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VOL II.
LINCOLNTON, N. C, FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1880.
NO. 42
BY JOHN E. UARKETT.
COrVUIOHTKIt IIV . OI.MUJ'S "0"CK A
WKKK.'" AM. KKIIITS KK-iFl;VH ' f'UB
Ll?HKt HV fl'K.jUl. AHRANUEMKST
WITH TI1K PKOPRIKIOK OF
' Ov'( h. A WJKKK."
chapter I.
THK D1WN OF DOOM.
HE gray ot
in o r it i n pr was
stealing ovei
the city of
Grimsby, ami
the cold, fronty
air made the
in e ii and. w o
men who were
hurrying t o
their work,
move rapidly
alnp the l'l'PTy, sl?-f -sheathed streets.
It was the dawn ot a dirinal January
day, and the drizzle of the night had
resolved itself into a glare of ice upon
Ihe sidewalk. The bi city was awaken
.irir its energies to a day of activity. The
smoke a.-eiMided lo-vl- from black and
formidable lur na e-stacks, and the din
of a hundred whistles was heard in a
wild morning salute to the god of toil,
fuid summoning the numerous workers
of Grimsby to their tasks.
The stream of humanity, at flist mea
gre, gradually grew in volume until the
rlansy pavements rang with the clatter ot
thousands of nimble feet, moving in many
directions to mill, machine chop, factory,
and forge.
Miimlmg with these alert children of
toil, whose eairer faces and glowing pulses
were in harmony withtht- rude music of
the morning, and whose hearts were
throbbing quickly with the desire to en
.? on their daily tanks, might be seen
uiany weary miners returning home from
their night's work.
It was a wholesome picture which pre
stilted itself thisgi ay and cheerless morn
ing, in the utreets of Grimsby. The spirit
bt induxtry was abroad, and presented a
iheering sight as the sons and daughters
at toil hastened to their daily tasks with
lleau health, steady nerves, and sober
heads, lint presently a blot appeared
upon the pieture.
A trio of hilarious, well-dressed, and
Arunken young men, who had evidently
been " making a night of it," came stag
gering up the main street, and jostled
rudely against the sober men and women
ou their way to work.
The trio sang snatches of songs, and
appeared to be on good terms with them
lelves , as they offended the ear of sobrie
ty with their maudlin melodies.
Feeling doubtless that the performance
was altogether too tame, one of the re
nter wagered a bottle of wine with his
Comrades, that he would kis9 the first
pretty girl they met, and at the corner
of the next street proceeded to win. his
bet.
The young man who had made this
foolish wager was Clarence Carson,
nephew ot l'hilip Carson, the millionaire
president of the Grimsby Steel Works,
and a reckless youth in his cups.
' sign;
wtvose tare
it su)i of i :i)c(est yosv-ehoeked girl,
wWse taee was i pu tuie oT purity aim
nrtautV and who carried a lu nth-basket
to hey right hand, Clarence Carson
thought h opportunity had arrived,
.ike hundwdi of ofUers, tlte gill V on
U;i' way io work, nnd had no thought of
being disturbed, when she was rudely
Jostled by one of the hilarious trio already
described. Thinking possibly that this
L toll Wie young man broke through the
" Ikrfyq itrvcK the ejftridn' a tre-
'Mhdous bine (j,KiJitetu-e(n the eyes,
is the result of accident, rather than
design. uhe stepped to the opposite side
liifte "atk fof Mi1 Iu.ffi$P af leltinK tne
young man pas? by. but she had no soon
yr done this than he stuinblpd' against her
aiuucr basket with such f orco that it fell
trem her hand. Her hat also fell off.
The girl trembled and changed color.
Her reddening cheek betrayed her em
barrassment and emotion. Carson ad
dressed her. She could make no reply,
f : tjer htautltul v-yes were eloquent with
rsrtiears of indignation that she should
thus interrupted and annoyed, and
posed to criticism on her way Jo work.
A crowd soon assembled, and hefe was
ths usual scramble on the outskirts to
ascertain the cause of the commotion.
Clarence Carson was oblivious of the
fact that he wa attraoting so much at
tention. When the girl tried to pass he
l$liceptea mk and just as he did so a
tall, lithe young man broke through the
throng and struck the offender a tremen
dousblow of his fist between the eyes, that
foiled him to the sidewalk and rdden-d
the ley Hats willi his I.WmkI.
