~
:AN UNCONSCIO US HERO. ;
BY MRS. M. L. RAYNE.
“No,” Eleanor Landsberg said, as she
crushed the cluster of fresh American
Beauty roses she held in her clasped
hands with painful intensity, as if they
were somehow to blame, “I cannot
marry you, forris—you are not my
hero.”
“Heroes do net exist out of novels,”
answered Morris Holmes, with that per-
fect inflection that good breeding gives
to its possessor; “I cannot fight for my
ladylove as the medieval knights did,
nor fly to the wars in these degenerate
days.”
“Then be a soldier of peace; there
are daily wars to be waged that need
disciplined soldiers. Be anything but
a dawdler on the silken skirts of so-
ciety. You believe that because youhave
inherited a fortune that other men
earned for you by the sweat of their
brows, you are to lie idle in the
lap of luxury. Shame, Morris Holmes!
When I marry I will choose my husband
from among the ranks of the people;
my hero must do great deeds, not dream
them all day long." - ’
“My dear socialist,” said Morris, with
the familiarity of long acquaintance, “if
you will listen to reason a moment you
will see that with money you can rem-
edy a great many evils; without it you
are practically helpless.” .
“How many evils have. you rem-
edied, Morris? Answer me that.”
“Few as yet, I admit. But, Eleanor,
is it my fault that my father left me
a fortune? Listen, dearest. I will
call you so this once. Why not help me
become his almoner? At least I am
not a profiigate.”
“Pardon me,” returned the young
woman, tearing the heart from a rose
——a performance which made the sensi—
tive Morris wince——“I think you are
a profligate with time and influence,
and all the other'good things which you
waste by lavishing them on yourself.
How will you account for wasted op-
portunities and talents folded in a nap-
kin when the day of reckoning comes ‘3”
“What would you have me do to
prove myself a hero?” asked Morris
Holmes, with a gently patronizing air,
as if he had been speaking to a child,
and which infuriated Eleanor.
“Do?” she repeated, with withering
scorn; “do anything to show the world
that you are a man, and at least capable
of managing your own affairs! Life
is: full of instruction, but you have
never" learned one of its lessons. You
have not even been a profitable dream-
er.”
She was intense and angry, and at
last he was aroused. He rose without
his usual dawdling elegance of man-
ner and said: _
“You have taught me one lesson,
Eleanor, that I shall not forget. I hope
when you find your hero he will love
you as truly as I have done——as I will
continue to do, if you do not forbid
me. And now, good-by. We part
friends, do we not?”
Before she answered him Eleanor
rose and in so doing dropped theflow-
ers she had been holding. Morris
sprang to pick them up, when instantly
she placed her small, imperative foot
upon them, crushing them to the floor.
He looked at her, shocked and wounded.
“You see how hopeless it is that you
should ever understand me,” she said,
bitterly. “You have more considera-
tion for, these hothouse weeds than for
the souls of those around you. You
hurt and wound me by your indiffer-
ence to vital questions, but you are
sorry for the roses! Good-by, Morris! ”
“No berths left in the sleeper, sir.”
“But, I tell you, I must have aberth—
I can’t sit up all night,” and Morris
Holmes shivered at the thought of such
a hardship.
“A great many good people do, sir,”
said the conductor. “There’s old Judge
Skinner and his wife, they are both
going to sit up to-night.”
“But my man telegraphed for a sec-
tion.”
“They were all taken then, sir.”
It was strange that at the first mo-
ment Morris Holmes started out to be-
come a hero and learn the scamy side of
life he should be reduced to actual suf-
fering like this. If he had been
dressed in his usual fashionable and
elegant traveling attire the conductor
would have suspected that he had un-
limited wealth and would have bought
out some less important traveler or
sold him a berth already negotiated
for, as the all-powerful car magnate
has the privilege of doing.
But Morris Holmes had donned the-
plain. dress of the ordinary business
man,’and wore a hideous gray ulster
that concealed his elegant personality,
and was on his way to the mining dis-
trict, Where a mine was locatcd'of which
he was part owner; not a gold mine,
but one that brought in gold— a bitu-
minous coal mine, knOwn as the Little
Summit.
