El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-07

IL eight years prior to the strike.
Men had hoped much that the
gentle Influence of his wife would
soften his hard, stern pature, but the
hope had died when she died. An in
FAINT son was the gift she gave him
with her last breath. That son was now
a pretty fair-haired boy of seven. Some
times he had come with his father to
the mill
And then the busy workers had seen
new and startling phase in the life
Of their exacting master The boy had
touched the one soft human spot in the
hard, inflexible heart. The sight cleo
trified those who watched them. The
father loved his son with passion so
absorbing that his whole life seemed
scentered in that one dominating at
tachment. For him he laid up vast
wealth. For him he added burden to
burden upon the shoulders of his slaves.
And it was here that the present strike
cut him most deeply to the quick They
were rebelling against his boy-the
hope of his life.
The thought was gall and bitterness
to him. He set his teeth, muttered an
angry imprecation as he looked from
the window of his house to the torch
lit field where the strikers were gath
cred together.
Suddenly there was a tap at his door
He started and wheeled around. The
door opened, and a lady entered the
room. She was dressed In the neat
uniform of a nurse, and his surprise
could be read in his face. She an
swered the unspoken question with
calm dignity that forced his respect
do not let US waste words" she
said. 4 have come to ask you if moth
ing can be done to avert the calamity
which Is NOW ir7l0enffuo''
He raised his brow in affected sur
prise
Impending" he echoed. What OF
the calamity here? 1 am given to un-
derstand that famine is not far off,
She looked him steadily in the face
Famine is speeter terrible indeed"
she said. But there is another still
more CHASTITY. A fatal sickness is
breaking out among those unhappy peo-
pie They call it cholera. but it is
not cholera. Hunger and want have
bred it in their very midst. In sheer
pity we avoid it's true name. But men ,
call it the bubonic plague. The au-
thorities have been notified, and three
victims have been removed. Public
feeling runs high and tonight they
are mad with anger. A little word and
they would tear you limb from limb.
That word will be spoken. Presently
He went to the door and opened it.
There was a bitter smile on his face
that chilled the girl to the heart. She
bowed coldly.
Il will co. she said. They shall
not come here. Ny duty is before all. |
And, for the rest, let God Judge the
cause of His people. He has done it |
ere now. and may do it again.
On
when men and women looked at each /
other in silence. How it had gone there |
no one knew, but gone it had. Fair |
haired BERTHE Steele was sick. The /
plague had stalked into the great house /
while all were asleep, end laid its poi /
soned fingers upon tie child of their
enemy. Hurriedly a meeting was con-
vened. Perhaps this would turn Geof-
frey Steele to more merciful considera-
tons. They orept silently to the house
and stood in groups before the broad
windows. They saw the doctor come
and go, and his face was grave. A
groom came riding from the stables.
In his hand was a letter. They crowd
ed round to ask news of the child Then
all turned suddenly. A voice had REACH
I'd them from the balcony of an upper
room. 1t was Godfrey Steele. His
lace was hard and cruel
GU Jugs he cTleO, LINK not
will yield because your cursed plague
has entered this house. 1 have been
stern before, now I will be merciless.
Fou shall not re-enter the mill till you
nave conceded to me- ] will take one
tenth from every mans money. Now
10 your worst. Simmons. ride as you
never rode before. The nurse must be
here before nightfall.'
That night the thing was done. A
y hite and scared groom galloped up
20 the house with fearful tale TO tell.
Three hundred men had met them on
he road as they came within sight of
he lights of the mill colony. They
lad done. no violence until he had of
erred to resist them then in q flash
he realized the peril in which he stood
4 blow, a threatening gesture, and
hey would have killed him. They had
stopped the hired motor in which the
nurse was being driven to the house
# Godfrey Steele. Swiftly their COM
hands were given. The woman had
;hrunk affrighted from that sea of
cowling faces, and, trembling. had
'beyed- The car was turned about and
our of the men had mounted upon it. |
The chauffeur was dragged from his
perch. Then one of the strikers had
the clutch and driven the
iurse back to the spot whence she had |
Du4c IHcTS NOuIU De no one TO SOOLnc |
oor Berries pillow that dark night
The great mans anger was terrible
o behold But it was sliort-lived The
light of his moaning child tormented
i'm, and would not let him rest Hour
pon hour he paced the floor
f that sick room. The doctor came
nd made his examination. He had
card the story of the banished nurse
nd his heart was bitter. and with
wifi movement he turned to Godfrey
teele.
You must go for sister Rosalie," said
e. II you neglect my warning the
oy will die, and youths father-will
e his moral murderer"
Godfrey started. There was a frown
n his face as he replied:
L will send the groom" t
he smiled on them kindly, and came +
0 where Godfrey Steele was stand i
49, 2
Il have come to beg your help" he !
aid. My little boy is sick" IL