News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-05-08

| division line had been drawn rne min
| ute he chose to follow Jesus Christ. and
| the separation of necessity had gone
on widening between him and the old
life, still represented by Louise and his
aunt. He did not blind himself in the
least as to the cause. 1t was very
plain. He could not be a Christian and
walk hand in hand with them nor they
| with him. The two ways led in exact
ly opposite directions.
But all this was only a part of the
testing Of his manhood. He had a far
more severe choice to make at the end
of the week.
Matters were in this condition. The
building of the new houses was going
on with as much rapidity as circum-
stances would permit. A big storm
had interrupted the workmen. The
| immense SHOWS were a serious hin
| drance. Added to all the rest was the
difficulty of getting workmen during
the cold weather. The miners who had
been burned out were quartered all
over the town. The hotel had arranged
| for accommodation, Stuart providing
| all the expenses there. The Salvation
| Army did it's share and more too. But
|, the discomfort and crowding and suf-
ferng were of such a nature that even
money, lavishly as Stuart was willing
to use it, could not much more than
/ provide temporary and partial relief.
/ He was down at the Salvation Army
l.I of Of t1,A al ~ fIo
| week trying to make some arrange
ments for better accommodations. Rhe-
Ia was at work with some of the wo-
men at the other end of the hall when
Eric came in hastily. He was followed
in a few minutes by Andrew.
News from De Mott is serious" said
Eric. "The men down there are threat
ening to pull up the pumps again. They
are at the end Of their provisions and
starving"
II can't feed the entire mining coun-
try, Eric!' said Stuart little sharply
81 know it," Eric sat down on a
bench and put his face between his
! hands. At once Stuart repented him
of the sharp word.
Forgive me, Eric. spoke angrily
/ will do all in my power"
ut isn't that" replied Eric in a muf-
fed voice. 1.-The men have refused to
listen to ne any longer and say they
mean to act on their own account. My
authority is all over!'
NONSENSE But Stuart saw that
Eric spoke the truth.
ITS So" Eric spoke with bitter
ness. "No one is quite so ungrateful
as a mob Of workingmen when it turns
on its leaders. My day is over"
1t was just at that moment that An
drew came in. Have you heard the
news?" he asked. They say the De
Mott men are going in a body to the
then to the Royal and so on until they
have ruined every mine on the range.
They have given the companie two
hours to give in"
Stuart was very thoughtful. "If they
do so serious n thing as that il will
lead to an appalling loss of life, Tho
troops at Hancock have been kept ir
readiness by the Cleveland owners
who have been anticipating some such
move. 1t is folly for the men to think
the owners will yield at this late day
to their demands"
ut will be the deathblow to labor
| and the Workingman's cause for al!
time if they do as they say" said
Eric, with 4 groan. land l am as help
less as a child. r Eric completely
Sruke down and actually cried. He felt
that h.s~reign was over.
Andrew looked gravely at Stuart.
The short winter Cay was fast drawing
to an end. Stuart still stood there,
though;fully looking at the bowed
form Of Eric.
There is one man who still has
great influence over all the miners in
Champion and De Mott" said Andrew
gently.
Stuart started. Over at the other
end Of the hall he could see Rhena.
She had just left her task and was
coming toward him. Life was very
sweet tc him now. Why should he
risk it in a possible-yes, probable
danger by going over to the scene of
this new difficulty? Was he his broth
er's keeper.
"That one man is yourself" contin-
ued Andrew.
"You think l ought to go" asked
Stuart calmly.
81 cannot answer for you" Andrew
made reply slowly.
what are you talking about?' asked
Rhena as she came up.
"Rhena," said Stuart, at may be nee
essary for me to go to De Mott to-
night. 1t looks now as If the strike
had reached q crisis, and before morn
ing something will probably occur to
change the situation that has held all
winter"
Rhena looked steadily at the three
men.
"You are keeping back something"
she said at last
"Yesv' exclaimed Eric, lifting his
head. "The men at De Mott are going
to pull up the Queen mine pumps. I've
lost my influence over them. If Stuart
goes over there to prevent the men, he
will risk his life. l know the men
when they are drunk are devils. They
would kill any one, even Christ him