Morris had taken little or no notice
of this branch of his wealth. the man-
ngcment and details being left to his
agent. but When he left Eleanor Lands—
berg on the occasion of her second and
final refusal of his offer of marriage,
he suddenly determiner] to take atrip
to the mining country and try his hand
at heroism, in the way of improving the'
condition of the men who worked in the
underground chambers, a work to him
the embodiment of hardship and pri-
vation. He was going incognito, with
the feeling of one who was about to
perform a long neglected duty.
A more desolate place than that in
which the Little Summit mine Was lo-
cated would be hard to describe. The
mine that poured wealth into the cof-
fers of its owner was conducted by ill-
paid, sodden men, scrubby boys, and
half-blind mules. The foreman was
brutalized by a long course of low
wages. heavy expenses and sordid sur-
suspicious silence, being more than
'shocked almost out of recognition of
D patrimony, indifferent as to methods.
’ served.
"‘Old Geordie.”
, lowed, but it meant little to Eleanor.
rounding. It was a word and a blow ‘
with him, or an oath more demoraliz-
ing than blows. When a stranger ap-
peared he was received with sullen and l
. 4‘.
\
THE'EVENINGVGAZEPTE.
half suspected of wanting the bread
out of some other mouth. Morris was
himself by this unexpected state of
things, for he felt himself passively to
blame. He could not lay the odium
on the shoulders of his agent, for he
had never asked him a single question
concerning the mine or the moral or
physical welfare of the men. ‘ He had.
taken the revenue from it as part of his
He had been helping to grind women
and children into the dust that he
might 1011 in luxury. His conscience,
stung him with reproaches which were
inadequate to make him sufleras he de-
“Your hand, friend,” he had said to
the foreman, and noted the ugly scowl
and determined air of refusal with
which the man drew back.
“ ’T ain’t as white as yours, and how
do I know that you are my friend?”
was the reply.
“I am here to see what you need, and .
will help you if you will let'me,” an-
swered Morris, gently.
“A spy or an overseer, like enough.
The sooner you get out of these quar-
ters the better for your health. If one
of the. bloomin’ mine owners sent you
here, go back an’ tell him ’t ain’t safe
to come'spyin’ roun’. Tell him, too,
that we’ll give him a warmer welcome
—-—hounds.that they all are! ”
The miners, dirty, black and complain-
ing, had gathered around the foreman,
and, although they 'hated him, they
were bound to him by acommon grudge.
“Tell them to come and get filled with
warm lead—we'll heat it fur the
’casion,” said a burly miner known as
“They dassn‘t come nigh their own
property,” said another; "they’re white
livered c0wards and not worth the pow-
der to blow ’em to thunder.”
“Go baclcto your master and tell him
what his lovin’ workmen says,” said the
foreman, contemptuously, “an’ get a.
photygraff of some of the hungry chil-
dren and dyin’ mothers for the family
album. My missus will give you hers."
“Men,” said the stranger, unbutton-
ing his heavy ulster and throwing it
open, “have you ever heard of Morris
Holmes ?"
A groan and a series of yells saluted
him.
“Aye, and his father afore him. It’s ,
that he might lie soft and eat fine food
that we gets lost in the choke an’ damp.
If he sent you, go back and tell him
to come out here himself. We hev a
long account to settle, and the figgers
is waitin’."
It was “Old Geordie” who spoke.
“I am Morris Holmes.”
Now, if there is any quality that the
rough and lawless of creation recognize
and admire, it is courage, and after the
first start of surprise, which in that sod-
den crowd was genuine and dramatic,
the men felt an instant respect for this
scalding of wealth, who was not afraid
of them, and something like a cheer
broke from their hoarse throats.
“I am here to right your wrongs,”
continued Morris, in a voice that sound-
ed like a commander on the battle-
field, “but I demand protection at your
hands. I demand your confidence and
that of your wives and children. I
have the right to ask this. For the
present that is all I have to say.”
A few cheered him, others remained
sullen and discontented, good news be-
ing received with caution and suspicion.
