Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-07-07
c.t $toryette
THE STRIKE WAS ON.


The strike was on and Ferguson
had lost two things, his job and h.
sweetheart. At the meeting the even
ing previous, when his union had de-
cided unanimously to remain away
from their work, he had been a central
figure. He had even thought it neces-
sary to say a few words in support OF
the position his fellow-workmen had
taken; and to fortify his courage hac
done a very unusual thing for him.
One or two drinks, taken at just the
wrong time, had loosened his tongue
and born in his soul an aggressiveness
entirely foreign to his pn1egmat1c tenn
permanent. After the meeting, where
he had distinguished himself, he went
to see/Kate.
Kate was girl who had promised
to marry him as soon as he had laid
up $780, which sum she considered ab-
solutely necessary to the comfort Of a
prospectively happy home. He was
almost there" as he expressed IT,
when the strike came.
There was an unusual glitter in his
eye as he came into the modest parlol
of Hates home and her keen senses
detected the odor of strong spirits IL
the first kiss.
Jerry and she pushed him away
from her Indignantly, you've been
drinking-an you promised me-"
At another time he would have been
sheepish and crestfalIen under the
stern arraignment; but now the false
courage that had upheld him through
the trying ordeal Of the 'few words
he had said at the meeting sustained
him and he looked at her fearIessIy,
condescendingly even.
|'We1I, what of it?" he demanded
loosely. Then a trif1e more earnest
ly: Really, Kate, l had to, this time
just this once, but it shan't happen
again.
''You had to? This once!"
She repeated the words disdainfUlly.
''What was the matter: Cause you're
goin' to lose your job you're goin' to
give up everything else with ft?"
ct had to say something-just few
words at the meetin-and | took a
glass to give me courage"
Courage" she laughed mOckfng1y
tits d queer kind of courage you
need, it seems to me. Amt it funny,
women never needs that Kind OF
courage? A man-some men," slowly
can't do anything, bear anything, un.
| less they have something to give them
courage. D'you think if | was to lose
| my job at the restaurant tomorrow Td
need any of that kind of courage &c
help me bear it? I'd need what
money I had to help me get another
you're a woman"
'eAnd is a woman Drawer than {
great, big, strong man? No, you cam
talk to me. I told you when we made
it up that so long as you kept fron
drink and was sober and steady II
dc my part. You've broken you
promise and you can go, MI
Ferguson"
The last words were the quintes
sence of ruthless sarcasm, and tn
mood of the man was to crafty he
desire to get rid of him.
So the next morning found him
hands in pockets, lounging against
white post at one side of the commor
dull pain in his head, which wa
not quite clear from the libations Q
the night before, and sinking fee
ing in his heart, where the "achin
void had begun to grow. He ha
been Woodworking and sober for n
last five or six years, since he ha
known Kate, and now he was an idle
with clouded senses. But he did nc
blame himself. Not yet He curse
his internal luck and maligned tn
: girl who had pointed out to him +
D folly.
The wind whistled shrilly around a
g adjacent building, and he pulled tn
t collar of his REFER farther over n
:, face as he turned his attention to tn
e passing crowds. One steady stream
l. pederstians poured out of the gre;
{ gates just behind his shoulder, an
e mingling with the surging throngs G
e the sidewalk in front of him wei
! swept along like the rush Of gre;