Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-03-13

III, luSy diu uOI huOW EIlC D uOliNG III
coming out this way. And they were
lnder his influence still and probably
had no thought Of resisting any ut
Tempt he might make to address the
crowd.
So Eric was carried up, and the doc
tor and Stuart brought him forward
and partly held him on his feet, look
Ing out over scene that became a
part of the life memory of them all.
The moon was at the full. and there
was no need of torches or lamps. The
two dead men had been placed upon a
rude platform of boards at the foot Of
the band stand and elevated SO that
their forms could be visible to the
even those who We're at n dis
tance. Their faces, uncovered, stared
straight upward in the cold midnight.
The captured soldiers We're ranged di-
rectly in front of the bodies, and the
force of the great mob, indeed, crowded
them up TO the very edge of the CHASTITY
platform so that some Of them stood
touching 1t. The square itself all about
the soldiers was black with the mob.
All the faces were set and stern. All
were lifted toward the stand as Eric
stood there confronting them.
He is great man who knows the
way to the heart of a mob. Probably
there was not IL soul in all Champion
that night who knew how to place his
hands ON the strings of emotion and
impulse as Eric Yassall knew when 1t
was question of dealing with the men
whom lie loved and in whose cause he
had voluntarily given up all ambitions
that most men allow to grow when
they are conscious of their ability to
rise above their fellows. Eric assumed
right of one who sacrificed more than
any man present for the sacred cause
of labor. And no man in the stand
dared to deny him that privilege or in
terrupt his purpose.
What do men say on such occasions?
1t is doubtful If Stuart or the doctor,
who heard every word, could have told
afterward what Eric said. Every word
burned like fire in the air. but 1t did not
belong to the catalogue Of speeches
easily repeated. The doctor was amaz-
ed at the power of Eric's voice. It
rang out like trumpet and reached
the farthcst point. 1t meant. of course,
that the collapse would come after the
strain, and Saxon watched him mar.
rowly to see the first sign Of 1t. The
main current of Erics appeal flowed
through the one channel of preserving
unstained the sacred cause for which
the men had sacrificed all they had and
were. The pleasure Of tasting venge-
ance would last but a little while. The
cause of labor would be killed SO far as
they were concerned once and for all II
law was broken or vengeance taken
this night. He appealed to the reli-
gious element, which he knew was
strong in hundreds Of the men before
him. He reminded them of the pray.
ers that had been offered from the very
place where lie now stood. How could
Just God or a merciful Saviour look
with anything but horror upon men
who had vowed to love and obey hin
plunging into such crime? And. oh
for the cause they represented! Was II
not dearer to them than the killing of Q
few men in revenge? Would that
bring to life again their brothers? Who
was there who did not feel for the
wrongs and iniustices of the working
men If he did not? Yet in his vision Of
events he clearly saw that never in hit
lifetime or that of their cliildren's chill
dren would they lessen those wrongs o.
obtain just rights US men II by an ac
of passion they broke the already to-
slender bond of sympathy that unitet
the great public with them now.
Eric had never put SO much Of him
self into an appeal before. 1t had new
er cost SO much. 1t would be wonder
full triumph for him If lie could prevail
tonight. And he believed lie could Sc
signs of n yielding on the part Of tn
men. If only he could hold out littl
longer! He reeled In the arms of Stu
art and the doctor. All his senses tlrot
bed with agony. The panorama Of til
square foated before him in Il mist o
moonlight. and the dull n,urmur of til
mob broke on his ears like faro
surf on an ocean coast. He felt hi
voice falling him. his tongue SCENE
like ashes in his mouth, and still
seemed to him he must so on.
1t was now, as Eric began to fee
earth and heaven slipping away iron
him before he had completed his heart
desire or before his words had wrough
their work in the mems minds or acte,
on conscience and reason, although
they had listened in q wonderful 81
lence-it was now that voice ros
from tke steps Of the Salvation Arm,
hall, which was close by the railwa
depot and, indeed, made one corner o
the square of Champion. 1t was til
voice of Rhena Dwight, and she wa
not speaking, but singing.
We have said that the Cornishmau
a great lovec of music and very suscer
tible to its influence. Rhena had foun
that out from her contact with til
miners and their families since comm
to Champion. 1t was not remarkabl
thing, therefore, that rs she stood IN
hSkSASu " I1liS tliilI ulSut size WAS IL
to use the gift which God had give
her. More than once she had seen al
CRY passions Gained and brute In
pulses shamed at tho sound Of he
q voice, and as Eric began to faint ava
Rhena, moved by one of those true II
rpirations of life which would to Go
more of us might follow, broke into
song which swept like an angels owe
that hushed and wondering audience
The clear, frosty air bore every wor
and note to the ear Of the thousands Z
men who stood packed into the squar,
I 1T : : ) 3