Eleanor Landsberg had no word from
Morris for six months. Then she re-
ceived a paper marked in red ink, which
had a paragraph that interested her.
It gave a plain statement of the great
improvement that had taken place in
the Little Summit mine, and went on to
describe the comfortable homes of the
miners, the new machinery which had
been put into the mines to take the place
of child labor, the comfortable stables
above the ground that had been built
for the mules, the improved social con-
ditions of the men’s families, and ended
with a glowing tribute to the “noble
energy of the young and athletic mine
owner, Morris Holmes."
Athletic? Eleanor repeated the word
with much satisfaction. It was of
moral athletes she was thinking, and it
pleased her mightily that this word
could thus be applied to Morris.
In a few moments she received a sec-
ond newspaper, published like the first,
in a town adjoining the mines, and giv-
ing the news of that section of the coun;
try. > It also contained a marked para-
graph, but the marking was irregular
black lines of jagged pencil, and on the
border was drawn a rude hand, pointw
ing to the notice and the badly written
but legible “Old Geordie.”
Eleanor read in a few intense words
the news that had been sent to her.
There had been an accident in the mine.
The roof of the entirechamber had fall-
en and buried 20 miners beneath it.
The men were rescued with great. dif-
ficulty, and some of them were badly in—
jured. When all were supposed to have
been saved, there was a wailing cry, and
the wife of “Old Geordie” struggled
from the hands of friends and tried to
throw herself into the mine. Morris
Holmes. pale and out of breath, called
for men to go down with him and res-
cue “Old Geordie.” No one responded.
The men owed their lives to their fami-
lies, and they knew the danger of a fall-
ing roof. So Morris, with one look at
the blue sky above, swung into the or We '
and was lowered alone amid an awe-
stricken silence into the bosom of death.
There was not much to tell. When the
signal was given there were willing
hands to help deliver the two men from
the wreckage, but only "one came up
alive. The other had succumbed to
the fatal damp. A long panegyric fol-
Her eyes rested on four oft-quoted
hackneyed lines that closed the story
—they would never leave her: "
“For whether on the scaffold high,
Or in the battlc’s van,
The fittest place for man to die,
Is Where he dies for man." .
She had found her here, never again
to lose him. He had returned on his
shield.-—’—Detroit Free Press.
‘SCARCITY (IF GLASS. MlscsLLANEous ITEMS.
The Demand in America Far Ex-
ceeds the Supply.
Some Interesting Facts About the Trade
from a Reliable Source—The State
of Affairs in Belgian
Factories.
Foreign window glass has been al-
most completely shut out of the United
States. The latest reports show a
rapid falling off in imported glass, and
during the last few months imports
have been lower than ever before in the
history of the trade. All the glass
needed in this country will be manufac-
tured at home, as prices and wages
across the water are at the lowestnotch,
while the workers are considering the
advisability of demanding an advance
in wages. Editor Frank M. Gessner, of
the National Glass Budget, who is well
posted on. the condition of the glass
trade says: .
“The Belgian manufacturers seem to
have about given upthe idea that the.
United States is a dependency of that
little kingdom so far as window glass
is concerned. Our markets do not even
afford good fighting ground for them,
under present conditions. Wages
abroad are about as low as they can be
reduced, for even now such organiza-
tion as exists in Belgium is preparing to
demand higher wages at the first favor-
able opportunity. Owing to the large
curtailment resulting from the strike
last April and May there has been suffi-
cient trans-Atlantic demand to fairly
absorb the product untilrwithin a very
reasonable period. "
“A very slight increase in exports to
the United States is noted during Sep-
tember, when there was an uncertainty
about American factories starting up,
and importers placed increased orders
in the belief that late resump-
tion would seriously curtail avail-
able stock. The very full re-
sumption of American factories and
the organized condition of our manu-
facturers, the wise and liberal policy
which has been adopted in their deal-
ings with the distributing trade, the
ready acceptance of changed conditions
by the jobbers and the promptness with
which they have placed their orders,'to-
gether with the firmness of manu-
facturers and the satisfactory cbndi—
tion of jobbers, has about convinced
Belgian manufacturers that they have
little profit to seek in this country in
the future. The 31 tank furnaces in op-
eration in Belgium are turning out
more glass than can be marketed, now
that the American market absorbs so
little of their product, and for the first
time in the past quarter of a century
they are called upon‘to cope with the
problem of overproduction.
