Morris tribune., 1883-09-15

ded by the entirely opposite manage
ment of these two into distinct depart
ments-one entirely under the contro
of the elder, the other of the younger
man.
"Wilkinson's absurd soft hearted
ness" as Cyril mentally characterized
it, had made this division absolutely
necessary.
But it was not into his own kindly
| governed. we'll ordered departments
that Marcus Wilkinson led his ward
lie turned Into small room, where
pale man was busily wri ing, and a,
the time overlooking long room, where
about seventy girls were at wo;
before busity whirling machinery.
"Good morning, Watkins" the old
gentleman said. II was in hopes you
were taking holiday"
THANK you, sir" was the rejected
tone. Il can't we'll quit work, sir.
There's the wife and six little ones, yon
| see." .s#
"Have you told Mr.. Orm by the doctor
says that your life depends upon few
weeks rest and pure air?"
"Ies, sir. He's not keeping me-; but
he says If go he AUST fill my place
and that means starvation for my family.
| could never get new situation as fee
BILE as l am now"
GLOW long have You been here, Mr..
Watkins?'
Seventeen years, sir. 1 was with old
Mr.. Ormsby before you came, sir"
"A faithful servant II years" said
Mr.. Wilkinson, in low tone; land o
few weeks rest may save his life"
AT this moment Mile shrank little
nearer her guardian. Through the win
dow from which Mr.. Watkins over
looked the long room she could see
Cyril Ormsby, walking briskly about,
his voice harsh and imperative, finding
fault here and there, and keenly scru-
tinizing every item of the work. Not a
face in the lolg room was frightened by
the presence Of the master. Fingers
worked more rapidly, eyes were fas-
tened persistently upon the looms, and
every one seemed aware of stern task
masters gaze. But Mr.. Wilkinson obeyed
the mute petition expressed in the
looks of his ward, and led Mlllie out
into the wide passages again to another,
work-room.
1t were too tedious task to follow
every step of these two as they passed
from room TO room, everywhere meet
ing some assurance OF Mr.. Wilkinson's
own hold upon the hearts OF the
hands and their terror of Cyril Ormsby's
harshness.
Out again amongst the squallid homes
where her guardian had no control, but
bestowed his kindly charity without os-
tentation; and here, more eloquently
than ever, Mile heard how cruel q
mockery were all the schemes of char
~ L.,
poured into her ear. 1t needed no
spoken words from her guardian to tell
her that the noble words uttered to win
her were but those of hypocrisy, which
knew how it could best plead its cause
with her.
One and other, turning to Mr.. Will
kinson as a friend, unaware of the tor
ture of their words to the kindly lady
work in sickness and trouble, of closest
calculation Of time, of small wages and
heavy rents.
"if We won't live here and pay, we
get no work in the factories" said one
when asked why he did not seek
more healthy quarter.
II am doing overtime to pay for my
child's funeral" one said, "for I lost the
wages for three days | stayed by to see
her die, and to bury her"
I'm uneasy about the rent" another
said, ''lor lost week by fall on the
ice, and it's hard making t 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
well, or pay the price of an hour or
day OF ldIenesS no matter how neces-
sary.
There was no word spoken as Mr.. VIII
kinson and Mile walked to the Office
again. Once there, the old gentleman
spoke very gravely. "Asyo guardian,
Mile, can speak no word against Cy.
I'll Orlnsby. He is rich man, of good
social position, of irreproachable moral
re equation, and man whose standing
IN business circles is Of the highest. A
man who is q good match in every
worldly sense. So much for your guar
dian. AS your friend, my pearl, who
loves you as your own dead father
might have loved you, who knows every
impulse of your pure soul-as that
friend, tell YOU l would rather see you
lying beside your mother than the
Droken-hearted wife Of such q man as
Cyril Ormsby."
81 came to you as friend, as almost
| father" said Mile, "and l thank you
or keeping me fr NJ life long misery.
70 know my husband as l now know
Jyril Ormsby to be. would, as you say,
break my heart"
Il would not tell you," said her guar
lian, ''for you knew l disl ked him, and
night have thought that dislike preju-
lied me. But Mile, tell me you will
lOt let this days work shadow your life.
fou did not love Cyril, Miller"
mo. reverenced what I believed |
|! noble, generous nature. That rev.
'rence inockery, shall never break |
ny heart for man thoroughly despise,
Jncle Marc"
And SO it happened that Cyril Ormsby,
oming to claim the fortune he believed
o be within his grasp, met only Mr.. |
with Miles polite but dis |
met refusal to resign herself or her |
ortune to his keeping.
But he never knew how it was that |
lille learned the true value of his hol.
HS Of oh |