"Coward and ni(H,ni!M exi homed the
young man who had rendered Hi" -defenseless
girl sin h timely servi. e. His rim
fae Hushed with anger, and UU eje
blazed with iii.li-i.iil. n as lti: hr.iwm
arm struck and crushed Carson, who fell
u the street with the force of a bull that
has received his death-blow.
For a few ewiids Carson was uncon
seious, and could not comprehend what
had happened. The crowd cheered, and
Ned Neweomb, piekiusr up the hat. and
dinner-basket of the trembling girl in
whose Indialf he had struck an effective
blow, held theia until she was ready to
reeeive them from his hands. Ned
Neweomb read her thanks in her glorious
eyes, and felt that he had never seen any
one half so beautif ul in all his life.
Carson's companions swaggered and
swore, but Neweomb dial not wince be
fore their threats. Then Clarence Car
son picked himself up, considerably
sobered by the shock, but fierce with
rage.
For the llrst time since the encounter
Ned Neweomb realized that he had
knocked down the nephew of his employ
er at the steel mill, but he said to his com
panions, "It makes no difference; if he
was the son of the President of the Uni
ted States I would have done the same
thing, because no living man can insult
a woman when I am by ! "
This sentiment was greeted with a
cheer, and before it died away, Carson
said:
' I'll take care to get even with you for
this."
Ned Neweomb might have pleaded that
he did not know who it was that he
struck, but ho felt that it would be
cowardly to do this, and rising to his full
height, he said:
""Mr. Carson, your threats have no ter
rors for me. You were acting the coward
ly part of a rowdy toward a defenseless
girl on her way to work, and I don't care
how lich or influential you are, I felt it
was my duty as a man to protect her
from your insults. I may be the loser by
it, but I am not afraid of the consequen
ces. I only know that my mother is u
woman, and that I have sisters for whom
I would shed the last drop of my blood
rather thau have them insulted the way
you attempted to insult this hard-working
girl. You would not have dared to
insult her so if she was clad in silks and
sealskin."
" Bah, you are a clod," retorted Carson,
from whose nose the blood still rau free
ly; "ami you'll be sony for this, mark
my words."
"I have no fear," said Neweomb,
"either now or hereafter." But Clarence
Carson showed no disposition to take
summary vengeance, and contented him
self with a few promiscuous remarks of a
sulphurous nature.
"Go for him now, Carson," said the of
fender's companions; " we'll stand by
you."
Neweomb regarded the trio with con
tempt. "Come on, at once, all of you I " he
shouted, "and take satisfaction, if you
are men and not curs, as I believe you to
be," and as he spoke he seemed more
than a match for them.
"Paste him, paste hinil" exclaimed
Carson's combative companions, but
that worthy had learned prudence, from
his sudden contact with the sidewalk, and
he did not yearn for a repetition of the
exasperating experience.
Accordingly he compromised with his
" wounded honor" by liberally indulging
in threats ot wrath to come, and so
sneaked away as oon as he could from
what he knew was an awkward and
humiliating predicament
Ned Newoonb was "qvei whelmeft with
congratulations' from the ondooker
Strangers shook him warmly by thy
hand, and said he Ua.d nvted uobly, until
they began l ma.kQ him Iul ashamed.
lie hated notoriety of any sort, and
would rather escape the attention of the
crowd without a word of applause, than
bo mude no much of, but this was impos
sible. He was a hero in spite of himself
He had defended a poor girl fionhe in
sults of a ui nntceu trio, anu every man
and boy who witnessed the act, and w'lttf
had a spark of chivalry in his nature, ad
mired him for t,
RTbis adinirHtiou of Ned Neweomb Waa
not lessened by the fact that the young
man whom he chastised was the favorite
nephew of President Carson, of the
Grimsby Steel Works, before whom all
Grimsby bowed in homagu Ne.we.oiub
was employed tt ie w oik in tmesUpfi,'
and it tras soon whispered uUOUt that he
would have to look for work elsewhere.
It was not pleasant to hear such things,
and the brave young man was anxious to
get away from the crowd Jnd.eF.d, he
would have got fvvAy much earlier, were
it not that his eye scanned 'the multitude
eagerly for a missing face the face of
her he had rescued from the embrace of
Clarence Carson, aud whicl ws. destined
tq iiaurif tym vn h- w?-. out u was not to
lie seen".