“At a recent meeting the 'matter
was fully discussed, and it was decided
to reduce production after January 1,
proportioned to the capacity of firms
operating. The matter of arranging de-
tails was left to a committee of five, and
it is believed that production will be
reduced fully one-third for several
months in the new year. This is the
most convincing proof that American
window-glass manufacturers have
about fought their most formidable
foreign rivals to a standstill, and it is
hoped they will. make full use of their
opportunities, and not only amply sup‘
ply the entire demand, but take prompt
measures in their organized capacity
to bring the average quality up to the
high standard established and admira-
bly maintained by the leading tank
manufacturers of the country.
“Enough glass to satisfy the demand,
and of uniform high quality, must be
made the watchword of both the Pitts-
burgh and western manufacturers, and
unless prices are foolishly advanced
to such a point as to again stimulate
imports we ought to be able, in a few
years, to com letely' establish our in-
dustrial inde 'dence.”
The demand for window glass still
keeps up ~and is in excess of the im-
mediate supply. This is largely at-
tributable to orders stimulated by dis-
counts offered large buyers and mem-
bers of the Jobbers' association by the
organized manufacturers, and on ac-
count of building activity. The regular
demand, however, is very large.
Advices from Belgium were that an
agreement had been reached among
manufacturers which will curtail pro-
duction during December, each of 31
firms operating-tank furnaces having
agreed to close their factories tempo-
rarily in order to prevent overproduc-
tion—Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph.
Distrust the Looking Glass.
Every girl who is dissatisfied with
herself should remember that she is
better looking than the most kind of
looking glasses bid her believe. A mir-
ror, it is contended, cannot flatter a
face. that is in its natural state, that
is, not “made up.” Even the very best
plate glass has a pale green tinge,
which reflects a color a trifle less clear
than original; hair also has always a
more glossy sheen than the glass shows.
If it is wavy the glass never shows
the best of the waves, and if itis straight
the glass accentuates the straightness.
-More important and still better to be
remembered and carefully treasured,
no one ever looks at the face so close-
ly,or so critically as the owner of it
looks! at the reflection in the glass.
Blemishes that are a grief to a non-
conceited girl may pass quite unno-
ticed by her friends. The two or three
gray hairs that appear unfairly soon
on the head of a girl who overworks
her brain simply have the effect of
high lights in a picture and pass for an
extra gloss. The figure that looks
heavy when seen only as far as the
waist in a glass may be absolutely in
graceful proportion when seen with the
rest of the figure.—Table Talk.
He Took It Coolly.
“What did Fred have to say about
my refusing him?” ,
“He said he would have proposed
sooner if he had known you weren’t
going to accept him.”—Town Topics.
—The biggest moose ever taken in the
Aroostook region of Maine, the state’s
best hunting ground, was killed recent-
ly by Col. A. A. Baker, of Newport, R. I.
A game official measured the animal,
and his figures are: Weight, dressed
and including hide, With the bobsled on
which it was hauled, 1,360 pounds;'
spread of antlers, 49 inches. The an-
tlers have 15 prongs on One side and 13
on the other. , .
——The addition of 75,000 acres to the»
Adirondack park is a cause for satisfac-
tion. The land purchased from Dr. Webb
make the largest single block yet ac-
quired in furtherance of the purpose of
extending the park to include the 2,807,-
760 acres fixed upon as a proper reserve
for the maintenanceof the forest and
streams so necessary to the state. With
this addition the public domain will
amount to 675,000 acres.
—-The prospect of another Ashantee
war recalls'Sir Wilfred Lawson’s sum-
mary of the English campaign of 1873.
He asked in the house of commons what
England had gained by her victories
over the Ashantees.
own question. He was reminded that
there had been no treaty. He remarked
that he was not sorry, as the treaty
would have been worth no more than
the umbrella.
