The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1857-10-24
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From the Missouri Democrat
THE TWO CLERKS.
BY BETTE LISLE.


had said so many times in his hearing,
"that if her husband could not support
her she'd get divorce and go back to
her father" and said it too with such a
feeling of trust and confidence in him
that he could not for the soul of him dare
tell her that her husband could not, un-
less there was curtailment of expenses
But what could he curtail; she did not
spend half what she had done at home
aud really thought herself quite an econo-
mical wife, and boosted to her friends that
she had only had four new dresses in the
whole year.
One day, when the baby was about
three moths old, she went out with it and
nurse to take an airing, and stepped into
the great dry goods establishment of
Sampson & Co., and sat on the crimson
stool, carelessly playing with her parasol,
chirping to baby, and talking to Charley,
when an old friend came in, and called
for embroideries. The box was handed
out.
"My desr Hettie," said the dashins
Miss Mamie Steele, "it's an age since
have seen you; how do you do? is this
your baby? Oh, the sweet little cherub
But how pale you are; surely your grow
ing old. Oh, don't wear that bonnet; it
don't become you bit. Mrs. Wilson
has just opened her spring fashions. Oh,
she has two perfect loves of bonnets;
do think they are the sweetest things
ever laid my eyes on. You ought to have
one-suit you to T. Mr.. Harvey, you
must not let Hette get SO old fashioned
| declare, she is not bit like herself
No more like Hettie Banks than she is
like me or any body else"
'1'm not Hettie Banks" spoke up the
young wife, little piqued, 81 am Hettie
Harvey, and that is a very different thing
from being Hettie Banks"
"Oh. of course it is," said Miss Matte
Steel, looking little scorn, as the recol-
lection fitted through her mind, "only a
clerks wife" What's this piece of em-
broidery worth, Mr. Harvey"
THAT, Miss, is five dollars; it is a ve-
ry fine piece of French; not a handsomer
or cheaper article in town"
at is magnificent, and this piece of in
scrting to match"
Just the same, You see, they are ex-
actly alike"
Isn't it beautiful ssid Hattie her
displeasnre having dashed itself away.
"Wonldn't it make pretty morning
dress?" asked Matte Steel patronizingly.
There was a time when Iiettie Bank s
opinion was never disputed by the young
questioner, who was not yet rich enough
to be above asking prices
Il think it would be perfectly enchant-
ing" was the reply.
The requisite quantity was ordered and
paid for.
"Now Hettie, YOU get one, too; let us
have something alike once more, for old
acquaintance.
"Well, | need something Of the kind;
with baby, you know, one needs so ma
ny wrappers Charley, you may put up
mine at your leisure But be sure you
don t sell it; you can bring it at dinner
time. Here, kiss baby" and then the
wee little lady, all ribbons, laces, silk fan
nels and embroidery, corals and gold, was
held up lovingly over the counter for pa
pa to kiss, and the young wife, nurse and
all, left the store.
The embroidery found its way into his
pocket, but the charge did not find its way
to the day book. Hettie was so thankful,
so happy, and it was such trihe And
so things went Oh for nearly year; every
time transgression was committed, a
wrong done, the conscience became more
and NOR. blunted until the acts of treach-
cry, to call them by no harder name, was
of almost daily occurrence.
1t was to please beloved wife, that
these fearful wrongs were committed; and
Harvey nearly all the time was hoping
and fattering himself that he would some
time be able to make return, to extri-
cate hlmself-and set it all right
Nate was his daily companion, and be-
ing nearer to him, and understanding him
better than any one else, began to suspect
him of something wrong
Mates wife, too, had an eye, She was
practical, well educated girl; and know
ing that fifteen hundred a year, which
was Mates salary now, would not keep
the present and lay foundation for the
future, without care and economy, had
still kept her place in the store as clerk
She knew that articles wen, out of the
store that were not paid for, nor charged
upon the books. What was to be done
Nate knew that in his soul Charley Har-
vey had no dishonesty Of purpose. lie
knew that he would far rather be honest
than dishonest; he knew, too, that for
himself alone he would never have pur-
loined a copper.
Harvey was growing poor; looked pale,
care-worn, unhappy; grew fretful-in-
deed he was growing desperate,
His thousand dollars could not even
answer the daily calls, much less pay the
old debts, aud the new ones that were
constantly accumulating, New dific,.l-
ties pressed him on every hand; reckless
ness and despair were entering his heart
Like a thousand others, he stood on the
very brink Of ruin. Should he stop here
just where he was how could he redeem
the past, without confessing to Hettie
and his employer the magnitude of his
crime; and his spirit recoiled from that
disgrace, and turned rather to that other
resource-.toryery' To cxtricatc himself
he lifted his pen and wrote name. But
here his manliness recoiled again. There
was goodness left in his heart It was
weakness and not deprayity that had led
him into this present dilemma.
A thought struck him. / will draw
upon my wife's father. Ii he finds it out
he will for the credit of his family for
give us Then another thought struck
him. an toll Hettie all about it She