It was a bitter disappointment to Ned
Neweomb that he could not seo her
again, and so he hurrjed away from the
questioners and walked rapjdly down the
street in the direction of the Gryrn.sby
gteel Mill, where he expected discharge
ftwaited htm as a punishment for assault
ing the nephew of President Carson in
defense of a mere wovkiug-glrl.
CHAPTFR II.
! Edith,, i
piese word were
spoken in a tone ol
voice that would be
ayi musical were less
vi metallic.
V " The man whe
&H$f I iPQkP a3 fe?ow
medium height,
thick-set, well-fed,
and forty-five years
(TP
of age, although
anxious to
bf
considered a decade younger. Hi
sparse moustache wasa jet black to th
general public, although his Larler fre
quently knew it by another -..lr. HL
clothes were of the latest cut; he wore e
large ring f. n the third finder of the left
hand; a good-sized diamond r park led ir
his shirt-front, and a pair of gold-rim
ined glansvri hung on the left bivast m
his low-cut vest. He pr. vented ihe tip
peareneo of thinking well of himself
and wishing that all the world might d
llikewise.
This affable, well-fed, nnd comfortably
Blad person was Itolert Gusset, of the
Arm of Gusset Fell, manufactures of
ladies' garments. .The firm prided it
self on the fact that its memlers were
sewing-machine philanthropists that
is to say, they were anxious to have
pvery woman in Grimsby learn the art
of sewing by machinery, with the ulti
mate object of becoming self-supporting.
The proximate object was to do six
months' or a year's work for Gusset &
Fell free of compensation.
Robert Gusset was standing in the out
er ollice of the factory of Gusset Ac Fell,
on the cold, frosty morning, of which I
write. He had been there for some time.
The work-girls rushed by to their rooms
on time, for they knew the penalty of
being a few minutes late.
All the other hands had gone in, and
the office was still when Edith Edwards
came. Her hair was slightly tumbled,
and her cheeks were as red as scarlet
when she entered the place, and her col
or deepened us she heard the cool, de
liberate voice of Mr. Gusset saying,
"Half an hour late, Edith."
She knew this was false, and that she
was only fifteen minutes behind, but
she said nothing, and hurried through
the office on her way to work. Her si
lence piqued Mr. Gusset. She was an
exceedingly pretty girl, und even if she
did work at the sewing-machine and
carry a lunch-basket, he liked to have
her large, dark, eloquent eyes meet his
In friendly recognition, and hear her
voice speak his name in musical tones.
But Edith Edwards bowed a trifle coolly,
although Mr. Gusset would gladly de
tain her for a few minutes' talk.
"Confound the girl's pride," he mut
tered, when she was gone. " I don't see
why poor people want to be proud.
There's not another girl in the factory
that does not show her pleasure at hav
ing me talk to her. But this Edith treats
me with the cool disduin of a duchess."
Robert Gusset was a bachelor. Ho
paced leisurely across the floor of his
office, aud, quite accidentally, of course,
found himself ci-a-cls with his reflection
in a large mirror. There was nothing
striking or romantic about his shadow
in the glass. His keen eye noticed that
it was the reflection of a figure so short
and thick-set as to le lest described by
the term dumpy. His growing baldness
ave him some anxiety, and it seemed
to him as if the wide white spot above
his forehead grew wider day after day.
He regretted to think that the day was
not far distant when he would look his
best with his hat on. He stroked his jet
black moustache with his left hand, ou
which the large ring showed to advan
tage and thought that women must have
fallen in love with worse looking men be
fore his time. Why couldn't Edith Ed
wards see that he liked her? He would
admit to himself that he did really like
the girl, and it was quite possible that he
loved her. What would she think of this
Aid she but know it ? Surely she ought
to be delighted to think that her maiden
ly charms had found favor in the sight
A her wealthy employer, Mr. Robert
Uusset, the senior partner in the firm of
Gusset Fell
'.' If I should' mt-,ri y her," he soliloquized,
''H will create no little scandal among
my wealthy friends, who will be shocked,
jf course, ut the thought of my wed
ding a working-girl; but confound it all,
he is so pretty and captivating that
she will outshine the best of them, aud
It is not the first time in history that a
rich man married a poor girl."
