The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-02-21

WHATS the matter, dOctorf"
bag and grasped his hand In a strong
but nervous manner. Solemn, strange.
ly set faces looked out of the dusk at
him.
"What's the matter. doctor" asked
Stuart, trembling at something, he
could not think what.
"Your father. my boy
as he worse?"
"Come this way. My buggy is righ,
here. l will drive you out to the
house. Get right in"
Stuart got into the buggy mechanic
ally. The doctor threw himself in
and the horse made plunge into the
dark.
"Tell me the truth. doctor" Stunrt''
voice was steady. but faint
The answer came after momen,
"Your father died, Stuart. an hour ago
He had stroke Of apoplexy There
was some heart trouble He did no.,
suffer-"
For moment everything In the uni
verse reeled about Stuart Duncan.
Then he found he was asking questions
and DR.. Saxon was answering them
When they reached the house, Stuart
met Louise first. She came to the front
door and threw herself into his arms,
crying hysterically. Stuart had not
shed tear yet. They led him into the
room where Ross Duncan lay. The son
stood and looked down at the cold
face with that newly made scar on the
forehead. There was no thought In his
mind that he was now the owner OF
several millions Of wealth. He was
thinking Of the last interview he had
with that father and his parting with
out a word Of affectionate farewell.
And still the tears would not come to
his relief.
At last he went out. and the sight of
his sisters grief and fear brought the
tears to his own eyes. He wept with
her. They talked together. The doc.
tor remained an hour and then took his
leave. The night wore on. Louise. eX.
hausted with the shock. had gone to
her room. Stuart was finally left alone.
He sent the servants all away. He
could not sleep. He paced the long
hallway until daylight. Just as the
sun rose he went In where his father
lay and looked at him again. Ross
Duncan's millions were Of no use 10
him now. or what use were they to
the son? What load Of responsibility
had come to him now! These mines,
these labor troubles. this strike, these
wages-what difference II he let them
all go? He had n right to do as he
chose with his own. He would dispose
Of 1t all and live abroad. He would
what! He was planning all this and
his father dead less than "a hours
And then. what responsibility did res,
upon him? What difference did II
make to him what wages the men re-
ceived? Was he his brothers keeper
Were they his brothers? The wholr
thing was complex, irritating. His IA
ther's death had thrown burden or
him that he did not want to carry.
He was disturbed by a noise in the
street before the house. He went t(
the window and drew aside the cur
tain. The measured tramp Of heavy
feet was heard coming down the road
A column Of men, four abreast, came
into sight, with one man little in ad
vance Of the others carrying banner
1t contained a very rude drawing Of {
rich man and a peor man. The ricl
man was saying, "What do you want?'
The poor man was saying, "Crum,
from the rich mans table" 1t was al
very crude and one sided in every way
The column Of men swung by, nearl!
600 miners on their way from the up
per range to join the strikers in Cham
pion In their regular morning gather
ing at the park. Every. man as h'
went by turned his head and looked
up at the house where the dead min,
owner lay. 1t is possible that the!
saw the son standing there. He watch
ed the column tramp through the dus
and disappear down the road. And a
he turned back toward all that remain
ed Of the mortal flesh Of the man whit
had been worth so many millions h,
was conscious that he was face to fac
with the great problem Of his own ex
istence, with which was involved tn,
problem Of thousands Of other men
How will he answer that problem?
CHAPTER II.
| LARGE RESPONSIBILITIES.