Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-10-28

AND SUNDAY SCHOOL PUBLISHING SOCIETY. Z
0--:-OR-..-.
30 Jnr3 WIS the nome coming or Stu
hrt Duncan after his years absence
abroad. He had visited with interest
nany of the famous capitals Of Europe.
he had sauntered through museums
hnd picture galleries, he had studied
hot very profoundly, but with genuine
. interest, the people he had met and the
customs he had observed that were
bew. The year had been very largely
holiday for him. He had used all the
honey he wished, drawing on his letter
bf credit without any thought of econo-
my. His father was several times a
Anillionaire and never stinted the mon
". What he wanted was that his son
III nd daughter should have the best of
Everything. from clothes and food to
Education and travel. And Stuart had
tone through college and through En-
Ope with about the same easy feeling
having a comfortable time. He was
Perfectly healthy, had no vices Che did
ot even like a cigar, unusually
thoughtful on some questions, with no
Particular ambitions and no special en-
husiasms If he gave his future any
bought while abroad, it was simply to
lecture q life of business in connection
nth his fathers mining interests. That
Fas his fathers desire, and Stuart did
lot have any other.
He had come home from the picture
alIeries and cathedrals of the old
-orld to face first of all this rough in
Edent of his fathers injury. In con-
ection with it was the strike, which
Fas specially personal not only be-
ause it involved the Duncan interests,
but because the leader of it was Eric
assaIl, Stuart's old playfellow and
&fiend. The more he thought of Eric
be more he felt the strike to be seri-
us matter. So much might be involv-
III in it for him and Eric.
I Nearly q week went by before Ross
Duncan was able to sit up and talk
huch. During that time Stuart faith
lilly remained at home. He had not
ben Eric, and Eric, as he supposed,
II lad not been to see him. His father
bid Louise needed his constant care.
But he anticipated meeting his old
layfelIow with a curious feeling Of eX-
#tement whenever he thought of that
Eene in the public square and recalled
be prayer and its effect.
At the end of the week father and
bn were talking together over the sit
alton. The miners were still out, and
be strike was still on, with no pros
bet of settlement.
al tell you. Stuart" said Ross Dun
pm, while his great square chin grew
ard and tense, the companies will
ever concede the demands of the men.
will never go an inch to meet them
khile they are in their present atti-
hide"
"Do you think the men ask too much.
hther?"
'Too much: With ore at the present
ricei 1t is outrageous. just when we
ere beginning to get on our feet
gain. 1t has been very dull winter,
I'D things We're just beginning to turn
lr way again.
IM"But l thought ore had gone up. Isn't
lat what the men claim as the reason
II their demand for an increase? They
" the wages ought to 90 up with the
A BE in ore"
2#"They are foolsw Ross Duncan
ruck the pillow beside him passion
#ely. 1.-THE companies were under
4 ntract for large quantities of ore at
e old price before this rise came. The
Sc will not benefit us any until we
i've disposed of our old contracts"
+'Why don't the companies tell the
en- SOP"
''Pshaw! Stuart, you are Ross
uncan controlled himself violently.
uart was alarmed for him. He rose
hd went over nearer the bed.
FEATHER, you must not get excited.
emember what DR.. Saxon said yes
rday You must not talk any more
this subject"
Fl shall There, / can control my
If"
It was wonderful to see the change
lat came over the man. He stiffened
5 muscles, then relaxed them and let
IS hand, which had been clinched,
ben easily and lie open on the bed
Dthes. Then he spoke without a
I5hiver of passion, slowly and coldly:
1.-THE companies do not tell the men
because the men wouldn't believe a
ord the companies say. Yet there
bit a man in our mines who can say
bss Duncan ever cheated a man out
q penny or ever told him an untruth.
=keII YOU, Stuart, the men are the most
Hubborn, ungrateful, ignorant lot of
=RimaIs that ever lived. Why. all last
Inter / kept more than dozen fami-
S going with food and fuel because
ey had been sick or shiftless, and III |
hrrant you those very families are in
e front row of the parades every
Drning! The men are cutting their
IN threats The companies will never
ve i'm
Stuart did not say anything for !