The idea of being refused by Edith nev
er entered Mr. Gusset's mind. That she
treated him With " the'cold disdain of a
duchess ""during "their scant hushies in
terviews, was, in his opinion, due to the
fact that she regarded him merely as her
employer, but he flattered himself with
the notion that all t his would be changed
as soon as he presented himself to her in
the role of a lover.
Presently there was a footstep on the
office floor, and a familiar voice said
',' Hello, liiother Gusset," dicl you hear
anything about the" racket down street?
' It was Fell, Mr. Dorrance Fell, a tall,
thin, eager looking man, ami Mr. Gusset's
partner, who propounded the question.
Mr. Gusset said he h.a.dii't heard of the
racket,'.', and then fell told 'him wiib
irreat elaborateness of detail how Edith
Ed wards was stopped ou'the street I rv.
Clarence Carsou, who was knocked
Jowu aud kicked fjx hs pains by a stal
wart mechanic.
Mr. 'Gusset listened to the excitlug rec
ital with wonder. Fell had heajd the
!tory from au eyevWitqess he said, and
3 cqui $e (t lost nothing by being related
lecond-hand.
"The scoundrel J" fUd Gusset." How
Hare 1q lay hands on her? If I had been
there, I would have thrashed him within
an inch of his life." Mr. Gusset was very
indignant. I've a good notion io hunt
young Carson up now aud punish him," he
added, " for laying hands upon defense
less girl n that disgienii hanner.''
' O.h never fear," said Fell, "she had a
strong protector, according to all ac
counts," in ypupg Ned. feweomb, who
fajrlj- wped up the sidewalk with Car
son." I'm glad of it," Mr Gusset exclaimed, al
though at that moment he was inclined to
dislike Neweomb quite as much as Carsgn.
It is one of the pecuiiaritns of hive, that
t is neiiimw iuite much, dj-posed to
resent a Kindness shown to the odjeet of
it9 affection as to repel harshness in the
same direction.
'And who is this Neweomb ? Mr. Gus
set asked.
"He works in Carson's steel mill."
"Then they'll meet again!"
Of hat there can le no doubt
Mr. Gusset derived some satisfaction
from the thoutrht that they mijrht possi
bly annihilate each other at their next
meeting, and then said:
"I did an injustice to Edith Edwards a
short time ago, by telling hei nhe was hall
an hour late, when in reality she was on
ly a few minute-1 l.iiel time, and now, in
view of the fact that it was no fault ol
hers, I think we ought, in justice, tell hei
that there will be no reduction in her wa-
Mr. Fell was silent foi
a few second
then said, rather coldly:
" Will not that have a tendency to oi
tuib the discipline of the factory, and i.
tertcr with the enforcement of ...
ftrtCvest rule ?" "
"I cannot see it in that light. The girl
was insulted and delayed on her way to
work, and it is no more than fair play tc
make her the allowance."
" Well, just as you please," said Fell,
"jus,tnsyou please, Mr. Gusset."
These partners disliked a quarrel, no
matter how widely they might differ
and it frequently happened that one oi
them sacrificed his feelings rather than
provoke a dispute, when he naw that the
other had set his heart on any particular
point or proposition.
Accordingly, Mr Gusset blew the whis.
tie communicating with the floor on
w hich Edith Edwards was employed, and
told the attendant that he wanted to
set: Miss Edwards in the office.
Edith came without delay. There wag
a tumult of doubts and suspicions in her
mind, but she maintained her customary
composure by the supreme strength ot
her will power.
"Miss Edwards," said Gusset, aud his
voice seemed to lose its metallic ring for
a more musical tone, " we sent for you
befaii-e I did you an injustice a short
time ago in telling you that you were
half au hour late. I have since learned
from Mr. Fell that the delay was no fault
of yours, as you were stopped on the
street by Clarence Carson, who, I under
Stand, insulted you grossly."
"It was not quite as bad as that, sir,"
said Edith, her color deepening. "It is
true I was stopped by Mr. Carson, but
not insulted as badly as you say, lecause
a brave young man interfered in my be
half, and, I believe, injured pnr Mr. Car.
son, who appeared to be intoxicated."
"Do you know the young man who pro
tected you?" asked Robert Gusset.
"No, but I am anxious to thank him for
Lis timely assistance."
" Why, his name is Ned Neweomb, and
he works in the steel mill," said Mr. Fell.
" Oh, then 1 shall be able to find him,'
said Edith, Joyfully, " as my fnthe2- works
there."
