The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-20

10 ueT lue vast piie was
~ but an ugly, ever en-
croaching thing looming up
against gray sky. Her
thought never invested 1t with dignity
as the monument of the great toll
which had delved it out of the earth.
1t stood only as the dark frontage to
her dull world. In these days she was
filled with the unrest of this Ameri-
can life which forbids content in our
estate. At least-at least she repined.
Fate might have cast hen lot among
those other girls who lived in streets
so far removed from this CRIME of the
coal mine!
Her brother Hugh. up there busy
with car and mule on the summit of
the dump, looked to her but squalid
and gnome-like, instead of the strong,
CHEEKY son of labor that he was. She
saw him waving his cap to someone
below, and looking along the road per-
ceived it to be Griff, coming out of the
mine. He came trampng down the
way with the heavy step of fatigue.
The black of the mine seemed to have
dyed him through and through. Pass
ing the window he touched his cap,
with it's greasy lamp. to Ellen, and the
motion appeared strange and pathetic,
coming from one so removed in APP
pearance from all the graces. EIe
looked at her. Griff's eyes might have
been beautiful-they were. They might
have been full of love and longing
they were! But the only thing to be
seen in that face was the glare of white
eyeballs through mask of blackness.
Ellen had read of no lover like this.
he had no place among the belted
knights or courtly modern youth who
peOpled her fancy. She smiled kindly
but not warmly upon Griff, and he
passed on.
Directly after two grimy hands came
about her waist and faced her from the
window towards the kitchen. Hugh
had come home to supper.
Now, Miss Biddy Lynn, Griff has
gone by. and I've put on the griddle all
ready for the slapjacks, so turn 'em up
lively, for I am clean famished"
Thls speech was every word of it dis
tasteful to the sister. First, in the i'm
plication that she had been watching
ror Griff. Second, that hated name
baptized Bridget Ellen, she had reso-
lutely banished the first title, and by it
none addressed her without peril.
Ihlrd, the buckwheat cakes. She had
c'eaned the house from their morning
smoke, and now must that vile
smutcher be started up again to poison
their evening?
ErlIl! VINO cares for him?" retorted
sne. And If you think calling me
hiadS the best way to get waited on
you're mistaken. As for those vile
pancakes, not one will | bake tonight.
not one The table is set, and there's
plenty else for supper"
Mishty fine Miss" responded Hugh
hungry and now huffy. "A girl is a
1901 that don't jump at Grif Howard,
not MS equal in all Scranton. Brid
get you We're christened, and buck
"heats will have if must bake EN-
myself"
DO 1t then" snapped Ellen. and
Sns Whisked upstairs out of sight.
Hueh brought forth the batter lug
ana nS the advice of his father added
Wheen saleratus in hot water"
Hospitality bidding his parent sit
" 10 the table, Hugh poured on cakes
"i heroic size, and, under q growing
''"u" OF smoke, moved from stov, to
TAME ike a benevolent goblin. AS this
Sraouai meal drew to an end Grff an
upon his neighbors.
Are you smoking anybody ou, ~, h.
asked, laughing
Not you, Gritty, any way, come va
In old man.
aye, GRIT, ye're welcome as the
morning and always was" responded
rather Lynn, as he moved to his COR
''r Tor pipe and evening paper. Here
the shelf of books since his faithful
wife had died
Hugh sat down beside his welcome
visitor and eyed his handsome face,
now clean from the coal dust, and his
manly proportions with deep favor.
His spirits rose with the certainty
that he would now get light ON the
arithmetic. whose problems now hung
oVFr HIM lp View of tomorrow's night
iiut Griff's eye sought out the corner
of tho room and Hugh responded to
the 'oot
You won't fight b. Ellen Lynn any
where in this smoke. She's getting too
genteel to bear the sound of her own
name, or TO bear the smell of the cook
in"
Hugh was aware that Ellen must
be aboye close by the stovepipe and
he made his remarks distinct for her
benefit.
You've been teasing your sister,
Hugh, ! believe" replied Griff. 1T
must be cold up there. Now go and
make II up and coax her to come
doWn.3
"G'lsN she won't come down for me
nor you, Grff We're nothin' but la
borip' men. Try her with j. Charles
Isdsehill and his new bike. But it's
nothin' to me-" continued the willy
lad whether she's upstairs or down.
Just trundle my derby off that nail
back of you and I'll be out on the ave-
nue."
SO speaking Hugh moved audibly
Across the foor as If to carry out his
full purpose.
out on thu avenue Ellen knew meant
beer. saloons and all evil to a boy.
Sulks must give way for this time.
Her steps sounded on the stairs and
she came down quiet and pleasant
with light. kind touch on Griff' 5
Shoulders as she passed him. for she