St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-30

SIX UOLlleS lOI Sos
when I tell you how you misiudge her, but 1
/ think l can trust you"
''Has she told you her secret?''
ssNo: I heard the story from the clergyman
of Lenwood, her native village, who wrote to
me before she came here. He is an old
friend of mine, and knew he could confde
in me. Six years ago Ellen's mother died,
! leaving in he care sickly step-brother, then
about 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 sufficient living
by teaching music and playing the organ in
the church. When her mother died, leaving
Stephen Grady, her step brother, an orphan
and penniless, for her step-father before his
death suuandered all her mothers fortune).
Ellen promised to care for the boy. Remem-
Der, she was but sixteen, though early care
had maturcd her far beyond her years.
'sThe boy grew up like his father, reckless
of expenditure, loose in principle, yet tender
to his sister-mother, and one of those loving
scapegraces who always win some good wo-
mans devotion. He won Elen's. She
thought herself bound by her promise to her
mother to make 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. Grady's
took Stephen into his counting house. Here
he was to learn bookkeeping, and for a
time he worked steadily. Then the bad
company that had ruined his boyhood again
exerted an evil influence, and he learned to
gamble.
Zone of his accomplishments was the
power to initiate any hand writing, and by
persuasion of some older heads he forged a
| check of 81, 600 from the firm he was with.
| The check passed the bank undetected for
the cashier was in the habit of paying over
large sums to Grady. But when it was re-
! turned to the firm the forgery was discovered
and traced to Stephen. Then the truth came
out that he had gambled away the entire
amount, and the two men who had urged
| the crime and pocketed the money had fled,
| leaving the lad to bear the consequences.
He was arrested, and repentance came when
he saw the full consequence of his acts.
s'It was then that Ellen proved herself the
noble woman / believe her to be- She was
suffering already for her brothers. crime, hay
| ing lost her place as organist, and most of
her pupils having left her. Despite all this,
Her eloquence gained him something. They
agreed not to prosecute, but allow the boy to
leave the town and 90 to an uncl- who was
willing to give him another trial in a western
city, if Ellen would pay the 81, 600 and inter
est within two years.
''She undertook the task. Stephen was re-
leased and sent to his fathers brother, where
he is doing well, and Ellen left her home and
came here, hoping for higher wages than she
could earn in her own town. /, knowing
! all, advanced her interest in every way.
Month after month, denying herself every
thing but the barest necessaries of life, she
has sent her earnings to wipe off her brothers.
debt. With the rent of the house and what
she saves here she has paid it all, the last
| instalment being acknowledged in a letter |
handed to her yesterday. You can under
stand why she could not even take few
dollars to subscribe for present to me when
l tell you the two years expired on the very
day when the last hundred dollars was re-
ceived. Now, Walter, you know Ellen IS
secret. Judge for yourself if she is a miser. -
'She is as noble and self-sacrificing as my
heart always told me s, e was in spite of APP
pearance!" SAID Walter warmly. "TO-mor-
row / will see if she can ever return my love-"
g Not Tomorrow" said Mr. Rodman.
''Ellen went home this afternoon, her task
finished Out of the sum | paid for the last
week of her toll here, she begged my accept
ance of the copy of Longfellow upon the table
beside you, asking me to believe she was
grateful for all my kindness to her. Let her
rest a little from her long strain of self-sacri-
flee and toll. will gladly give her daugh-
ter's place in my heart
| Winter had come and gone, and spring
one CHEEKY morning, the train through Len
wood left a single passenger at the village
station. He was a tall, handsome man,
dressed well, without foppishness, and he in
quired of man at the station for the resi-
dence of Miss Churchill.
''The first white cottage as you turn the
second street from here" was the reply. II
was soon found, and at the gate the traveller
halted. The windows shaded by wide YER
anda, were open, and he could see the taste
full parlor. Near the window stood hand
some woman, trailing a vine over a network
of string. His face was partly averted; hut
the stranger could see that all the pallor and
sadness of the past were gone.
UPON the graceful figure was dress oil
feecy muslin, tastefully made, and trimmed
with soft lace ruflles at throat and wrist, and
q few well chosen ornaments. Suddenly
some inner sense seemed to tell Ellen she
was watched. She turned and saw Walter
Rodman looking earnestly, wistfully at her
A quick flush swept across her check, and hel
eyes lighted gladly as she came forward t.
meet him.
MAY come in?'' he asked, opening the
little gate.
~ am very glad to welcome you, she
answered, and then extended her hands as
he sprang lightly up the steps.
1t is not fair to repeat lovers talk. Suffice
it that before Walter left the little cottage tc
take the return train, he had won the dearest
wish of his heart and when the summer
roses bloomed, Ellen became the bride of tho
junior partner of Meredith u Co., the new
firm of the factory where she had worked
so faithfully.
Commodore F0ndcI.biIt's Grandson.