The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-04-04

11OuGAlS cC IlCSC VII way W d ltC-
ture one day when man in overalIs
and blouse boarded the car Something
In the way he carried himself attracted
her attention
might be the Emperor William trav-
cling incog.," she unused as her aroused
glance took in the square set shoulders,
clear cut face and crisp hair. A few
months earlier it would not have oc-
CURED to her to notice a man in over
alls and blouse at ALL Seen from her
carriage, they had been mere shadows,
by no means human beings. Now all
was different Though she began to
suspect that the pursuit of knowledge
was only another of the endless make
shifts by which we strive to forget the
ennui of life, she had learned one cardi-
worker shares all the most important
things of life with the greatest poten-
tate
The young workman meantime had
dropped into corner seat, thrown one
leg over the other and, with an arm ex-
tended along the back of the seat, turn
ed a preoccupied glance out of the
window, thereby presenting to his WIS.,
avis a profile that, to say the least,
bespoke absolute physical integrity.
His hands, she noticed with growing
wonder, though large and powerful,
were of the sort most frequently seen
protruding from the sleeves of modish
tweeds or knowing tuxedos Emerg-
ing from the sleeves Of blouse they
were nothing short of startling, and
Miss Sinclair was stirred by an inter-
est that degenerated into curiosity.
What manner of workman could he be
who wore all the habiliments of toll
with the air of one descended from a
throne for an hours masquerading?
With an abrupt turn of the head, I'M
cannily suggestive of his having heard
her mute query, he turned and received
her puzzled glance full in the face.
For moment they stared at each 9TH
er with the undisturbed frankness of
pair of children; then Miss Sinclair,
with an acute recollection of the new
ly acquired fact that the humblest of
toilers is a person and not a thing,
withdrew her eyes, while the man in
overalls took his turn at inspecting.
1t was for this reason that she did
not see the slight twitch Of the lips
that had followed the open amazement
of her glance.
When, later in the day, she recalled
the little scene that followed she could
find but one excuse. 1t was an up
flare of that madness which certain
philosopher had long since discovered
as lurking in each and every human
brain.
A quick, resolute desire to know who
and what he was had seized her, and
for twenty-five years she had been ac-
customed to getting what she wanted.
workman, a man of the sort that
might come toto fix the electric wires
or solve plumbing mysteries? Why,
then, should she hesitate to address
him?
Lifting her eyes, she leaned forward
addressing d subject.
Pardon me- the voice was very
winning, but the dullest could not have
misunderstood; it was meant to put
an inferior perfectly at ease-"pardon
me, but l wonder If you would think
it very strange if asked you a few
questions. I'm interested in labor
unions" she continued. with a beaHti-
full directness, land l should so like to
hear labor's side. Excuse the person
atty, but you have the appearance Of
a workman who thinks for himself
who
She got no further, for something in
the mans face transformed her into
a picture of frozen dignity. Ripples
Of mirth seemed to be chasing each
other like little waves across his quiv-
ering lips, while his eyes held a hun
dred dancing smiles. Then suddenly
the lights went out, and his face was
all humble, fattered gravity.
I'll do my best, miss" he replied,
though, as to having thought the mat
ter out for myself, 1 can't claim that
have. Still, we-us union men-think
labor ought to have a chance, and
we're going to have it too. Well have
capital on its knees to us yeti Wen
knock the props from under it, and
don't you forget itp'
With thinly concealed anxiety-the
anxiety of one who was playing a part
and who wondered if he had done well
he watched the effect of his words.
But he need have had no fear, for his
listener had no standard by which to
Judge him. She had listened with slow
ly kindling eyes and the general ap-
pearance of one coming into touch
with the realities of life for the first
time.
When at last the car halted at Co
lumbia she alighted with the convtc-
ton that the man in the blouse had
infused a new interest into life, while
he. as the car coasted down the hill
into Harlem. stared blankly after her
disappearing figure for second and
then burst into uncomfortable laugh
ter.
Inc jokes Oh ue, NC SouhuOu "
himself ruefully. at seems, then, that
blood doesn't always tell and that it
does take the tailor to make the man."
He glanced at the address she had
scrubbed on a slip of paper for him,
shrugged his shoulders and narrowed
his eyes thoughtfully, the outcome be-
ing a decision that she needed the les
son. Besides, the corners of her mouth
were distracting!
In the days that followed Miss Sin