——One of the smallest men and one of
the biggest girls in the country live
down in Georgia. The former is Mr.
Tom Coster, of Hazelhurst, who is .24
years old, is three feet nine inches high,
and weighs 56 pounds. He has two
younger brothers who are each more
than six feet tall. Mr. G. W. Rodden-
berry, of Okenfenokee, has a girl 13
years old who weighs 175 pounds, and a.
boy seven years who weighsrllo pounds
and wears a number six shoe.
——0ne big firm of ranchers near Miles
City, Wash, employs all the year round
two hunters and a pack of 15 Russian
wolf hounds to keep the range free of
wolves and coyotes, which are a pest to
stock raisers all over the region. So far
this year the hunters have taken the
scalps of 223 wolves and many coyotes.
Whenever any traces of wolves or coy-
otes are found the pack is taken out
and put on the scent, and usually the
pests are quickly run down and killed.
This method is the only one that has
proved effective, as the wolves refuse to
take poisoned bait.
-——Another queer happening attrib-
uted to the recent earthquake that
shivered up through the middle states
from the gulf to the lakes is that many
wells have gone dry, and not a few cis-
terns and reservoirs have become empty
since theshock. In the case of the lat-
ter it is probable that the cement
cracked or the construction was other-
wise weakened, but this explanation
does not entirely explain the case of the
wells. The bottom of a well in Lagro
township, near Wabash, Ind., dropped
out entirely, and nothing that has been
used to sound the depths of the hole has
tbuched the bottom. To all appearances
there is an immense cavern under the
well hole.
HER FATHER’S OWN DAUGHTER.
Even in the Matter of Proposal She In-
sisted Upon Court Rules.
She was the daughter of a judge and
she listened with languid interest to
his plea.
“I love you devotedly,” he cried, pas-
sionately. “I am prepared to devote my
life to you.” .
“Be specific in your pleading,” she
cautioned. “Do not stray too far from
the point at issue.”
He hesitated and then asked, earnest-
1y:
“Will you be my wife?’
4 “Ah,” she said, “now I see the point
you wish to make.”
“I am not rich,” he urged, “but I
have enough to give you a comfortable
home, and my prospects are bright. I
offer you the love of an honest man,
who will do all in his power to make
you happy. I—”
She stopped him by a gesture.
“It is useless to continue at present,”
she said, firmly but kindly. “There are
several cases ahead of yours on the
docket."
“But,” he protested, “I want—”
She stopped him again.
“I must insist that these matters be
taken up in their regular order,” she
said, sharply. “Put your proposition
in writing and file it with my maid,
and it will receive due attention when
it is reached in the regular course of
business. I haven’t time to listen to
oral arguments in a case that can be as
well presented in briefs.”
.With a sigh he left, and put in his
time until late that night preparing a
petition for a rehearing. —— Chicago
Post.
A Small Custodian-
. It would be hard to surpass the gentle
humor of the following primary school-
ma’am’s story: “Maggie came into
school after recess recently, chewing
vigorously,” she began. “I thought
that perhaps she was finishing an apple
or a piece of candy, so did not say any-
thing to her. I happened to look in
Maggie’s direct-ion about half an hour
afterward and noticed that the masti-
cating process was going on as
hard as ever. Of course, I immediately
jumped at the conclusion that she was
chewing that childrenis delight and
teacher’s horror—gum. I called Mag-
gie up to my desk and accused her of
chewing gum. She denied it at once.
She stopped chewing, but had had no
time to remove the gum, for I watched
her closely as she came to my desk from
her seat. I talked rather sharply to
, her, and she finally brokedown and be-
gan to cry. ‘I was only minding it for
Katie Jones,’ she sobbed.”—Portland
(Me.) Express.
Proved.
Husband—I don’t see why it was nec-
essarj'r to call the doctor when the baby;
had only a trifling cough. ‘
Wife—VVell, dear, I asked the doctor,
and he said I did right—Puck.
“An old umbrella _
and a treaty,” he mad‘e‘a‘nswer to his
l
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