St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-30
JUDGE NOT.

4 OF girls were standing, engaged IN an AMI
mated discussion. They were all young,
some pretty, all dressed neatly, though all
wore ill-chosen and unbecoming finery. One
of these, who had a mock gold chain and
bracelets and cheap silk Dress spoke very
phatically-"It is the stingiest proceeding
l ever heard of!''
''What are you all so excited about!'
asked pretty little blonde, coming in from
the loom room.
''Ellen Churchill?,'
''Dear me- What has she been dom g
now? You are always discussing some
dreadful deed of Ellen's. 1 like her
myself.''
eyes, we all know that,n said the first
speaker; ''you will defend anything Ellen
does"
''But what has she done?'
''Refused to sign the subscription list
for the tankard to be presented to Mr. Rod
man"
'EAnd Mr.. Rodman has been such good
friend to her!'' said third voice.
The little blonde, Susy Whiting by name,
looked rather staggered at the new accusa-
ton against her friend. Mr. Rodman, man
ager for Meredith 81 Son for nearly fifty
years, was about to retire on account of in
frmities of age, and the persons engaged in
the great factory were collecting money to
buy silver tankard to present to him.
He was kindly old man, and always ready
| to lend helping hand to the small army of
work people under his control; so that the
presentation was really gift of love.
Ellen Churchill had come to the great
| factory two years previous to the date of the
indignation meeting in the ante-room, and
had risen to the position of forewoman in
| one of the loom rooms. She was handsome
girl of about 20 when she applied for work,
and by every action and word betrayed that
she had stepped from life of refinement to
the drudgery of factory hand. Her low
even tone betrayed the lady in its wel-chos-
en- words; and her slim, white hands bore no
trace of toll upon their smooth skin. She
was courteous to all who came into inter
course with her, but intimate with none. She
had nursed Susy Whiting through long
period of contagious fever, winning the de-
votion of that little maiden, and the mana
ger soon put her into positions of trust till
she became forewoman. Here her educa-
ton enabled her to keep the books required
in the room, thus doubling her salary.
And here was the great ground of com
plant by her companions. 1t was well known
that the salary of Ellen Churchill was suffi-
cient to warrant good style of living and
dressing. In the great boarding house,
where 70 of the girls had rooms, she could
well afford to pay for the best, to contribute
to the amusement of the house, and dress
well. Instead of all this, she lived in the
attic poorly furnished, with a tiny stove,
II H. 4offo
dress was of the coarsest description, made
by her own hands, and no ornament broke
its severe simplicity. She never spent money
in any pleasure seeking, nor joined in any
of the quiet merriment in the house. But
the browning enormity was the refusal to
contribute to the silver tankard. The excited
group in the ante-room dispersed for the day,
walking home in the twilight of September
evening, and still they talked of the young
forewoman
''The question is said Mary Leigh, who
had been foremost in the ante-room discus
sion, 'what does she do with her money!
She never puts and in the savings bank; she
certainly spends nothing on her dress.
Where is it ALL them"
Perhaps she supports her parents.'
''Both dead! | have heard her say sou
swell, dare say Mr.. Rodman won't think
her such paragon as he has done, when he
misses her name from the subscription
list.''
''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 Rod
man, the only child of the elder manager,
was in the counting room of the factory,
with every prospect of becoming a partner.
ploy of Meredith IL Son from lad of four
teen, and had saved money from hand
some salary, with the avOwed purpose of pur
chasing place in the firm upon the antici-
pated retirement Of old Mr.. Meredith, who
was known to favor the intention. Among
the clerks and workmen in the great factory
there was none so handsome as Walter Rod
man, none so quietly refined in manner,
none so great favorite with all. But he had
gone through thirty years Of life fancy free,
until Ellen Churchill came to the factory.
There was something in the noble, refined
face of the young girl that attracted Walter
Rodman from the first. That there was some
heavy trouble broodng in the sadness of her
dark eyes he never doubted; but if ever puri-
ty and goodness was pictured in human
countenance they were in Ellen's.
From his father he learned much of The
new conner, of the quick adaptabihty she
showed for her work, evidently new to her,
, of the almost masculine brain that fitted heI
so soon to take control of the loom room,
where over a hundred girls were at work
J OF her antecedents he knew only that she
brought q letter from the clergyman of her
parish in a small town of New York state.
That she was a woman of culture and refine
ment they could see for themselves.
IA, d, Il fro,, l. 4
true, as his heart more and more acknowl-
edged Ellen for its queen grieved over the
evident mystery in her life. While in hel
conversation she advanced noble and gener-
Gus views, her whole style of living was pc
nurous to an extent rarely seen in woman
of her age, when living upon a much smaller
salary than she commanded. 1t was not
merely economy, but saving pushed to eX-
tremity,
; There was struggle between his love anC
his fear of repentance, if he urged his suit
1t was revolving to him to think of his wife
conducting his household upon parsimonious
) principles, refusing to bestow of his abund-
ance in charity, dressing meanly, and per-
haps influencing him to the same misery
habits. And yet, one hour with Ellen drove
away all such thoughts.
The low, soft voice, always tinged by hel
habitual sadness, covered such mirror OF {
pure, tender heart, cultivated mind, &
r noble soul, that Walter forgot the coarse
mean dress, the many stories rife in the
factory of Ellen's stinginess, and knew hi
loved her as he had never before loved any
woman.
: But when the silver tankard was present
ed to Mr.. Rodman, and EIens name wa:
not upon the list of contributors to the gift
' Walter experienced sharp pang of disap
/ pointment He knew that his fathers re-
commentator had gained Ellen her place il
. the factory, and that she had found firm