Mr. Gusset was not entirely happy. He
did not like the forgiving tone with which
Edith regarded Carson, or the joy sh:
manifested at the thought of being able
to thank her deliverer. He consoled him
self, however, with the thought that as
soon as lie made his intentions known to
Edith, there would be no room in her
mind for any one else. Rut alas! how
often men deceive themselves in this
way.
Edith did not appeal' to be affected by
Mr. Gusset's magnanimity in telling hei
that, under the circumstances, he would
not tine her half an hour for leing late
that morning, aud she was about to re
turn to her work upstairs when a tremen
dous report, like the quick, sharp crash
of thunder, was. heard, and the office
trembled violently, us if shaken by an
earthquake
Mr. Gusset grew white with terror; Mr.
Fell ran to the door, and Edith alone was
calm.
"What, on earth can that be?" ex
claimed Mr. Gusset.
Edith looked out of the office window
which commanded a view down the
street, and in the distance saw great
clouds of smoke, and ashes, and sparks
rising above the house-tops.
Then the color tied fiom jer cheeks,
ami the, sUength from her limbs, and
her ps quivered nerveously, as she
said:
" It is an explosion at the mill ! "
The thought of her father at work in
the casting-room almost made her faint,
but presently her brave spirit asserted
itself, and leaving the office, she hunied
down the street in the direction of the
steel works, toward whk,h hu excited
crowd wes. iosulug
he titiuilll iu the streets increased as
Edith approached the mill. She could
hear the eager questions that passed from
lip to lip, and the wild, uncertain auswers
that were given, ho 'nouid a policeman
hurrQdly tell a, roporter that "seven men
weit kilted," and the thought of her fath
er being numbered araoug the dead al
most made her heart staiid still.
Presently t lejs whs a shrill alarm ol
fire, ancj a great blaze shooting up to the
clouds that chill January morning added
to the terror of the scene. A number of
frame houses i$a.r th mill had caught
fire f n the shower of molten metal that
descended upou their frail roofs from the
explosion, and the most intense excite
ment prevailed.
The approaches to the dismantled mill
were blocked with people. Some were
crying, others talking volubly and volun-
teei-irixr second-hand information, hiehlv
, . , ... "
coioreu. jwiiu iiiaMsiuuiw n uiui
cult matter to puslj her wjijr through the
crowd a,t fii.f , iut she soou. had plenty of
assistance, us there were not many jnen
who could resist h.eljqug to make way for
so fair a face,
Vftwn the shattered mill came in full
view, a great gap through the wall
showed where the explosion had spent its
force, and the ponderous machinery with
in, as it lay strewn about in wild disorder,
indicate the great iower that had teen
liberated tn. the momentary storm, by
which titanic bands of steel had been
snapped iu pieces as if they were fine
flaxen threads, instead of the massive and
mighty arms that actuated the great es
tablishment, in which thousands of tons
were swung about like toys.
Edith wrung her hands in anguish, and
looked eagerly afMttit in the crow.! Tie
crie of the afflicted cut her heart. Se
was awed by the extent of the catastro
phe; hut it was not this that tilled her
eyes with the eatrei Io .k or pie li .niii"
which the young mother feels for the los
of her child.
She did not murmur, but pressed for
ward and continue 1 to strain her eves in
the painful search for one who was deri?
to her. After looking aUnit for s iiie
time, she caught sight of a pictuie lhat
gave her a fainting sensation. A man
lay prone upon a pile of .-la-,' resting
upon the coats win. h some kind-hearteo
workmen had place I toe l.ie.i n,.. i,i t.
was partly covered with b!oo l and bis
head rested upon the stalw art letiel oi' a
young man wno sj.k.!- sootiiuu-iy ;tii,l
kindly to him. givhe: all the i ..m;..i ioig
assurance jxjssdil.- tm.r rue'i painful
eiicumstanoes. E hili Ednar-i did not
see the face f this ouoi: .o io she
might have recognized it. S.ie ha 1 i
for no om but the recumbent figure on
the hard slag tin I ;is soon as she realized
fully who It was, she sprang forward
with a cry. "My father! My poor deai
father," and knelt weeping by the sidf
of the wounded man.
CHAPTER III.
