The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-12-02
both deadl 1 have heard her say


And Walter Rodman will probably
resent the insult to his father"
There was an exultation in the tone
of the last remark, but ill-concealed.
Walter Rodman, the only child of the
old manager. was in the counting-house
OF the factory. with every prospect of
soon becoming partner. A man past
thirty. he had risen in the employ of
Meredith a. Son from lad of fourteen,
and had saved money from handsome
salary, with the avowed intention of
purchasing place in the firm upon the
anticipated retirement of Mr.. Meredith,
who was known to favor the intention.
Amongst all the clerks and workmen
in the great factory there was no one
so handsome as Walter Rodman, none
so quietly refined in manner, none so
great a favorite with all. But he had
gone through thirty years of life fancy
free, until Ellen Churchill came to the
factory. .U-. ..r.
There was something in the noble,
refined face of the young girl that at
tracted Walter Rodman from the first.
That there 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 countenance, they were in Ell
len s. From his father he learned much
of the newcomer, of the quick adapta-
bility she showed for work evidently
new to her, of the almost masculine
brain that fitted her so soon to take con-
troll of the loom-room where over hun
dred girls were at work.
OF her antecedents he knew only that
she brought letter from the clergyman
of her parish, in small town in New
York State. That she was woman of
culture and refinement they could see
for themselves.
But Walter Rodman, by nature frank
and true, as his heart more and more
acknowledged Ellen for its queen,
grieved over the evident mystery in her
life While in her conversation she adj
vanced noble and generous views, her
whole st) lie of living was penurious to an
extent rarely seen in women of her age,
when living upon much smaller salary
than she commanded. 1t was not mere
ly economy, but saving pushed to ex-
tremity.
There was struggle constantly in
the mind OF the young clerk-a ystrug-
! gle between his love and his fear of re-
pentance if he urged his suit 1t was
revolving to him to think of his wife
conducting his household upon parsimo-
NOUS principles, refusing to bestow of
his abundance in charity, dressing mean
ly, and perhaps influencing him in the
same miserable habits. And vet, one
hour with Ellen drove away all such
thoughts.
The low, soft voice, always tinged by
her habtual sadness. conveyed such
mirror OF pure, tender hear, cult
waited mind, a noble soul, that Walter
forgot the course, mean dress, the many
stories rife in the factory of Ellen's
stinginess, and knew he loved her as he
had never before loved anv woman.
But when the silver tanEard was pre-
sented to Mr.. Rodman, and Ellen
name was not upon the list of con ribu-
tors to the gift, Walter experienced a
sharp pang of disappointment. He
knew that his fathers recommendation
had gained Ellen her first place in the
factory, that she had found firm friend
| in him, and owed her rapid advance
ment to his interest and influence. And
! yet she had refused her mite to the gift
that testified the good feeling of her
! IellOW-WOThcTS III I0e factory!
Father and son had long been con-
fidential friends, and on the evening fol-
lowing the presentation the latter
opened his heart and told all his doubts
and fears. Mr.. Rodman listened quiet
~.
"Yet you love Ellen" he said.
81 love her." replied Walter, ''but
l could never be happy with misery
wife,"
Poor Ellen, how little she deserves
that reproachr' said Mr.. Rodman. II
shall violate a confidence reposed in me,
Walter, when l tell you how you mis-
judge her, but think can trust YOU"
HAS she told you her secretP'
mo. | heard the story from the
clergyman of Lenwood, her native vii
lage, who wrote TO me before she came
here. He is an old friend of mine. and
knew he could confde in me. l will
tell you what he wrote to me. Six
years ago Ellen's mother died, leaving
in her care sickly step-brother, then
eleven years old. Her own father had
left Ellen pretty cottage, and she had
a small income from the fruit and
poultry on the place, while she made a
sufficient living teaching music and
playing the organ in the church.
When her mother died, leaving Stephen
Grady, her step-brother, an orphan and
penniless dor her step-father before his
death squandered all her mothers little
fortune), Ellen promised to care for the
boy. Remember, she was but sixteen
herself, though early care had matured
her lar beyond her actual years.
The boy grew up like his father,
reckless of expenditure, loose in princi-