Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-09-10
JUDGE NOT.

In the cloak-room of Meredith & Son IS
great cotton factory, group of girls were
standing engaged in an animated CONVEX
sation. They were all young, some pretty,
all neatly dressed, though many wore i'll
chosen and unbecoming fnery. One of
these, who had a mock gold chain and
bracelets, and profusion of jet trimmings
on cheap silk dress, spoke very emphati-
cally:
sit is the stingiest proceeding l ever
heard of y
"What are you all SO excited about?''
asked pretty little blonde, coming in from
the loom room.
edna Churchill!"
"Dear me! What has she been doing
now? You are always discussing some
horrible deed of Edna's. l like her my
self"
eyes, we all know that" said the first
speaker; "you will defend anything Edna
dOes.'
ssBut what has she ,done?n .-zFss.
Refused to sign the subscription list
lOl Uictu p1OCuCl w OC III CSCllUCu w NIL
ROdman.'
''And Mr. Rodman has been such good
friend to her," said third voice.
The little blonde, Susy Whiting by name,
looked rather staggered at this new &C
cusation against her friend. Mr.. Rodman,
manager for Meredith Il Son for nearly
fifty years, was about to retire on account
of the inirmities of age, and the employees
Of the great factory were collecting money
to buy silver pitcher to present to him.
He was kindly old man and always ready
to lie nd helping hand to the small army
of WI rk- people under his control, so that
the Dr. ssentation was really a gift of love.
Edna Churchill had come to the great
factory Two years previous to the date OF
the indig nation meetin In the cloak-room.
and had isen to the position of forewoman
in one of he loOrn-rooms. She was hand.
some wcms N, OF about twenty, when she
applied for work, and by every action and
word betray, I'd the fact that she had step
work of a fac tory hand. Her low, ever
tone betrayed the, lady in its well-choseI
words, and her slim, white hands bore nj
trace of toll upon their smooth skin. Sht
was courteous to all who came into inter
course with her, but intimate with none
She had nursed Susy Whiting through {
long spell of contagious fever, winning Thu
devotion of that little maiden, anG TIN
manager soon put her III positions Of trus
till she became forewoman. Here her edu
cation enabled her to keep the books re
quired in the room, thus doubling her sal
airy.
And here was the great cause of com
plant by her companions. 1t was wei
known that the salary of Edna Churchill
was sufficient to warrant a good style Q
living and dressing. In the great board
ing house, where seventy of the girls ha
rooms, she could well afford to pay for tn
best, to contribute to the amusements o
the house and dress well Instead. sh
lived in the attic, poorly furnished, wit
tiny stove, where she cooked the cheal
est of food. Her dress was of the coarses
description, made by her own hands, an
} no ornaments broke its severe sipplicit,
She never joined in any Of the quiSb merr
ment of the house. But the crownin
enormity was the refusal to contribute |
the silver pitcher.
The excited group in the cloak-rool
dispersed for the day, walking home in tt
twilight of the September evening, an
still they talked of the young forewomal
"The question ISL said Ella Leigh, VII
had been foremost in the cloak-room di
cussion, "what does she do with hi
money? She never puts any in the factor
sayings bank: she certainly spends not
ing on her dress. Where is it all then?'
i "Perhaps she supports her parents?"
"Both Dead 1 have heard her say so!''
swell, I guess Mr.. Rodman won't thi1
her quite such a paragon as he has don
I. when he misses her name from the SUI
scription list"
! "And Waltar Rodman will probably
sent the insult to his fathcr.''
There was an exultation in the tone
% the last remark, but ill-concealed. Walt
Rodman. the only child Of the old man
ger, was in the counting-house of the fa'
7, DRY, with every prospect of soon becomi
I, partner. A man past thirty he h
OF risen in the employ of Meredith q Sc
:. from a lad of fourteen, and had say
" money from a handsome salary. with
tavowed intention of purchasing place