The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-03

! ed was Ildut uD-llldN abStAANN
could have been accounted for in the
Office of an expert engineer-that my
visits in the slums were for the pur-
nose of studying the real condition of
| the lowest and most slavish working
! classes. AS for heretical speeches-I
wish l had made more of them.
wish l could have dragged every one
of those students away from their
books TO men, to the lives into which
! they were expected to bring relief and
comfort"
Pastor Marvin stood with livid face.
the letter crumpled and moist in his
hand and the voice of his son swept
on.
Now that we are at the root of this
matter let's speak the truth. I'd rather
give men chance TO live here than to
assure them of safety in the lie 10
come How can they prepare for a tu-
ture existence amid conditions so De
grading? How can they serve the Goa
I preach when they are starving that
some one man may accumulate wealth.
Pastor Marvin swayed and clutched
a chair back for support. And this
was the son of a preacher whose
How can look to these people for
financial support when l know that
every dollar they pay into the church Is
earned at the risk of their lives? l tell
you, I'd rather invent some means Tor
neutralizing fire. damp. of lessening the
chances of explosion, than to tell these
people to accept privation and death
as dispensations of Providence. And
there was no other way TO convince
YOU that l was not meant for the work
than lust what did to-day-to let you
see for yourself that 1 was a failure
a dead failure"
And you flaunt it in my face! You
boast that you were a failure-and l
the witness of your disgrace. You are
NO son of a Marvin. I have done my
best for you, but you will not see the
light
His hand pointed to the door. And
Arthur understood.
Night was settling down on Wymore
Gap when Lucy tapped at arthur
door He sat at his window watching
the tiny lanterns of the night shift,
twinkling ever and ever nearer TO the
yawning holes in the mountain side.
His grip, packed with his few belong
ings. lay open on the bed. Lucy crept
softly to his side, and her arms slipped
around his neck.
Arthur dear, you're not going? Q.
he will feel differently tomorrow. 1t
is only his family pride that is hurt,
and you will break his heart and mine.
Arthur dearest, you-will stay, just one
more day."
mo, would be thorn in his flesh.
tried to make him see this years ago,
Lucy. but he was obdurate. He would
not listen to my side"
But What am to do without
you? l have waited so long-three long
years think-and-I-love you So"
Gently he took her hands in his and
drew her close.
Just a little longer, Lucy. You must
stay here until he understands. could
not rob him of his all, and some day
we will be together with his consent.
Now-well, he does not wish you even
to see me-"
For an instant the girls spirit rose
in rebellion. Then she looked into the
calm, clear eyes of the man who loved
her and yet for that love. would not
break his word, and a brave smile came
to her lips.
The next morning John Seeger. SUI
perintendent of the Cross Cut Com
panys mines. glanced up from his desk
to face Arthur Marvin. He had heard
of the scene at Zion Church, and he
wondered if the young fellow was
ready to start anew in an humber
way perhaps. by asking the privilege
| of holding noon prayer meetings in the
| works.
What can do for you, Mr.. Mar
vin?" he inquired politely.
You can give me job, Mr.. See
GER
The superintendent whistled softly
and leaned back in his chair. Then he
surveyed the little form rather super
ciliously.
well, really. Mr.. Marvin. don't be-
lieve I can accommodate you. Every
thing in the offices is filed, but If
there's clerkship open within "a"
Thank you, but 1 prefer the mines.
If there's any chance in No. Z, I'd like
to be with Caughey."
superintendent Seeger almost whist
led again, then drew himself UP stiff1y,
as becomes one of his position when
dealing with a common miner.
II think the matter can be arranged.
Good morning"
So after this fashion was the name
of Arthur Marvin, graduate of the
Frances Allen Seminary, added to the
payroll of Tom Caughey. boss of No. Z.
Not only did he work under Caughey,
but he boarded at the bosss simple
home, where Mrs. Caughey loved him
for his own sake-and Tins. Wymore
Gap gossiped over the affair for a time,
then arose fresher and more exciting
topics, and Arthur Marvin's future was
left to his own determining.
He went down into the bowels of the
earth day after day, not only to dig but
to study. BY and by he changed to
other workings. He wanted to know
something of their veins, drifts and
formations. and far into the night he
talked with Tom Caughey, who knew
the Cross Cut probably as a good Ma
hometan knows his Koran. Every Sum
day morning Arthur went to Zion
church to study something else-the
unyielding features of his father, and
the pathetic little lines which were be-
ginning to show in Lucy's face.
He worked on day shifts and on night
shifts, but it was always night down
there The summer waxed sitting hot,
and autumn swept on. cool and refresh
ing, but the temperature in the mines
did not vary. Then one day when the
first snow was on the ground. and the
men, coming from below looked like
gnomes against the glistening hillside.
Arthur Marvin again presented him
self before superintendent Seeger. The
latter looked up impatiently. What did
this son of a preacher want now? Pro-
motion before his turn?
well. Marvin, you must be taking a
day off,"
Perhaps in the tone was just sug-
gestion that men who were above their
work were given to taking frequent
| lay-offs. Arthur made no reply to the
thrust, but plunged at once into the
object of HIS call.
There's a nasty bit of fire. damp in
No. 7, and the fans don't seem TO carry
il on
| "NTost nnipers exnect ~ contend with