THE C'BASH AT IUE MILL.
ff OEL Edwabds was 8
man oi mi), a one
h a d s t r e a k e d hi:
once jet-black hail
with its woof of sil
ver, and made deer,
lines in his strong
face, yet his eye was
.-till blight, and hi;
sinewy arm as
powerful as when he
was only thirty
years old.
lie had watched the progress of the
iron trade, and taken part in it fo1
years. He had leeu an imiortant factor
in the introduction of the Bessemer steel
process, and there were not many men at
the Carson Steel Works who understood
the business better than he did.
He was a noble specimen of the Ameri
can mechanic, as he stood with his great
broad breast and robust arms bared in
the couverting-room of the steel mill.
The full blaze of the glowing converter
was reflected on his massive frame, while
he waited the purification of the molten
metal, in the crucible, which in a short
time was to be poured into the hi die, and
thence to the ignot-molds that ptood
ranged around the easting-pit ready to
receive it.
The golden sparks from the roaring
mouth of the restless converter fell ail
about him, as if a shower of the precious
metal was freed from the hav.d of eoiue
master-magician, ami his keen eye was
intent upon the work of conversion,
when he caught sniht of a familiar fhiiire
staggering across the converting-room.
It was a blur upon the industrial pic
ture a discord in the liarmonious choriu
of toil.
Noel Edwards shrank from the intrud
er, who was evidently very much uudei
the influence of drink, and who proved
upon closer acquaintance to be Clarence
Carson, nephew of the p-e.sident and
principal proprietor of the, works.
"Say, Noel, have you seen a fellow
named Neweomb around here ? " said the
young man of unsteady voice and step.
" No, Mr. Carson. He doesn't work in
this department," replied Noel, briefly.
He was anxious to cut the conversation
short, us the glowing steel now required
his undivided attention.
"I want to see tliat chap and put him
out of this mill. He has grossly insulted
and severely assaulted me." said Carson,
whose face still showed the. evidence ot
his recent encounter with Xed Neweomb.
Noel Edwards said nothing Imt busied
himself alut the casting pit, to see that
the ingot-anoldH w-ere all in place to re
ceive thfa dazzling stream of steel that
would soon flow from the ladle.
Presently the great hydraulic crane
swung around noiselessly to perform it
office. Carson, who was piqued at Noel's
indifference, began to swear fiercely at
him, but his v olley of angry words was
soon lost in a storm of rushing saund,
that filled the place with deatk and ter
ror. The ladle, hart een accidentally upset
in the easting-pit, and a great white flame
of molten metal rose like a storm of lava
from a crater, and tore off the roof of the
converting-room. There, v-u a crash ol
falling walls, a. rat tie. of machinery lent
and b.rokrii, and a cry of pain. The
clouds of dust and sparks that whirled
about the place for soms seynd.i after
the explosion, obscured everything, but
when th.o fatal shock had spoilt its fury a
pitiful scene was presented.
Chaos and confusion reigned supreme
for some time. Finally help came from
another portion of the mill, and sympa
thetic workmen looked in dismay at tht
havoc that had been wrought.
Five men lay terribly scorched, and
quivering in their death struggle in the
ca ting-pit. They were taken up quick
ly and kindly, and hurried off to the hos
pital in a wagou, although it was evident
that all earthly hope for them hfid. tied.
Wandering about, perilciiV"dy near the
edge of the catngpit, was Noel Ed
wards, with both hands outstretched.
r . .
extiaiUiiug;
" ring
a light; bring a light, men,
quick,"
" Whv, NoeL" said one, "it is light
"No, I say it U dark, man; bring a light
at once, and let us see who's hurt," said
the old man, in an anxious roiee
The workmen did not at first realize
the situation, and Noel would have
stepped in the seething mass of metal in
the pit, were it uot for the timely action
of Ned Neweomb, who at that moment
appealed upou the scene and caught him
firmly by the arm. Neweomb divined
what none of the others had seen, that
Noel Edwards was injured by the. explo
sion, and that his face was feai-futyy
burned.
" Look, outj fyr tiU0 ptf, Noel J-4 said
Newoomb as fa led him away,
' I can't see itttt Noel replied; "every-
thing Is in d.uknes-t. nn.l noUwly will
bring a liht."
"Hut there is light. Nod." said Ned
Neweomb who regretted his words as
soouaslhey were uttered.
