Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-03-10

duCing n very superior grade or ore,
and Stuart could afford to pay the 50
in any case. whether the other mines
were worked or not.
As matter of history, the whole
outcome of the matter was as follows:
The De Mott range did not open up in
full for two weeks. The Cleveland
owners. after doing all in their power
to coerce Stuart, finding that every
day only placed him. owing to the
peculiar condition of the trade, in q
better position. finally opened up few
mines at a 10 per cent rise on previous
wages. This almost led to another
strike and a formation of the union
again. But the long winter, the long
idlcnpss. so unusual to the men, the
great loss they had sustained, had
their effect. and the De Mott men be-
gan to 30 back a few at a time. This
led to a singular condition of affairs
i'm the iron region, never before known.
/ Nearly 1900 men were receiving 50 a
day at Champion. while on the lower
range twice as many men were work
/ ing for $50.
| At the end of two months. however,
/ with the opening up Of the lake naviga-
! ton. ore went up with such 4 bound
/ that De Mott ranges advanced wages
/ to 50. and the mon at last actually re-
ceivcd, largely through Stuart'S firm
ness in holding out, the amount they
had originally demanded. But there
was no great demonstration over the
fact. The strike had been too costly.
The suffering Lad left its mark on ev-
cry home. and the men were not in a
condition when the rise in wages final
ly came to spend much enthusiasm
over it.
Long before this had come about
Stuart and Rhena had planned for
their new life together.
One day very soon after Champion
mines had opened the two were out
looking at the new cottages going up in
Cornishtown. The work had been
pushed hard. and at last satisfactory
results were being seen. Most of the
houses would be ready for use in a
fortnight. After looking on and direct
ing some special part Of the settlement
Stuart asked Rhena to go up the trail
with him to the old stump where he
had first told her he loved her.
When they reached the place. they
turned to look down at the town. 1t
was winter still The snow lay deep
in ali the valley. The sound of the
WOrkmen came up to them from Cor
nishtown. The engine stacks were
cI,nI-ir,,r o11 pynI. tln r.1DTn tbc
ore stock piles were dotted over with
busy moving figures.
Stuart said something about the site
being a good one for house.
Il don't know but l shall put up lit
Gle cottage ON this stump, and we cOulC
begin housekeeping on a modest scale
like the rest of the people down there
What do you think of that?"
But wouldn't we be putting our
selves above them to come up here|
asked Rhena slyly.
NO; we would simply be in a posi-
ton to see all Of them and be better
, able to help them in case of need"
, 81 don't think the stump is quite
large enough for a foundation" sale
Rhena very soberly, though she wa
5 very happy. after | had opened thu
( front door | would have to 90 outsid,
= to shut it again.
4 You are very hard to suit. madam
replied Stuart. What will you have
$ A palace? y marble pile? l thought
Salvation Army lass would be ready t.
= put up with almost anything"
= "Stuart"-Rhena spoke with real sc
:, riOusness-'I could be happy with yO
= IN one of the cottages down there, an
y you and l know that together. TIL
- army is very dear TO me. l tannO
" leave it."
: Il do not ask you to-" replied Stuar
:, smiling. Il first fell in love with you
=" bonnet, ana l hope you will wear ii il
=, the wedding"
y Il am thinking Of the poor men an
Eomen | have been living with S
~ long" continued Rhena. Her grea
Il Eyes filled with tears. Il can't bear
y have them think that because l am q
= ing TO be the wife of the mine OwnC
-, and live in his house l am going to |
-, lifted so far away from them that the
- will Stuart, YOU know what | meal
If l didn't believe so completely i'll yO
-, and your thought of stewardship {
- Gods property, l would never dal
~ marry you, man with all this none
y md master of such a house. l cann'
y even think of the selfish surrounding
- - Of my life without a shudder.
'N I'VE need great wisdom to use God
= blessings. 1t will be a joy to us
II work out the problem together, won
IT,"
"a Stuart said something so softly tha
With the exception of Rhena, only
vi ynOwbird on n fir tree near by hea
n t, and the snOwbird never told.
a They talked for awhile about the
NM approaching marriage. 1t was to
NJ The following week.
II Louise and Aunt Royal are going
4 New York the first of the week. y
SI iS in hpinO ma |