Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-16

CHAPTER III.
The Strike Begins.
Il ~ n this particular Monday
the Hennebeaus had the
Gregoires and their daugh-
ter, Cecily, to breakfast. Quite
a party had been arranged. At
ter breakfast Paul Negrel was to
take the ladies over st. Thomas,
a new pit, or rather one newly
reopened, with all the latest me-
chanical improvements. But all
this was nothing more than a
pretty pretext This party was
the invention OF Nine. Henne-
beau, to hasten the marriage of
Paul and Cecily.
And just on that very Monday,
at 4 in the morning, the strike
had abruptly broken out. When,
on the list OF December the com
pany had applied its new tariff
and system, the miners had re-
manned calm, At the end OF the
fortnight, when paid, not one OF
them had made the slightest OBJ
lection. The whole of the adj
ministrative staff. from the direc-
tor to the lowest inspector i'm
agined that the tariff had been
accepted. Their surprise on that
morning was, therefore, proper
tionately great on receiving this
declaration of war, showing tac-
tics and a power of organization
that seemed to indicate an ener-
getic guidance.
Great Strike Begins.
At o'clock Dansaert came
personally to awaken NJ. Hanne-
beau and to tell him that not
single man had gone down the
Voreaux pit. The village Of the
Two Hundred and Forty" when
he passed through 1t, was fast
asleep, its doors and windows
securely locked. And the moment
the director had jumped out of
bed, his eyes heavy with sleep.
he was overwhelmed on every
side. Every quarter of an hour
q messengers ran up; telegrams
kept pouring in like hall
i storm. sr
SAT first he had hoped that the
revolt was confined to the Voreux
pit. but the news became more
serious at each minute. At the
Crevesoeur and Marion pits the
work was stopped; at the Made
leine none but the stablemen had
gone down; at the Victoire and
Feutry- Cantel, the two best dis
ciplined pits. the men We're re-
duced by a third; at st. Thomas
only every one was at his post
Its men seemed to have re-
manned outside the movement.
Until O'clock he dictated tele-
grams to everybody and to every
where--to the Project Of Lille, to
the members of the company's
board, informing the authorities.
asking for instructions. He had
sent Negrel on a tour of inspec-
ton to the neighboring pits in or
der to have authentic particu-
lars. All at once NJ. Hennebeau
remembered the breakfast, and
was about to send his coachman
TO the Gregoires to tell them that
the party was off, when a sud
den hesitation, a want of resolve,
made him waver; him, the man
who had just in a few brief
phrases prepared his campaign
with almost military promptitude.
He went up to the dressing room
of Nine. Hennebeau, whose maid
was just putting the finishing
touches to her hair.
Insists on the Breakfast.
Indeed, they have struck" she
said, very TRANQUILITY, when he had
consulted her well, what is that
TO as? We are not going to stop
eating on their account, are we?"
And to all he could say about
the breakfast being interrupted.
perhaps, about the projected visit
TO the pit having become impos-
sible. she had a ready answer.
why spoil a breakfast that was
already on the fire? And as for
the excursion to the pit. II the
thing seemed impossible, they
might abandon the idea after
ward.
Besides" she added, when her
maid was gone, you know well
enough why l wish to have these
good folk here. This marriage
ought 10 concern you much more
than all the nonsense OF your
workmen. And-and / wish It, so
there's an end OF ir and don't
contradict me"
He looked at her. his lips quiv-
ering slightly, the features OF the
stern and resolute disciplinarian
showing for a few seconds the
secret grief OF a broken heart.
She had remained seated before
the glass, her shoulders bare, in
the fully mature, but still re-
splendent, beauty Of the woman
of 40 For a moment he felt in
clined TO take her into his arms.
but he restrained himself because
for the last ten years husband
and wife had lived apart.
Very well. then" he said, leav-
ing the room. wen counter
mand nothing"
Husbands Hard Struggle.
Hennebeau was born in the Ar
dennes. His start in life had been
difficult. like that OF most poor,
young orphans thrown on their
own resources in Paris. After
having, by dint of great priya
tons. managed 10 attend the
courses OF the Mining Institute
he had, at the age of "a, obtained
She appointment OF engineer 10
the St Barbe pit, belonging to
he Grand Combe COMPANY
Three years afterward he became
c!visionary engineer TO the Marles