Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-09-10


vor the.intention. Amongst all the clerks
and workmen in the great factory, there
was not one so handsome as Walter Rod
man, none so quietly refined in manner
none so great favorite with all. But ne
had gone through thirty years of life,
fancy free, until Edna Churchill came to
| the factory
| There was something in the noble, re :
fined face of the young girl that attracted
Walter Rodman from the first That iere
was some heavy trouble brooding in the,
sadness Of her great dark eyes he never
doubted; but if ever purity and goodness
were pictured in human face they were In
Edna's. From his father he learned much
of the newcomer, of the quick adaptability
she showed for work, evidently new to
her, of the almost masculine brain that
fitted her so soon to take control of the
loom-room where over hundred girls were
at work.
OF her antecedents. he knew ouly that
! she brought letterf from the clergyman OF
her parish, in small town in New York
State That she was a woman OF culture
and refinement they could see for them
selves.
But Walter Rodman, by nature frank
and true, as his heart more and more &C
knowledged Edna for its queen, grieved
over the evident mystery in her life. While
in her conversation she advanced noble
and generous views, her whole style OF liv-
[ !. a afyC
| in women Of her age, when living upon
! much smaller salary than she commanded
1t was not merely economy, but saving
| pushed to extremity.
| There was struggle constantly in the
mind of the young clerk-a struggle be-
| tween his love and his fear of repentance,
| if he urged his suit. 1t was revolving to
| him to think of his wife conducting his
| household upon parsimonious principles,
refusing to bestow of his abundance in
charity, dressing meanly, and perhaps in
/ huencing him in the same misery habits.
| And vet. one hour with Edna drove away
| all such thoughts.
The low, sweet voice, always tinged by
| her habitual sadness, conveyed such II mir
ror of a pure, tender heart, a cultivated
mind. noble soul, that Walter forgot The
coarse, mean dress, the many stories rife
| in the factory of Edna's stinginess, and
| knew he loved her as he had never before
| loved any woman.
| But when the silver pitcher was present.
| ed to Mr.. Rodman, and Edna's name was
Lief 81 nil fop tn ha
gift, Walter experienced a sharp pang of
| disappointment He knew that his faith
er's recommendation had gained Edna her
| first place in the factory, that she had
found a firm friend in him, and owed her
rapid advancement to his interest and in
fuence Aud yet she had refused her mite
to the gift that testified the good feeling of
her workers in the factory.A
| Father and son had long been eoafiden-
tial friends, and on the evening following
the presentation the young man opsned
his heart and told all his doubts and fears.
Mr.. Rodman listened quietly.
"Yet you love Edna?" he said.
81 love her, replied Walter, "but I
could never be happy with misery wife. :"
''Poor Edna! how little she deserves
that reproach. ''said MI. Rodman. II shall
violate a confidence reposed in me, Wal
| ter, when I tell you how you misJudge her,
but think can trust you"
! elias she told YOU her secret?"
emo. heard the story from the clergy
man of her native village, who wrote to
me before she came here. He is an old
| friend of mine, and knew he could confide
in me. will tell you what he wrote to
me. Six years ago Edna's mother died,
leaving IN her care sickly step brother,
then eleven years old. Her own father had
left Edna a pretty cottage, and she had a
small income from the fruit and poultry
on the place, while she made sufficient
living by teaching music and playing the
organ in the church. When her mother
died, leaving Stephen Grady, her step
brother, orphaned and penniless, for her
step-father before his death squandered
all her mothers little fortune, Edna prom
ised to care for the boy. Remember, she
was but sixteen herself, though early care
had matured her far beyond her actual
years.
The boy grew up like his father, reckless
of expenditure, loose in principle, yet ten
der to his sister-mother, and one of those
loving scapegraces who always win some
good Woman's devotion. He won Ednas.
She thought herself bound by her promise
to her mother to m AXE every sacrifice for
Stephen, and she faithfully tried to lead
him away from the companions and evil
. influences that were running his life. Three
years ago friend Of Mrs. Gradys took
Stephen into his contingencies. Here he
was to learn the bookkeeping and clerkly
work for large grain house, and for a
time he worked steadily. Then the bad
company that had ruined, his boyhoo(
again exerted an evil influence, and he
learned to gamble. Remember, Walter
he was but fourteen, and Edna but five
years older.
Zone of his accomplishments was the
, power of initiating handwriting. and by
!, the persuasion of some older heads hi
forged a check for two thousand dollars
, on the firm he was with The check passed
. the bank undetected, for the cashier wa!
! in the habit Of paying over large sums te
Grady. But when it was returned to thu
, firm the forgery was disco vered and tracet
to Stephen. Then the appalling trutl
:. came out that he had gambled away thu
y entire amount, and the two men who ha(
urged the crime and pOcketed the none,
had fled, leaving the lad to bear the conse
quences. He was arrested, and repentance
came when he saw the full consequence o
r his acts.
, cit was then that Edna proved hersel
= l. I holiaxra no.