“Black always was the most bewilderingly becoming thing to her that I ever saw.  Don’t you remember those effects she used to produce with black and just a dash of red?  Well, she wears black so deep you might think it was poor Mr. Lancaster’s pall; but I have observed that whenever I have seen her there is always something red very close at hand.  She either sits in a red chair, or there is a red shawl just at her back, or a great bunch of red roses at her elbow.  I am glad that great window has been put up in old Dr. Templeton’s church to William Lancaster’s memory, or I am afraid it would have been but a small one.”

Almost the first sign that the storm, which, as related, had struck New York would reach New Leeds was the shutting down of the Wickersham mines.  The Clarion stated that the shutting down was temporary and declared that in a very short time, when the men were brought to reason, they would be opened again; also that the Great Gun Mine, which had been flooded, would again be opened.

The mines belonging to Keith’s company did not appear for some time to be affected; but the breakers soon began to reach even the point on which Keith had stood so securely.  The first “roller” that came to him was when orders arrived to cut down the force, and cut down also the wages of those who were retained.  This was done.  Letters, growing gradually more and more complaining, came from the general office in New York.

Fortunately for Keith, Norman ran down at this time and looked over the properties again for himself.  He did not tell Keith what bitter things were being said and that his visit down there was that he might be able to base his defence of Keith on facts in his own knowledge.

“What has become of Mrs. Lancaster?” asked Keith, casually.  “Is she still abroad?”

“No; she came home immediately on hearing the news.  You never saw any one so changed.  She has gone in for charity.”

Keith looked a trifle grim.

“If you thought her pretty as a girl, you ought to see her as a widow.  She is ravishing.”

“You are enthusiastic.  I see that Wickersham has returned?”

Norman’s brow clouded.

“He’d better not come back here,” said Keith.

It is a trite saying that misfortunes rarely come singly, and it would not be so trite if there were not truth in it.  Misfortunes are sometimes like blackbirds:  they come in flocks.

Keith was on his way from his office in the town to the mines one afternoon, when, turning the shoulder of the hill that shut the opening of the mine from view, he became aware that something unusual had occurred.  A crowd was already assembled about the mouth of the mine, above the tipple, among them many women; and people were hurrying up from all directions.

“What is it?” he demanded of the first person he came to.

“Water.  They have struck a pocket or something, and the drift over toward the Wickersham line is filling up.”