The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-02-23
JACK MASON'S CONSENT.

Joe Foster was fireman of several
yeas experience working on the B. T.
& Co. in Ohio. He was a tall, clean
limbed, smooth faced chap, and neither
better or worse morally than hundreds
of other young men.
Joe was strictly business as far as mis-
duties as a fireman were concerned,
but of late his engineer, Hank Jones,
had observed that Joe had grown in
attentive to some of the minor details
of his work which ordinarily would
have received his prompt. attention. He
confieded these facts to his wife, and
concluded with the remark that he
could not see what allied Joe anyway"
why that is very easily guessed"
replied his wife, "he is in love-
He is? How do you know?''
II don't know. I only guessed it.
You see don't know him only by sight
but when young fellow gets absent
minded and neglects his work you can
confess, no doubt. People have got to
be sure that it is love. Any way you
are such good friends, just drop a hint
when you talk to him again, and he'll
tell their joys and sorrows to some one,
and love is either a joy or a SORROW"
she concluded
Acting on his wife's advice the next
trip out when he observed Joe had less
to say than ordinarily, and really wish
ing to help him if he could, Hank, by a
few half questioning hints found that
his Wife's surmise was correct and that
Joe was in love and from his point of
view the road he had to travel to OBJ
tain the object of his affections was
very rocky one. Not, as he assured
Hank, that Anna Mason was not will
ing to marry him, for she had promised,
but her old man, Jack Mason, would
be about as friendly as mad elephant
when approached on the marriage of
his daughter, especially to a railroad
man, whom Jack Mason had often
averred she should never marry.
Among the men with whom he work.
ed Jack Mason was known as an odd
character Since the death of his wife
three years before his cynicism had
grown stronger and his sarcasm more
cutting and it was plain that he cared
for the friendship or love Of none but
MS daughter. Firemen would have
taken Jail sentence with as much
pleasure as to be marked up to 60 out
with him, and round house men and
Wlpers gave him the widest possible
berth.
Joe had fired for Jack Mason and
they had got along together very we'll.
Shortly after commencing to fire for
him he became acquainted with Anna
Mason, whose sunny disposition and
pleasant ways won him as much as her
fathers rough, biting speech repeled
him. He tried to avoid having trouble
with Jack on account of the love
which had sprung up in his heart for
Anna, but he had pride, and his pride
rebelled and one day the SO fell down
for steam and the limited they were on
tic remarks about - :" kid sfiremen built
on the toothpick plan,'' and Joe shot
back something about "some runners
using more nOtches than sense" and
went in the round house and asked for
change, and he got it. He went on
freight with Hank Jones.
"Well, so long as the girl is willing,
I wouldn't care about the old man." re-
naked Hank with a jolly laugh.
anna is of age. Go get married, and
settle down to housekeeping. Jack will
sputter and curse and make some
pretty cutting comments, but he will
to oic nd
thing will be all right"
r: II would do that quick enough, but
Anna won't listen to anything of that
kind. No one could have been better
to a family than Jack Mason has been
to his, and Anna almost worships him.
Then, too, he believes in duty always
first, and he has instilled that idea into
Annals head until her sense of duty
would not permit her to do anything
against his will. tell you it puts me
in a tough place." said Joe.
Have you asked him YETI"
'No! I have not"
well, how do you know he isn't will
ing, and what are you kicking about I?
I thought that the old man had run
you off the place. If people in love do
AOI loahc lAc cane, dNu f1dNk TOdTGu
with laughter.
That's all right" said Joe, "but it's
getting up my courage to ask him with
the certain knowledge that he will say
no, and probably Anna won't marry me
until he says yes-that is worrying me- -
''That's what the matter with you,
worrying. Just quit it, and find out
where you are at. Things may not be
as blue as they look" replied Hank.
Eyes, they are. I am sure he favors
Parker, that young fellow in the State
bank" grumbled Joe.
"Well, what do you care p The girl is
all right. Just go up to him tonight
when we get back. he will be down to
go out. and have it out with him.
THAT is what I will do" Joe firmly
replied, and he stuck to his resolve, and
when they got back he left Hank at
the desk and walked over to 60, where
he knew at that time of the evening he
would find Jack Mason.
Good evening, Mr.. Mason" said Joe
but he felt his courage ebb as he
/ obserbed the old man was in no very
pleasant humor.
| How are you Joe? Say, those in
fernal machinists are getting too cuto.