Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-11
Laura's Birthday Party in the Colonial
Court of Her Fathers Palace.

Court of Her Fathers Palace.
Slowly, cautiously they approached.
Snyder's attitude was eager, expect
ant, Hurd's was desperate. snyder
swung his rude weapon easily hold
ing il ready. HurdS nsts "ere
doubled. They closed.
SNYDER, his intended blow blocked
for the moment, found himself borne
backward by the fierce rush OF the
other. He struggled with ueterml-
nation worthy of a better cause Ana
his superior strength soon tod
straining and painting he slowly
forced Hurd to release his grip anu
showing his opponent from him, ne
suddenly. with the swiftness OF man
trained to such warfare. raised ms
club and sent it crashing down upon
the skull of the underfed and poorly
nourished stevedore.
Hurd dropped like a stone. He was
done.
CHAPTER II,
'sVait until my birthday, PGrry-its
onl-- four months-and then perhaps
Laura Powers had gently Withdrawn
her soft white hand from the more
masculine ones of Perry Travis ana
had gazed dreamily out across the
we'll trimmed lawns and beautiful gar
dens-had gazed out to the wide eX-
panse of blue ocean in the distance
and had let her pretty thoughts join
the pure white gulls as they scared.
with graceful curves, in unrestrained
and fanclful flight. Q
Then she had laughed--but not in
ridicule-and lightly touching her low
er's cheek with a gentle pat. had play
fully tweaked his ear and skipped mer-
rily away
Laura was a beautiful girl-beauti-
full and spoiled All through the 20
years of her life her every whim had
been granted-her every wish had
been her fathers law. She was his
one weakness. For her he reserved
all his smiles She alone knew his
softer side
She was happy and pampered and
INDUCED. S a had reveled in a fathers
love-a love mat amounted almost to
worship. And now she knew that she
had gained another mans love-the
love of a man who was worthy and
had her fathers approval.
Small wonder that the DAYS had
flown swiftly. Small wonder that time
had taken unto itself wings. And now
her birthday was here. Already the
guests were assembling. Already Perry
was at the house eager and impatient
for his answer. And even yet Laura
sometimes wondered Just what that
answer would be.
Laura's birthday party in the colo
Mai court of her fathers palatial man.
sion was much like other parties in
dulged in by the very rich and those
who ape them. All the guests were in
colonial costume and from a huge
shell in the center Of the grounds, at a
given time appeared three men dressed
to represent 1.-THE Spirit of 10" who
parade about 70 the tune OF much ap-
plause and hand clapping.
And Laura, while entering into the
gayety, about her. vet found her mind
frequently wandeSing away from her
Surroundings: found herself constantly
trying to concentrate on che answer she
was SO soon to give Perry.
And then he came to greet her Long
and fondly he gazed into her eyes and
unconscious of her surroundings she
let him hold her hand longer than was
strictly necessary
Quietly her father stepped up to
where they stood.
Friends" he said. 'T wish to an
nounce the engagement of my daughter
Laura to Perry Travis.
The confused laugh and the pretty
bushes that mantled her cheek. chas-
ing themselves in telltale profusion up
to the very roots of her wavy hair,
were enough to tell those present that
her fathers words had not displeased
her. Perry had his answer.
Just then. as If the fates were 10th
that happiness should reign supreme.
there came an interruption. While the
guests were crowding up and about
Laura the women kissing her and the
men showering CONGRATULATIONS upon
her. the servants were trying co keep
a committee of Workmen from entering
at the gate.
Tim Shand was at their head-Tim
the fiery-Tim the eloquent. For weeks
now the men had been on strike. For
weeks there had been turmoil and strife.
For weeks there had been starvation in
the homes of the strikers and destitu-
ton among the children of the work.
ingmen Ever since the trouble be-
tween Synder and Hurd the di.scontent
of the men had grown. And then had
come the last straw-the order given
by Powers and enforced by Snyder
an order working the men an hour
longer each day and all day Sunday
without extra pay. Even Snyder. ty-
rannical as he was known to be. had
protested slightly at the latest out
rage.
1.-The men'll never stand it." he had
said.
Times are hard and 1t must bo
done" Powers had answered.
"The men will strike" Snyder had
ventured.
Then we will get Others" the mill
lionaire had answered.
And So going from group to group
Snyder had driven them harder. had
shouted the new orders at them, had
sought to coerce them into submission
by a volley OF filthy oaths.
CONTINUED ToMoRRoW.l