The Coal War Read Online Free PDF

Hal!”
    Again he let it go at that. He was not so naive as his friend thought; there had been some encroachments upon his naiveté—one of them right here in Adelaide’s own home. Three years ago, a freshman in college, he had sat at a dinner-party in her beautiful dining-room, with its painted panels of scenes from the “Lady of the Lake”, next to another “young matron” of Western City society, a brunette beauty in one of the newest disappearing gowns, eked out with a necklace of rubies. It was Mrs. “Pattie” Perham, wife of the “Emporium”, from which Little Jerry’s outfit of princely raiment had come. The “Emporium” himself was old and fat, while Hal was young and engaging; so before the meal had passed the sherbet in the middle, Mrs. Pattie had slipped her little foot out of its little red silk receptacle, and was reposing it gently on top of his. A problem in etiquette for a young man making his first appearance in “society”!
    Adelaide was going on with her cross-examination. “Are you the least bit in love with this girl, Hal?”
    â€œYou know I’m engaged to Jessie,” he replied.
    â€œYes, but answer my question.” And, as he did not answer with alacrity: “I suppose you weren’t altogether pleased with Jessie in North Valley?”
    It would have been a relief to talk that out with Adelaide, but Hal could not think it quite loyal to analyze the girl he loved to another woman—especially one who was so matter-of-fact. “You know,” he argued, “Jessie’s very young! She’s had no experience of life at all.”
    â€œYes, I know that.”
    â€œAnd she loves her mother and father. You can hardly blame her for believing what they tell her.”
    â€œI’m not blaming her,” said Adelaide. “I’m asking if you blame her.”
    â€œWell, I don’t,” said Hal. “I’m hoping to teach her. The trouble is that my own experiences were so maddening—I got drawn in further than I intended. And of course that’s made Jessie’s people angry, and it’s hard for her.”
    Adelaide sat in silence—passing before her mind a procession of the members of the extensive Arthur family. There was Jessie’s oldest sister, who was married to Percy Harrigan’s brother, a vice-president of the “G.F.C.” There was Garret Arthur, Jessie’s oldest brother, acting head of the banking-house; pale, prematurely bald, silent and methodical—Hal had referred to him as a “bond-worm”. Yes, truly, Hal would have a hard time imparting his revolutionary fervor to the Arthur family!

[9]
    Adelaide went on at last. “Let me ask you one thing; did Jessie notice your interest in Mary Burke?”
    â€œNo,” he said, “I don’t think so.”
    â€œWhy don’t you think so?”
    â€œWell, she didn’t say anything.”
    The other could not help laughing. “Let me tell you, Hal—she noticed it! She’s going to continue to notice it!”
    â€œBut—she has no reason to!”
    â€œI’m not so sure about that. But anyway, when she hears that Mary has come to this city, she’s bound to be troubled. And when she hears the girl is in my home, she’ll think I’m acting—well, in a way not friendly to her. Her mother will think it, her sisters and her friends will have their eyes on this place. You may be as naive as you please where you’re acting alone, but where I am concerned, Hal, you have to have your eyes open. You must understand what people would say about me if I took this rose of a mining-camp into my home, and it turned out to be a stage in the development of a romance.”
    â€œIt’s not going to be anything like that,” declared Hal. “But the girl must have a chance!”
    â€œWhat chance can I give her? To marry the milkman or the