w glorious the picture as the two young lovers looked out upon the
world of promise! It was well thus, for much too soon in life, humanity
experiences the same old story of unsatisfied ambitions and weary
struggles after the unattainable.

Thus a happy summer afternoon was enjoyed till the sun hid his face
behind the western hills. Clouds floated low on the horizon, revealing
behind the gold and purple to ambitious souls the indistinct outlines
of a gorgeous temple of fame; and birds of rich plumage among the
mountain foliage were lulled to sleep by their own sweet songs.

"Life without Gertrude," thought George, "would prove a failure." Then
taking her white hand in his, he whispered, "I love you, dearest, with
all my heart, and you must be my wife."

"George," she replied, "in a thousand ways you have shown it. I have
known your heart ever since we studied together at the high school. My
own life has been ennobled by contact with yours." Her voice and hand
trembled as she added, "Yes, George, my life and happiness I gladly
place in your sacred keeping, and I promise purity and loyalty for
eternity."

Then George opened the little case which he had brought from New York,
and gave Gertrude a ring containing two diamonds and a ruby, which
surprised and delighted her. She placed it on her first finger, saying,
"George, we will advance this crystal pledge to the third finger just
as soon as we get the consent of father and mother."

Gertrude had found on a former trip some purple crystals on the
mountainside, and had had two unique emblems of their love made in New
York City. George pinned upon Gertrude a gold star set with a purple
amethyst, a tiny cross and a guard chain being attached, and she gave
George a gold cross set with an amethyst, the guard pin being a tiny star
and chain. Before midnight the two happy lovers had joined the mother and
Lucille in New York, and at the close of the week all had returned to
Harrisville.

CHAPTER XII

THE STRIKE AT HARRISVILLE

Labor strikes are terribly disagreeable things to encounter whether in
the daily routine of steel mills and railways, or in the kitchen before
breakfast on blue Monday. Especially inconvenient are strikes in steel
mills when the order books are full as were those of the Harrisville Iron
& Steel Co. That the company had large orders could not possibly be
concealed. Vast quantities of ore, limestone, and coke were being
delivered daily at the