The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-15

porariiy or permanently, according to orders from headquarters. For a few weeks Henry heard noth- ing in reply to his application Tor membership in the two unions At last. just when he expected that the trouble was settled, he received his money back with the decision that he was not eligible.
 chsetham swore that he would stick by his workman. The compact had barely been made when Henry was blown up by gunpowder that had been mixed with the coals in his forge. Luckily he leaped for the window the instant he saw the flash. Otherwise death or blindness would have ended his career in Hilisborough. As ft was, he jumped Into the yard, black as cinder, and half insensihie from the shock. It happened that the best doctor in the town was near by, Dr. Amboyne. whose word was law among the toughest as we'll as the best people in the place. Rich, eccentric and kind, he spent at least as much time healing the worldly and mental troubles os his patients as their physi- cal hurts.
 He saw at once that Henry had been suffering for long time from heavy strain and that this narrow escape had shattered his nerve badly. Disregard
 
 he insisted on driving him to . farm near Raby Hall. and promised to see Mrs. Little to tell her that slight illness had made his sojourn in coun- try scenes advisable.
 When he called on Mrs. Little he cried out in amazement, and his cry was answered by hers. pr Amboyue had been an unsuccessful suitor for her hand. and his heart had never re- Iinou ishe ed his love for her He had an additional Incentive now to save her from worry, and succeeded. Henry returned with his nerve restored and firm in the resolve to fight. cheetham again swore to him that he would stand by him if he would re- main. He did 1t with good reason. Henry Little's work was worth f50o profit to him each year.
 I'm a man end not a nousew said he. But the next d&y gis men struck. He said he would shut up the works rather than be q slave. 4 little while l later. when all the grindstonss stood | idle and not a hands turn was being done. he clustered rather more freebly. I Half an hour after that he surrendered body and soul discharged Henry Little and welcomed his victorious workmen back.
 At first the young man confessed him. self beaten and thought of returning | A8SG I Garden would not let him go. Then came 8 grim desire to beat his ene- mics after all. A wild idea came into his brain.
 During his stay near Raby Han he had found an old deserted church. built many generations before. in the heathery depths of the hili country, when people dweiied there. When they removed to the valley. three miles away. the church was abandoned Be- cause it held the tombs Of the Rabys, the Squire had kept 1t in repair, but no one now came near 1t from one years end to the other.
 Here Henry Little. driven from his trade in the town. decided to set up a carving tools that were in such de- mand. Suppressing his disgust at Cheetham, he arranged with that greedy manufacturer to supply him with tools for a price per gross that meant more than Et0 week to Henry. Cheetham exclaimed in horror against the terms. but acceded to them will ingIy enough for all that.
 Little hired 8 horse and cart and moved his forge and other necessities to the church at night. Then began curious double life for an honest man to lead. By day he pretended to work at his trade as woodcarver. having
 
 the unions. At sunset he would steal out of his house by rear exit, mount a fast hose that he had bought, and ride to Cainhope Church, where he would forge blades all night long. These. when finished. were sent to Cheetham wrapped in bundles, marked with oiphers.
 Autumn went and winter arrived and Henry Little was in the full tide of success. unsuspected, undisturbed and turning out so much work that his income was running far beyond what he had calculated in his most sanguine moments.
 Even on Christmas Eve he rode away I to his secret forge. It was a wild night the snow coming down in im- mense flakes. The windows of the church were curtained with 1t and made the deserted place an appalling spot. where youth and life seemed wicked ihtruders.
 Henry shivered a little when he l looked around him, and could not bear ] the darkness this night Contrary to his habit. he lit two candles and plac- | ed them near one of the windows, that l they might illuminate the deep 1 shadows around him. 1 He blew his coals to a white heat and soon made his hammer ring and the sparks fly. Suddenly wild cry l rang out. f1e SLaFTeo Dack, DeSpltG 1 himself a cold shudder ran down his back. Then he recovered and listen 1 ed.
 Help! Helpt" cried a voice.
 He sprang outside and found an inert mass huddled against the door | He picked it up and bore 1t to the forge The flame shone on a white face. It was Grace Garden.
 He uttered a sound of love and ter- TOT, and patted her hands and kissed them, and drew her head to his breast She opened her eyes and smiled at him faintly.
 He laid her gently down. blew up the fire, heated some wine and gave 1t to her. Then he kneeled down again and held her hand to his heart. Grace Car den looked at him. Her pale face flushed, grew pink. then rosy red. But she did not draw her hand away,
 "Halloi" said a voice behind them. and Mr. Coventry hobbled in, fright ened, covered with snow and ice and half frozen.
 He started in amazement at the scene. Grace recovered at his appear ance and blushed more than ever. Then she looked aFund her in aston ishment. She did not. however. ask any questions but told Henry that she and Mir. Coventry had been invited te spend the Christmas week in Raby Hall, and that they had lost their way while exploring Cairnhope Mountain. They had become separated and she was on the verge Of lying down In the snow and succumbing when her eye 1 cat,sbt A Rieam of light and she man.