"Lihl. Ned! Light, eh?" repeated
Noel, while he trembled l,k, a child, ad
ding, ul tcv a pause, din ing which a surge
of einotieii tin jed him with unshakable
anguish, "Then, God pity me, I am
blind V
It was even so The flying metal had
t-tiuck him in the fact
Ovingto the pain and excitement of
the mono nt, Noel Edwards waa uncon
scious of his gleat loss until Ned New
c r;l told him there was light, and he
reiliz.-d the awful fact that there was
no ne for him. and felt that thenceforth
he lou-t walk in darkness.
A i he realised hit overwhelming afflic
tion, he mui niui cd iu a v ice tilled with
sorrow and despair:
My God ! can it be that I am blind!"
The physical pain inflicted on this
id long man by the U.rieut of tire that had
filled the convertintr r. n with Miilci'n;',
w:im forjiof , n hi the e .Ucq.hiti f hi
greater affliction the i of sight
L moaned piteoulv as he held out hi
hand and groped uhuut h in in h. ipi, ..
ngonv.
" Noel, my friend, bo brave; it may no
be as bad as you fear," taid Ned New.
comb, taking him by the arm aud lead
ing him from the mill.
"Let me lit? down somewhere; my
head is dizzy,' said the old mau, aftel
they had gone a fhort distance, and cold
as the morning was, a few kind-hearted
workmen spread their coats on a heap
of slag, that he might rest there liefore
proceeding on his sorrowful journey
home.
He had been there but a minute before
he became conscious of another pres
ence, and the voice of his dauchter
Elith, as (die knelt by his side and
ki ed his blood-stained forehead, while
she exclaimed '"My father! My poor,!
dear father!" gave added p linaney J
to his grief.
J he sight of the comely face of this
c!: iroi'ng iii, whom he hail prof cited
from in ult but a short time before, set
Ned Neweomb's heart fluttering wildly.
Slo: had been in his thought ever since
thv hot, passionate moment that ho
str.uk dokvn Clarence Carson for her
-ake, but much as he longed to see her,
dearly as he deired a glance from those
eloquent eye. ii pun d him to the
In-art to meet her iu rudi a moment.
ivh--n she was crushed to the earth with
soi row. Ah, could he but tdileid her
against giief as readily as he had de
fended her from shame and iusiiU. h.v
gladly he would do it! Ned Nc.vco ub
felt that the cene between father
and daughter, in that time of unspeak
able anguish, was too sacred to be wit
nessed by him, but he could not leave
his old friend then, much as he would
like to take himself quietly away. Edith
fbnvved no sign of being conscious of Ned'
presence, until her father rignilicd a
wish to be taken home. Then the stout
arms of the young man helped him to his
feet, and were good to lean upon.
It was then that Edith realized the
worth of her father's friend, and look
ing him in the face, the thankfulness in
her eyes was more than her tongue could
express. She felt that it was no time
for mere words, yet she could not help
saying :
'Mr. Neweomb, how can we ever re
pay' your great kindness ? "
This included his brave conduct her
own behalf, as well as his unselfish ten
derness toward her father.
Ned was puzzled for an answer, but
tinally ventured to say: "I've done no
mote than any man should." And this
is all that was said on the subject dur
ing the sad journey through the crowd
ed aud excited street to the home of
Noel Edwards.
Edith had bound her kerchief tender
ly around her father's fa.ee, and taking
his right arm. while Ne l Nc.cuuib took
his left, the three made their way low.
ly to the stricken little home, which lay
but a. short distance from the steelworks.
"My poor children ! " said Noel, when
Edith toid him they were near their
home. "How can I meet them! Oh, it
is terrible to think I can never see their
faces any more."
"Patience, father, dear," said Edith,
whose cheeks were wet with tears, and
who feigned a hope that he hid not have;
"it may not Iks as bad as that."
Then the door of Noel Edwards' little
home was flung open, and a gray-haii ed,
meek and matronly woman, accompan
ied by two half grown boys, rushed f Mr
ward to meet the injured man.
"Don't be alarmed, Mary; don't be
frightened, my children' said Noel, with
an effort to silence the sorrowf ul clamor
of his dear ones. "It might have Uieu
worse. I believe a good many prccioiu
lives were lost at the mill to-day, while
I well, I am only slightly injured. Uut
Ned Neweomb will tull you all how it
happened."
Noel wa aited to his ro jm, and the
oldest bay ran for a doctor, who came in
a hort time and dressed his injuries, but
vould not tell just then whether the lo
of eight was permanent or not.
