Daughter of the Loom (Bells of Lowell Book #1) by Judith Miller, Tracie Peterson Read Free Book Online Page B

quivering shoulder. “I’m sorry for what’s happened to your family’s land, Lilly, but the mills are here to stay, and if you’re going to work in them, you need to forget the past. If you can,” she added quickly.
    Lilly took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. She was alarmed that such random conversation could elicit her anger so quickly. It was obvious she’d made a spectacle of herself the very first night. The girls were all staring at her.
    Forcing a smile, she glanced about the room. “I see my performance has left you all in awe. My father always said I was born to be an actress. Do tell me more about all these fees for church pews.”
    Marmi, Prudence, and the others visibly sighed in relief while Nadene appeared to be calmly evaluating her behavior. It was apparent that Nadene was not easily deceived.
    “One thing about the fee at St. Anne’s: you were told when you were hired that you had to pay. At least the Corporation didn’t steal the money like old Elder Harley over at the Freewill Baptist,” Marmi said, once again taking up the banner for the Associates.
    “Same thing as far as I’m concerned,” Nadene replied. “Neither one of them had consent to take the money.”
    “Yes, but at least Mr. Boott used it for the church,” Beth said, her eyes wide as if she suddenly knew a great secret. “I heard Elder Harley did unspeakable things with his ill-gotten gains.”
    Prudence laughed. “Who knows what Elder Harley did with all the money the girls donated to him.”
    Lilly curled her legs beneath her, listening to the tales, surprised at how sheltered she had been from this information while living so close. “Whatever are you talking about? Did one of the preachers steal money from the mill girls?”
    Marmi’s head bobbed up and down. “Indeed, he did. He told the girls he needed funds to build a church, which would be a good thing for the community. In order to raise the money, he offered the girls interest on any funds they loaned him. All of the Baptist girls as well as girls from other denominations loaned him money. Then he absconded with their funds, having never laid a cornerstone.”
    “Cornerstone! He never even turned a spade of dirt,” Prudence chimed in.
    “I heard he had a mistress,” Katie offered.
    “Katie! That’s gossip, pure and simple. The rest of this we know firsthand,” Franny admonished.
    “Are you planning to attend St. Anne’s?” Marmi inquired. “That’s where most of us attend church.”
    “I haven’t attended in a long time. I’m not sure that I’ll be going to church, at least not in Lowell,” Lilly replied.
    The girls gasped in unison. Nadene merely gave her a wry smile.
    “Why are you smiling at me like that?” Lilly asked.
    “You’ll attend. It’s in your contract. All mill employees must regularly attend church or be subject to dismissal. And yes, they do check with the boardinghouse keepers to assure themselves of our attendance. You may get by with staying abed for a Sunday here and there, but be assured, such behavior will not be tolerated frequently.”
    “Besides, why wouldn’t you want to go?” Sarah asked softly.
    Lilly had so long been troubled in her spirit that she’d given up trying to understand it. She wanted to do the will of God, but at the same time, God’s will seemed very uncertain—very unclear. It was almost as if He were playing a game with her. Testing her. Teasing her.
    “I was very sad throughout my father’s illness,” Lilly said, reluctant to confide her true reasons. “I haven’t felt like going to church and being around a lot of our old friends.”
    “Well, that makes perfect sense,” Marmi said, patting Lilly’s hand. “But now you’ll have all of us and you shan’t be sad for long.”
    Lilly wished that were true. If only she could know for sure that her plans were what God wanted. At times she felt confident—almost as though God had written them out on a tablet like He’d done for