
sat in the parlor and wondered what it
was thai kept Agnes SO long.
AS the minutes slipped away it natu-
rally didn't make Elmore any more
calm. What-what if she had changed
her mind? The engagement was so
~young-only about twenty hours of age
that he scarcely as yet fully realized it.
Perhaps she had told her mother and
tAiN >iNt> AtsNs iittA 81 oliso
that she had decided to give him up.
Maybe. after all, it was only a dream,
and he had not really held her in his
arms for a full half minute. and i'm
printed the first kiss upon her lips. But
hope sprang up the next moment.
There was the bewitching rustic of
skirts in the hall. All, at last-yes-
great heavens!
The woman who might some day
be his mother-in-law swept into the
room.
Good evening, Mr.. Mortimer" she
said.
Her tone was not quite so cordial as
usual. There was no installing this.
"Goo-good evening, Mrs. Van Vliet,'
he returned. with a great effort. "Qulte
chilly this evening. 'Nha a jackass-
ical remark" he thought to HIMSELF.
Yes" she replied, with dignity. But
its seasonable weather, after all. To-
morrow will be November, you know"
"Tr-true.'' he answered., lightly
sweeping his brow with his handker,
chief to remove evidence of the fact tina.
the alleged chilliness was far from
touching him.. And how much we all
have to be hankf for he added.
C'Braying again. he said to himself).'
Some nay have-others may not
replied the widow composedly. II can't
say that 1 personally AVE any more
cause than common for rejoicing that
the melancholy days have gone"
All, Im-1m sorry to hear It," said
Eimore. II have very much to be
thankful for-very much.,'
'lndeea?" responded the woman. with
a calm, cold, deadly rising infection.
She adjusted a pair of go~ld-rimmed
eyeglasses and for two awful minutes
looked at him like frozen fate. Then she
said:
MIR. Mortimer. we might as well come
to the point. There is a matter of the
greatest Importance about which 1 wish
to speak to you"
"In-in-indeed."
He tried for the rising infection, too,
but 1T wouldn't rise. The room was
swinging round. and he spread his feet
farther apart so as to get a purchase on
his legs and thereby keep his knees from
knocking together.
of the greatest Importance" contin-
uei the widow, calm as eternal truth.
The strike in the coal fields, as you
know, has made coal much dearer."
Yes, yes said ElmOre. hastily, feel
ing that there was u chance to spar for
time. Crying shame. isn't it? Seems
'sif those fellows ought to have got to-
gether-fellows that own the mines, YOU
know-both fellows. you know-fellows
on both SIDES, you now-ought to have
got together, you know, and, and-ought
to, you know, got together, ~and-kept on
digging coal, you know"
The widow only looked at him,
"The price of coal having advanced.'
she went on. as if Elmore had not
SnnlSan ut have lnaiInI To l,,> ,,,..I
Now, Mr.. Mortimer, please mark my
words. You and Agnes will burn a great
deal of wood sitting up here together al
most every night. l shall not, of course,
expect you to furnish this wood, but.
Mr.. Mortimer. l shall insist that you
saw It."
She rose and swept majestically out
of the room.
The young man collapsed, convulsed
alike by the burden lifted from him and
that laid thereon.
The next moment the Tight of his life
came timidly into the room.
Gilmore looked up weakly.
"Did-did mamma tell you?" she wGais-
pered.
"Ye--yes." gurgled Elmore.
Don't despair" she added in a cooling
tone.
Then you know ALP she faltered.
"All, ALL" she returned.
The young man gazed into the fire lost
in thought. Then he half started up and,
turning eyes which CLEANED with unnat-
ural brilliancy upon her, said:
Darling, what can l do? What can I
say?'
"Elnore." she answered. IN calm, level
tores-'twas the first time she had ever
called him this-'ElmOre. say nothins,
but saw wood"
He sank back again.
She rose and glided rapidly across the
room.
Sinking before the sofa she reached
under and drew out a big. red bucksaw.
it's long. cleaning, polished blade quiv-
er.ng in the gas light, every one of its