Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-07-14
e:s Storyette
WHEN 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 dc.
cided unanimously to remain away
from their work, he had been central
figure. He had even thought it neces-
sary to say few words in support ol
the position his fellow-workmen had
taken; and to fortify his courage hac
done very unusual thing for him.
One or two drinks, taken at just che
wrong time, had loosened his tongue
entirely foreign to his pnlegmatic ten-
permanent. After the meeting, where
he had distinguished himself, he went
to see Kate
Kate was a girl who had promised
to marry him as soon as he had laid
up $500, which sum she considered alb
solutely necessary to the comfort IF a
prospectively happy home. He was
almost there" as he expressed 1T,
when the strike came.
|, There was an unusual glitter in his
eye as he came into the modest parlo,
of Hates home and her keen senses
detected the odor of strong spirits IN
the first kiss.
Jerry and she pushed him away
from her Indignantly, you've been
drinking you promised me-"
At another time he would have been
sheepish and crestfallen 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 fearlessly,
condescendingly even.
'"Well, what of it?" he demanded
loosely. Then a triffe more earnest
ly: Really, Kate, I 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' 60
give up everything else with it?"
81 had to say something-justa few
words at the meetin'-and I took a
glass to give me courage"
Courage" she laughed mockingly.
'Tt's a 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 I was to lose
my job at the restaurant tomorrow I'd
need any of that kind of courage 10
help me bear it? I'd need what
money l had to help me get another "
you're woman"
"And is a woman Drawer than a
great, big, strong man? No, you can't
talk to me. l told you when we made
it up that so long as you kept from
drink and was sober and steady I'd
do my part. You've broken your
promise and you can go, Mr.
Ferguson
The last words were the quintes
sence of ruthless sarcasm, and the
mood of the man was to crafty her
desire to get rid Of him.
So the next morning found him
hands in pockets, lounging against 2
white post at one side of the common
a dull pain in his head, which was
not quite clear from the libations oil
the night before, and sinking feel
ing in his heart where the "achine
void" had begun to grow. He haG
been Woodworking and sober for he
last five or six years, since he had
known Kate, and now he was an idlel
with clouded senses. But he did no'
blame himself. Not yet. He cursed
his internal luck and maligned the
girl who had pointed out to him I:
folly.
The wind whistled shrilly around ar
adjacent building, and he pulled the
collar of his REFER farther over his
| face as he turned his attention to the
passing crowds. One steady stream G
| pederstians poured out of the grea
gates Just behind his shoulder, an(
mingling with the surging throngs or
| the sidewalk in front of him were
swept along like the rush of grea
waves laundering up to the encroach
/ ing sands.
! There was blockade of street car!
Just ahead. Motormen changed theil
ponos and slammed impatiently to EN-