The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-18

AS for Burden-well, he lived in a
FOOLS paradise and knew it. Some
where on the other side of the river
where the sun shone and there was no
pail of dirty smoke by day or night,
there was Another Man.
This other man met Bessie in the So
cial life of Pinkerton; he sometimes
accompanied her to church; he often
called upon her and dined at her pa
rents home. Frank Burden knew all
this, and knew what people said of it;
but he shut his eyes ad went on, lay
ing up for himself possible bitterness
and tears to come.
Bessie Erich had been in the habit
of doing pretty much as she pleased,
all her life. But there were some things
which her easy going father would not
stand. One was the thought that his
daughter could become interested in a
man born and brought up on the
Boulder shore of the river.
Shackleby took it upon himself to
tell the proprietor of the foundry of
the intimacy existing between Bessie
and Frank. Shackleby, who was short
and corpulent and easily excited,
pulled into the private Office of the
foundryman one afternoon.
Look here, Enrich! Do you know
that your daughter is parading the
streets of Boulder with Frank Bur-
den?" he demanded, hopping his bald
head and blowing out his red cheeks.
TITS disgraceful! Ridiculous! It's"
Come, Schackleby, you've got an in
fernal cheek to come here and tell me
my daughter is disgracing herself" Err
rick returned. What do you mean?
Who is Frank Burden? Oh, isn't he the
son of old Burden, who used to be one
of my overseers ?"
Yes. he isl" snapped the machine
shop man. Hes always lived here in
Boulder. He's a darned smart fellow.
but he amt fit a associate for Miss
Erich"
How much does he associate with
herr"
"Why, he's galivantin' after her
every week when she comes over to go
Summing believe that's what they
call it--Alfred has reasoned with her
in vain"
ooh, it's Alfred that's at the bottom
of this, is it?" said Erich, much re-
lieved. II tell you what it is, Shackle-
by, if your son hasn't got gumption
enough to do his own counting and
make my girl like him, I'm not going
to help him. l had a fight to get her
mother to marry me. and if Alfred isn't
man enough to bring Bess to his way
of thinking. he can go hang!"
But this fellow Burden" sputter-
ed Shackleby.
ooh, pooh! How much is he with
Bess? Seems to me 1 heard her say
that he used to go to school with her"
Hes dangling after her every
week"
And your Alfred is dangling after
her the rest of the time" finished Err
rich. by the way, Burden works for
you, doesn't he?"
Yes"
well, if you don't like his acquaint-
ance with my daughter, for the effect
you are afraid it will have upon your
sons chances, discharge him. Chase
him out! That. the way to do it."
discharge Bu@en!" gasped Shackle-
by. why, he's worth more to me than
any other man I've got Erich. I'd
rather let Lattell 60" Lattell was the
superintendent of the shops.
"Wer, if you don't care any more
than that about tt
There they go nowv interrupted
| Shackleby, who sat so that he could
see through the window. "Demme
they're as loving as a pair of turtle
doves"
Enrich craned his neck to look
through the window out upon the dingy
street which ran past the foundry Of
fees. There were Bessie and Burden
wandering along in the direction of the
steamer landing, he swinging the
empty basket and she holding up hef
skirt and chattering away, and both
utterly oblivious to everybody and
everything else.
The foundry proprietor was suddenly
smitten by the remembrance that UNI
iii the last few weeks Bessie used al
WAYS to come in and walt for him to
! go home with her. His face darkened.
1t was not so long ago but that he re-
membered his own youth and court
ship He knew the signs.
I'm going to speak to that fellow,
he growled, and though he showed no
excitement like Shackleby, he put on
his hat with determination and led
the way out of the offices.
"Shackleby. you discharge that fell
low-discharGe him at once! I'd do as
much for you, and you know It,"
IT s'pose I'll have to-" groaned
Shackleby. alfred wanted me to, but
[ wouldn't. But if we've got to run
him out of town that's the best way:
These fellows who get a smattering OF
education and try to rise above their
station are dangerous-so Alfred says.
Errich ground his teeth and damned
Alfred!
They caught up to the young folks,
these two old fellows, just before they
reached the wharf. The Amos G. Pin
kerton was about ready to cast or for
one of her regular trips across the
river.
Shackleby beckoned Burden aside.
Shackleby was still red and heated.
"See here!" he growled, I'm not go
ing to have you gallivanting around
with that girl-not. while you work for
me. There's enough for you to do up
to the shops"
Frank looked him over coldly. Have
Won noticed any of my duties which
have been neglected, Mr.. Shackleby!"
he asked.
"That's neither here nor there. You're
discharged! You can go to the book
keeper and draw a months salary.
Meanwhile Erich had approached his
daughter Somehow, when he looked
into her pure, clear seeing eyes, he felt
ashamed-felt like dropping his own,
and it must be confessed that he rather
mumbled his question:
Aren't you ashamed trapseing
around town with that fellow?"
What fellow? she asked, calmly,
though a breath of red rose in her
round cheeks and her gaze narrowed.
This Burden. Do you know what
he is?"