Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-03-20

But 1t was not into his own kindly
governed. well-ordered departments
that Marcus Wilkinson led his ward.
He turned into a small room. where a
pale man was busily writing. and at
the same time overlooking long room
where about seventy girls We're at
work before busily whirling machin-
cry.
Good morning, Watkins" the old
gentleman said. II was in hopes you
were taking holiday"
Thank you. sir" was the reply. in
detected tone. 81 can't we'll quit
work. sir. There's the wife and six
little ones you see
Have you told Mr. Ormsby the doc
tor says that you life depends upon
a few weeks rest and pure air?"
Yes, sir. He's not keeping me; but
he says if go he must fill my place
and that means starvation for my fam
lily. l could never get another situa-
ton, as feeble as am now
How long have you been here, Mr..
Watkns?"
Seventeen years. sir. was with
old Mr. Ormsby before you came sir"
"A faithful servant seventeen
years" said Mr.. Wilkinson. In a low
tone: land a few weeks rest may save
his life"
At this moment Milie shrank a little
nearer her guardian. Through the win
dow from which Mr. Watkins over
looked the loom room, she could see
Cyril Ormsby walking briskly about,
his voice harsh and impera tive. finding
fault here and there, and keenly scrut
inizing every item Of the work Not a
face In the long room was frightened
by the presence Of the master. Fin
gers worked more rapidly, eyes were
fastened more perslstently upon the
Of the stern task ma ster's gaze. But
Mr.. Wilkinson obeyed the petition ex-
pressed in the looks Of his ward, and
led Millie out into the wide passa ges
again, to another work room
1t were too tedious task to follow
from room to room. everywhere meet
ing some assurance Of Mr.. Wilknson's
own hold upon the hearts Of the
hands" and their terror of Cyril
Ormsby's harshness.
Out again amongst the homes, where
her guardian had no control, but
bestowed his kindly charity with
out ostentation; and here more elo-
quently than ever, Mile heard how
cruel mockery We're all the schemes
Of charity and philanthropy that had
been poured into her ears. 1t needed
no spoken words from her guardian
to tell her that the noble words uttered
to win her We're those Of Hypocrisy
which knew how it could best plead
its cause with her
One and another, turning to Mr.. Will
kinson as to a friend, unaware OF the
torture of their words to the kindly
lady beside him. told of cruel exac
lions Of work in sickness and trouble
of closest calcula ton Of time, Of small
wages and heavy rents.
"If we don't live here and pay, we
get no place in the factories" one said
when asked why he did not seek
more healthy quarter.
II am doing overtime to pay for
my chlld's funeral" one said, "for l
lost the wages for three days. stayed
by to see her die and to bury her."
IL am uneasy about the rent" an
other said. for lost week by fall
on the ice, and it's hard making it
up again"
Not word of kindly sympathy or
help, In trouble or sickness. The
hands" under Cyril Ormsby were sim
ply human machines to do so much
work, sick or WELL or pay the price of
an hour or day of ldleness, no matter
how necessary.
There was no word spoken as Mr..
Wilkinson and Mile walked to the
office again. Once there, the old gen.
tleman spoke very gravely:
"As you guardian, Mile. can speak
to you no word against Cyril Ormsby.
He Is a rich man. Of good social posi-
ton, Of irreproachable moral reputa-
ton. and man whose standing in
business circles Is Of the highest A
man who Is good match in every
worldly sense. SO much as your guard
ian. AS your friend. my pearl. who
loves you as your own dead father
might have loved you. who knows
every noble impulse Of your pure soul
AS that friend. I tell you l would
rather see YOU lying beside your moth
or than the broken hearted wife of
such a man as Cyril Ormsby"
81 came to you rs friend. as al
most a father said Mile. land I
thank you for keeping me from life
long misery. TO know my husband
such a man as l know Cyril Ormsby
to be, would. as you ask, break my
heart"
81 would not tell YOU" said her
guardian, for you knew | disliked
him, and might have thought that dis
like prejudiced me. But. Millie, tell
me you will not let this days work
shadow your life You did not love
Cyril. Mlle:"
mo. reverenced what | believed