Year: 1877

(
many wore i'll chosen and unbecomng finery.
| One Of these, who had a mock gold chain
and bracelets, and profpsion of Jet trim
mings upon cheap silk dress, spoke very
emphatically-'It is the stingiest proceed
ing | ever heard of"


What are you all so excited about ?''
asked pretty little blonde, coming in from
the loom-room


"Elen Churchill !"


'Dear me What has been doing now
You are always discussing some dreadful
deed of Ellens. l like her myself"


"Yes, we all know that, said the first
speaker you viii 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"


"And Mr. Rodman has been such good
friend to her p said third voice


The little blonde Susy Whiting by name,
looked rather staggered at the new accusa-
ton against her friend. Mr. Rodman. mana
ger fos Meredith 4 Son for nearly fifty
/ years, was about to retire on account Of the
infrmities Of age, and the persons engaged
in the great factory were collecting money
to buy silver tankard to present to him.
lie was kindly old man, and always 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 Il hand
some eiri Of about twenty when she applied
for work and by every action and word be
traycd The fact that she had stepped from
| q life OF refinement to the drudgery Of a
| factory hand Her low, even tone betrayed
the lady in Its well chosen words: and her
slim, white hands bore no trace Of toll up
on their smooth skin. She was courteous
TO al who came into intercourse with her,
but intimate with none. She had nursed
Susy Whiting through a long period OF
contagious fever. wining the devotion Of
that little maiden, and the mauger soon
Fut her into positions Of trust till she be
came iorowomau Here her education en-
aJled her to keep the books required in the
room, thus doubling her salary.


Aud here was the great ground Of com
plant by her companions. Ii was well
known that the salary Of Ellen Churchill
was sufficient TO warrant q good style OF
living and dressing In the great board
ing-house, where seventy Of the girls had
rooms. she could well afford to pay for the
best, to contribute to the amusement Of the
. / ! IL e Il,
she lived in the attic, poorly furnished,
with tiny stove, where she cooked the
cheapest Of food Her dress was Of the
coarsest description made by her own hands,
and 10 ornament broke It's severe simpi-
city. She never spent money in any plea
surc-seebing, nor joined in any Of the quiet
mcrrilucnt in the house But the crown
ing enormity was the refusal to con-
tribute to the silver tankard.


The excited group in the ante room dis
persed for the day, walking home in the
twilight Of September evening, aud still
thew talked Of the young torcwoman.


sThe 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 any in the factory savings
bank she certainly spends nothing on her
dress. Where is it all then p


Perhaps she supports her parents p


''Both dead | have heard her say so y


'WeI, l dare say Mr. Rodman won't
think her such paragon as he has done,
when he misses her name from the sub
scription list


"And Walter Rodman viii probably re-
sent the insult TO lis father


There was an eXultation in the tone Of
the last remark but ill-conceaed. Walter
Rodman. the only child Of the old manager,
was in the counting-house Of the factory.
with every prospect Of soon becoming a
partner. 4 man past thirty, he had risen
in the employ Of Meredith & Son, from
a lad Of fourteen, and had saved money
from a handsome salary, with the avowed
intention Of purchasing a place il the firm,
upon the anticipated retirement Of old Mr.
Meredith, who was known to favor the in
tention Among all the clerks and work
men in the great factory, there was no one
so handsome as Walter Rodman, none so
quietly refined in manner, none 50 great d
fayorite 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, re
fined face Of the young girl that attracted
Walter Rodman from the first That there
was some heavy trouble brooding in the
sadness of her great dark eyes he never
doubted but if ever purity aud goodness
were pictured in human countenance, they
were In Ellem's From his father he learn
ed much of the newcomer, Of the quick
adaptabilty she showed for work evidently
new to her, Of the almost masculine brain
that fitted her so soon to take control Of
the loom-room where over hundred girls
were at work.


OF her antecedents, he knew only that
she. brought letter from the clergyman of
10. ,,o,;eb In small town of New York