" Is there any hope even the faluteat
ray, doctor?" said Edith, when he wa
guiuz.
" Yes, there is some room for hope,
said the doctor, slowly, " but the chancel
are strongly against hi recovering sight
aaiu. At this stage it is impossible to
tell the exact extent of his injuries, and
we must only await the slow develop,
menu of time."
(To be Continued.) '
After you have read tbi paper
hand it to some one who is not now
a subscriber, and ask him to sub
scribe at once. We want to doable
onr number of subscribers just as
early ai pofgibie. rease help as
to plaae the Courier iu every
family in the county and alo to
increase its circolaiorj in adjoining
counties.
How Hi Ii lit Situation
Tho editor of tiio Vaynei"le
(Pa.) Hfpubliotn askotl hia uepbew,
"How came you Juiut, tolodA youi
place?'
"Well, I'll i ell you' wan I ho r.-,.y
"I lift! an fan v berth; pot my av
. en,.Vti VO dollary a mOtltU ; lli'l ail
assistant ; ilidVt have to get down
till eight in tlm moruiog; lettjat five;
had a chance to take life easy, but
gradually begau to take it too wny
didn't get down until nino in I he
qiornintf instead of eight; waited lo
amoke two cigars instead of one ;
grew careless of my money, ujcd
tour dollars where I had been using
two.
"First, I knew my salary was cut
down a little, and then a little more;
luit 1 couldn't take the hint, but
fretted about my poor actuation, and
one tnoroiDg I waked up after a
night's spree, and lol I didn't have
in Mtuatiou at all. But I'll tell
vo" what I did have, uncle, I had
my cxpeiience."
Tb tt youth Is working at f jrty
tive dollars a month now, instead of
ev6tityflve, but he alwready has
mx hundred dollars in the baok.
Wou'd that more of our youth
might be profited by his experience.
Hie Way to Stop It.
Two young white men in (Jbeu
taiuMd County hav buen flu'1
fifty dollars each, or three months
in j ii', f.r carrying coucealed
wetpona. Trial and convictions
vill go ou, it is hoped, until the
bubarioiiH habit hIkiII be aban
doned. Charleston JKews tt Courier.
That's the way to ntop the navajze
habit. If the courts iu North Car
olina had tried this remedy instead
of -u-pending judgment, the law
wou'd now be much better re
NpHcted. Nothing 1h than ?'-l
tine will have any influence wth t 1
tvernjre youngster who bins'" "
wd cnrnes tid HidfH around crou
djopt and flourishes bin two dollar
;intol on the least itnagitiav offence.
Heavy H net and 30 days impiiaon
ment is the remedy for thia evil.
Press and Carolinian.
If in getting to be quite a erz
W girls to chew gtim at night, and
ir 14 a most luiuona I a'it. Thy
lose their rest, lite their usual Dret
ty jaws and wake up iu the morn
ing peevish, croMfl grained, with a
callow complexion, their digestive
organs impaired and their beauty
ud vivaci y pone! It is a fact
that girla who rnakH a hab't of
chewing gum are nure. to lone their
plumpueaH and pretty cheek, as it
Jevelops the, m abater muao'ea that
move th jaw, to detriment of the
tatty Hu'tatance that produces th
p?ump cheek. Hot this i4 not td
It is nure to rdretrh the mou'h and
poil the giace'ul position of the
ipn, as well as prodoc wrinkles
It is certainly very disgusting; but
I think it "fill soon play ou like
the roller skating craze. Ex.
Who Ih Your Heat Friend?
Your stomach ot course. "Why? Becus
if it is out of order you are one of the iuost
miserable creatures living- OiTfe it a fitir,
honorable chance and sec if it is not th
best friend you have inthend- Don't
smoke io tbe morning. Don't drink in the
morning. If you must smoke an! drink
wait until your stomach ii through with
breakfast. You cn drink more and smoke
more in the evening and it will tell on yoo
Ies. If your food ferments and does tot
digest right, it you are troubled with
Heartburn, Dizziness of tb head, ccrornc
up after eating, Bi'iouw, Indigenion;or
any otber trouble oi tbe stomach, yoo hd
best use Green's August Flower, as no
person can use it without warned rate relieft
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The begt Salve in tbe world for cuts and
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M. Lawins, Physiciaa and Pharmacist-