The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-11-29

room was frightened by the presence OF
the master. Fingers worked more rapid
ly, eyes were fastened persistently upon
the looms, and every one seemed aware
Of Q stern taskmaster's gaze. But Mr..
Wilkinson obeyed the mute petition ex.
pressed in the looks of his ward, and led
Mile out in the wide passage again to
another workroom.
Il were too tedious q task to follow
every step o. they passed from room to
ro0,u. everywhere meeting some assur
anoss Of M. Wilkinson's own hold upon
the hearts of the "hands" and their
terror Of Cyril Ormsby's harshness.
Out again amongst the squalid homes,
whore her guardian had no control. but
bestowed his kindly charity without os-
tsntation; and here, more eloquentiy
than ever Mile heard how cruel mock
cry we're all the schemes OF charity and
philanthropy that had been poured into
her ear. It needed NO spoken word from
her guardian to tell her that the noble
words uttered to win her were but those
Of hypocrisy, which knew how 1t could
best plead its cause with her.
One and another turning to Mr..
Wilkinson as to O friend, unaware OF the
torture of their words to the kindly lady
beside him, told of cruel exactions ..of
work in sickness or trouble. of closest
calculation of time, and of small wages
and heavy rents.
If We won't live here and pay We get
no work in the factories" one said, when
asked why be did not seek more healthy
quarter.
II am doing overtime to pay for my
child's funeral one said, "for lost the
wages for three days stayed by to see
her die and to bury her."
II am uneasy about the rent" another
said, ''tor lost week by fall on the
ice, and it's hard making it up again. !"
Not one word of kindly sympathy. OF
help in trouble or sickness. The hands
under Cyril Ormsby were simply human
machines to do so much work, sick or
we'll to pay the price of On hour or day
of idleness, no matter how necessary.
There vas no word spoken as Mr..
Wilkinson and Mile walked to the
Office again. Once there the old gentle.
man spoke very gravely. 'As your
guardian, Mile, can speak to you no
word against Cyril Ormsby. He is o
rich man, of good social position, of IL.
reproachable moral reputation, and q
man whose standing in business circles
is of the highest. A man who is o good
match in every worldly sense. So much
for your guardian. As your friend, my
pearl, who loves you, who knows every
noble impulse of your pure soul-as that
friend tell you would rather see you
lying beside your mother than the
broken hearted wife of such O man az
Cyril Ormsby."
II came to you as friend, as almost
O. father" said Mile, land thank you
for keeping me from life long misery.
To know my husband such man as l
now know Cyril Ormsby to be would,
as you say. break my heart.
II would not tell you," said her guar.
dian, "for you know dislike him. and
might have thought that dislike preja.
diced me. But Mile, tell me you will
not let this days work shadow your life.
You did not love Cyril, Mile?
mo. / reverenced what believed
q noble, generous nature. That rever-
ence mockery. shall never break my
heart for . man l thoroughly despise,
Uncle Mare"
And 80 IL happened that Cyril Orms
by, coming to claim the fortune he be-
lieved to be within his grasp, met only
Mr.. Wilkinson, with Miles polite but
distinct refusal to resign herself or her
fortune to his keeping.
But he never knew how it was that
Mile learned the true value of his hol-
low words Of charity. and philanthropy.
4 Fixht In . Church.