Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-10

said the company abused it's success.
After two months and a half of the
strike, the men, conquered by hunger,
had returned to the pit and had been
forced to accept the tariff-this dis
guised abatement in wages. horrible
at present because red with the blood
of their comrades.
An hours work had been stolen
from them, and they had been made
to break their oath never to sur
render Work had recommended ev-
erywhere, at Miron, the Madelaine
Crevecoeur and the Victory.
Again along the roads the troops
of miners passed like a herd of cat
tie, and they shivered as of old in
their thin clothing, their heads bowed
their hearts bitter with a desire for
vengeance.
When Stephen reached Jean Bart
the descent had begun-the cages
were being drawn up. He stood
motionless for moment in the midst
of the noise and hurry, watching the
monster as it swallowed its rations
of human flesh. The sight of the
cages disappearing filled him with a
horrible dread-he had to turn his
back.
In the great, ill-lighted shed he did
not see the countenance of a single
friend The miners. waiting lamp in
hand, glanced toward him, then drew
back in a shame faced way. They
recognized him, and felt no bitterness
any longer; indeed they seemed to
dread his presence as if afraid he
would reproach them for their
cowardice
Presently, as new band came up,
he saw one of his lieutenants during
the strike.
You, also!' Stephen murmured.
The other grew pale, and his lips
trembled as he said:
What could I do?-I have wife,"
And now Stephen recognized others
and cried:
You too-and you-and YOU
They all shuddered stammering
simultaneously;
81 have a mother.--I have chill
dren!-We must have bread"
The cage delayed to appear, and
they all stood afraid to look at one
another in the shame of their de-
feat.
And Mo her Maheu?" asked Ste
phen.
A gesture warned him that she was
about to appear The silence con-
tinued, and when Stephen held out
his hand to each in turn it was tight
ly grasped with a pressure which ex-
pressed the general rage at having
yielded, the universal desire for re
yenge.
Pierron came in; during the last
eight days he had been the head of
the gang; the workmen drew back;
for his advancement had made him
proud. The sight of Stephen annoyed
him, but he was relieved when the
young man announced his immediate
departure, and they began to talk
La Pierronne now kept the Progress
Tavern, thanks to the directors, who
had been very kind to her. Then he
stopped to abuse Daddy Mouque for
not clearing out his stable at the
regulation hour Mouque listened
meekly then, before descending, gave
his hand to Stephen, and the latter
knew that the old man had par
doned him the deaths of his children,
and was so moved he could not speak
they parted without a word on Ell
thei side.
Mother Maheu isn't coming this
morning" Stephen presently asked
Pierron.
The other affected not to hear. but,
after 4 little, he moved away under
preteXt of giving an order, and called
back:
What? Oh, Mother Maheu-why.
there she is
She had just come out of he
shea IN her vest and breeches, with
her lamp in her cap. The company
had made a charitable exception in
favor of this poor woman who had
been so terribly afflicted As she
was too old to be put at the hauling,
she was employed a little ventilator
which hal been established in the
north gallery, in the purga toria re-
gions under Tartaret BY working Tor
ten hours al the wheel till her back
was nearly broken and she was al
most suffocated by the heat, she
earned 80 sous day.
When stephen saw her in her mems
clothes, looking so unuttera bly,
wretched, he was so overwhelmed that
he could scarcely stamme. some bro
ken phrases about wishing to bid her
good bye before he went away. She
looked st him without appearing to
hear a word he said, then suddenly
cried:
so it astonishes you 20 see me
here! It's quite true I threatened to
strangle the first of my family who
came bac., and here | ami ought to
strangle .yself, Ell? Oh I'd have
done it. be sure, except for the old
man and the little ones at home"
She went on in her low, tired voice,
not trying for excuaes; just narraC-
ing the pitiful story Of want which
had forced her to come to work.
cd.
ooh. he's mild and quiet. but his
he is completely gone. He v'asn't