The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-06
Chapter VII.
THE ELLERY RoPEWALKs.


THE ELLERY RoPEwALKs.
| Barbara Savage had never known trouble.
| Only one sorrow had oppressed her-the death
of Frank Ellery. She remembered the shock
of learning of his drowning. In her heart
was little corner kept for her memories OF
him. But that was as long ago as the massa-
ere, four years, and nothing else had ever
gone amiss with Barbara. At last the day
came when life weariscme to her.
So she declared to herself, and she believed
it, Little Barbara stood pouting and tapping
with her foot, as she looked out of her window
at the redcoats parading on the Common.
She was angry, her patriotism was wounded,
! her pride in her home was outraged, but as
for welcoming death, Barbara had no thought
Of such thing. The blood in her veins was
too hot, her spirit too high. She gloried in
her homespun dress and simple, homemade
ornaments She wore them gladly to prove
herself in opposition to the hated Massachu-
| sets acts.
With the rest of whiggish Boston she was
| suffering under q peaceful blockade the
4 drum and fife walked her each morning, ana
she was ashamed as she worked about the
| house. to notice her fingers and foot moving
to military music And this morning, finding
her foot again tapping in time she brust into
tears of modification, and Cbeing little Purl-
| tan who never knew the demands OF the tesh,
or OF the Youthful heart for gayety, and so
| was not modern enough to excuse herself),
she cried out amid sobs: ION. hate them!
| I hate them!''
| So she did. So knew Captain Tudor as he
met her glance, when before long, with Katy
| in attendance. Barbara left the house Tor
| market. SO felt Mistress Caroline Oliver, the
! tory belle when the two ladies' exchanged
frigid salutations in passing. And the gentle
men attendant on Mistress oliver laughed
Eamong themselves, quietly, when Barbara
had passed: sssss ~ a. S% ~.
IAN iceberg! Defend mel
NAY, rather a whitening flame! Eh, Iu-
dor?"
Tudor thought that she was both He felt
hot and cold together. He admired that pref
| ty WING more every time he saw her tTnere-
! fore, becoming the tail Of Mistress Carolne,s
train, he presently detached himself alto
sether, and turned unnoticed on the steps OF
Barbara Twice he reprimanded soldiers TOT
| loud speakiIg after the little lady.
| But Bartaras way was ROUNDABOUT, ana
| CAPTAIN Tudor became both ashamed and
afraid Ashamed Of his schoolboy feelings
afraid she would notice him, he turned back
Not yet ready to take up again the banter OF
his friends he seized upon an opportunity
when he saw Dickie Ellery. and introduced
| himself to the Lad.
| pickle. confused and fattered, nevertheless
heard with some dismay the captains re-
quest "You wish to speak with the gentle
| man who was with une at the cofee-housel
I trust you go not to convey challenge?
| "Nay" said the captain, quickly, God for
bid. / have inquired concerning him; your
tory leaders here have told me that nls ll1e
| is valuable to them ..-..- =. .
| ttHe! Our manager?' cried Dickie
"Ay., said the captain. '"They say that he
alone holds in check your most dangerous
class, the rooemakers. Your Mr.. Secretary
! Fucker says this manager can DO more TO
keep the towns peace than "a regiment Oh ora-
| goons. - .
| "Indeed?" said Dickie as he began to lead
| the way This was a surprise, that MIR. Sec
| rotary Fucker should even know of the exist
ence Of the Ellery manager. Yet the state.
ment was likely true. Ropemakers nad
brought about the massacre but since the
soldiers coming they had been very qulet.
II he should he killed, or even injured
bv one of u.s." said the captain, "his men,
whose bread, I understand, depends on him
l alone, would have the town by the ears at
| once There must be no duel.
They went along together, tall, numbering
Dickie and the sprightly captain contrasting
! greatly vet the Englishman could even chat
| gavIy Dickie found, with such stranger
| and a boy as he or the town and the port
| bill Of a. certain search which the captain
! feared he must prosecute without success,
| unless one Dickie Ellery-- WI
"Dickie Ellery!'' cried Dickie. why,
am he!"
live in great stone house by the water?
And own ropewalks? Yes, so I was told.
| And had you, my dear sir the captain
halted and looked upon Dickie very earnestly
ia brother who went away some years
| ago?''
ing as he always did when he thought OF
| Frank 'tBut he did not go away. He
| drowned, was seen to drown here in the har-
Dor
@"You will excuse me,'' said the captain,
quickly, eff touched upon grief. My sis
ter is depending upon me to find the rela-
tive Of one who saved her life. This Is a
disappoin sment; was certain of you. Now
I know not where to search They went on
| in silence until they came to the ropewalks.
Through the window Of the long building
they saw figures go to and fro. Under sheds
| were piled few bales Of rope. Other sheds
stood almost empty--the hemp Sheds their
| lessening storage foretelling the time when
the Ellery works must close. But the place
was active still. Two months more, the
| manager expected.
The captain went to the open door Of one
of the ropewalks and looked within. Down
the long perspective men were walking back
ward, weaving hemp, from knots at their
waists, into the twisting ropes. Boys hast
ened to and fro among them with more hemp.
Talk and laughter echoed in the place, ceas-
ing by degrees as the men, one after another,
perceived the British officer
"A tall fellow came forward. What dye
want, sir?' Then he perceived Dickie and
pulled his forelock.
.tSend the manager, Pete, said Dickie.
Say, SIR and the man went to fetch him.
The captain, at the door, was conscious OF
lowering glances at his uniform but looked
in at the work with the frank interest he felt
Somewhere in Boston, he said, sis 8
ropewalk that is dear to me. You are inter-
ested, Mr.. Ellery I was never in the town
before this month, yet here was bred man
to whom owe he stepped and unused