The Van Buren press., 1873-03-18

pale lace the suggestive stamp of"better
days, that contrastcd so cruelty with
coarse, poor garments and unremittlng
toll. Ellie had felt. from the hour when
she first saw Mrs. Oakes, a strong inter
est in her welfare; and whensthe widow
was taken i'll, she had been kind, true
friend to her.
Yet, though she had persevered so in
her crrand Of mercy, Ellen had felt keen
ly one of Thalia's shafts.
"W hat would Gordon Randolph say,
if he knew you had been in the factory
quarters all night. y
Every woman past sixteen has her he
ro. Ellie Morton ct twenty two mad hers.
1t was not quite year since her uncle had
left her heiress Of his property, the fac
tory in r, from which he drew
handsome income.
To Thalia, the same pnclc had left his
| handsome house and grounds and an in
terest in wholesale store, a depot for
the factory work. The sisters had at
once moved to F.. and Thalia's hus.
band had assumed the position Of the I'M
clio in the store. while Ellie showed a
clear business head in the management
of her legacy.
1t was but natural that the aristocracy
OF E should call upon the sisters, Of
fer every hospitality, and give them cor
dial welcome And amid the circle Of
new friends Ellie met one who, whatever
mi sht be the end Of their friendship p,must
always he different from all other friends
in her heart.
1t was not the beauty or wealth that
Ellie admired Gordon Randolph He
was Il tall, strong man, with rather large
features and keen grey eyes, broad
forehead, and mouth as sensitive as
child's, unhidden by beard or mustache.
He earned good salary as cashier IN the
Liberty Bank at E, but was by ne
means very wealthy
But never had Ellie met any ono who
so perfectly flied her ideal of true
Christian gentleman as Gordon RAN
doph 1t was true she had been forced
to Judge more by words than deeds, but
surely the words proved a heart sound
and noble, an education OF rare culture
and high standard of manhood, as well
as a delicate refinement of taste and feel
ing. This last was the ordeal from which
Euie felt she shrauk Il little.
She knew Cor lon Randolph loved her,
although there had been no spoken words
Of love AS yet, but he had seen her only
in Thaia's elegant drawing-rooms, er in
hose Of mutual friends, had met her Oh
" in the tasteful customs of lady of
wealth and taste. Would he love her if
he saw her in the poor. ssabby room of
her poor patient? saw her in the simple
dark chin,z she bad felt was the best
drtss for her nursing dutes ?
Ellie was sure it would have made no
difference in hor eond4el If Gnnlon had
uttered one Of his curt but gentlpmanly
sentences of disapproval at her course;
yet, all yet she would have liked to feel
quite certain he thought she WAS right.
While these thoughts were stirring in
her heart she was moving noisslessly but
husily about Mrs Oakes' poor room, put
ding it in order, while Katie warmed the
broth and coaxed up the ti?e.
IL shall not trouble you much lon
ger " the widow said faulty, as Ellie
put q snowy handkerchief wet with CO.
lognc water upon her forehead.
"Yeu do not trouble me" Ellie said
in very gentle manner. :" am very
glad to stay with you
IL would like to ask one more faver
Miss Norton, " Mrs. Oakes said, after
moments silence.
"lr | can grant it, it will give me
pleasure, Ellie answered,
First, let me tell you something OF
myself You know already that came
here from ST. Louis, widow with two
sons. sought aud obtained work in your
uncle's factory. But before was mar.
risd lived in =. My father was a
bank clerk here for many years, and !
had one brother, younger than myself. |
am not strong enough TO tell long sto-
ry. loved man Of whom my father
knew much that was bad, and he forbade
our marriage do not wish to excuse
myself, but love had thrown a glamour
over my eyes and believed my hand
some lover, rather than my kind, good
father eloped with Harry Oakcs, who
tired OF me in less than year. NJ mar
riage was a long martyrdom, and | was
enduring the sharpest Of all agony, that
of seeing my boys being lsl AID coaxed
into their fathers low, vile haunts, when
death freed me from my tyraut, and my
children from their tempter. Then the
desire to be reeonclcd to my father and
brother, became unendurable. ! sold my
small stock Of furniture and came here,
to fnd my father dead. and my brother
occupying his place in the bank. | had
not the heart to burden him with my
poverty, and sought employment llar
ry, my oldest boy, is at sea Roger you
have beiriendod; but long to ask their
uncle to he their friend My pilgrimage
draws near its close, and dying. he may
forgive me. Ho was fond Of his big sis.
ter when he was little boy
"ShalI send for him ?" Ellie asked,
af,era long silence.
"You will find tho address here,
Mrs. Oakes said, taking folded note
from unner her pillow. II wrote line
inside have tried to hide myself from
him. Miss Murton, for his sake, but
cannot disgrace him in my grave
Ellie took the notc, and sent Katie for
one Of the factory men to act as messen.
ger BY the leht of the candles she had
brought she read the address.
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