Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-11-22

pefsOnlflcatlon of Justice, allowed no man
hesitation OF trielIdlihess between herself
and her girls, looking upon them merely
as servants to do her bidding, and showing
not particle of interest in their life out
side the wOIk-room.
so FOR month Lefty had the entire SUI
pervlslon OF affairs, receiving orders.
directing the girls, and giving with her
own dett fingers the finishing touch to
! every hat and bonnet that went out of the
shop. At the end of that time Madam ral-
lied sufficiently to get downstairs on a visit
of inspection, naturally expecting to find
matters very much at odds and ends; but
instead everything was going on systemati-
cally-the girls seemed cheerful and con-
tented, and not whit less industrious
than with her keen eye constantly upon
them; while the young men in the sales
room were attending to their duties with a
new and becoming dignity in their bearing
the reflection, though, perhaps, Madam
failed TO see it. of the dignified courtesy
with which the new mistress treated them.
Assuredly the business had never been
more flOurishing, and Madam looked over
the neatly-kept accounts with satisfied
eyes. The girl had done admirably; and
though she hoped within week at the
longest to be herself again at the head. she
mentally resolved that the promotion
should be permanent. But the next day
Madam had relapse. A fortnight passed
bringing no improvement, and then the
poor woman learned that she was TO be an
invalid for life. She might live for years,
the doctors told her, but they would be
| years of suffering and confinement.
''Send Lefty Norton to me-" she COM
manded the nurse. So Lefty came.
Y ic or
down and write to him that | am sick and
need him.
And Lefty Fobeyed, thinking all the
while how odd it was that this stern old
| woman should have little boy to love-
for she did love him, Lefty was sure of
! that by the lighting up Of the haggard face
when she spoke of him.
And now." said the energetic invalid,
when she had seen the letter sealed and
sent, " we viii talk of business" And
straightway she astonished the young
girl with a proposition both to increase
her salary and give her third of the
profits provided she would undertake the
whole management. Lefty listened al
most incredulously, and like a dutiful
daughter went home and reported to heI
mother. Mrs. Norton looked grave al
first, afraid that the child was going tc
take too much upon herself; but the prop,
osition was accepted, nevertheless. and
great was the rejoicing in the household,
and greater still at the store.
F." Well done. little woman!' said Uncle
Job, laying down his pipe to take Letty's
hands in his: "NNll done! well done
Now, come, own up that Uncle Job is q
good prophet;" and Lefty very cheerfully
"owned up"
One morning, not many days after, as
the new mistress sat at work with her
maidens. a servant announced that Madam
| Mapes's son was in the cption-room and
wished to see her. Lefty dropped tht
bonnet she was trimming. shook the shredS
from her dress, and hastened into the par
lor; but instead of the child whom she
had come to lead to his sick mother, a tai
Young man. broad shouldered and brown
bearded, rose to meet her. Lefty, how
ever, was too much absorbed TO notice
him.
"Where is Madam Mapes's little boyT
she asked with a quick glance round tho
room.
''Not very far away, Think said tn,
stranger, looking so amused in spite o
the sad occasion that Lefty saw her mis-
take at once, and blushing to the tips o
her pretty ears made haste to lead the wa.
TO Madam Mapes's apartment.
The sick woman started up as they en-
tered.
81 knew my little boy would come y
she said. opening wide her arms, whil'
the :. little boy'' threw himself on hi
knees beside the bed and laid his head OIL
the bosom that had pillowed it twenty-fiy,
, years before. Lefty waited to see n,
! more, but went softly down stairs with
look on her face that made the girls thlnl
, Madam Mapes must be improving.
The following day the young man cam
into the millinery room and, sitting dow
by Lefty as she worked, had long tall
with her on the state of his mother
health. He had intended to remain but
week and then return to college-whert
as Lefty incidentally learned, he was study
: ing medicine; biit Madam would no
consent to his leaving her. and he felt to
! anxious about her himself to be willing I
! 90 back while she remained in her presen
I condition. So, like a dutiful son, he stait
5 deVoting himself chiefly to his mother an
his books, but finding time at least once
| day to pay visit to the store TO see hoy
: business ilourished. Indeed, these visit
: came to be of so regular occurrence tn:
5 the girls i'm anticipation of them put o
4 their sweetest smiles and their freshest rii
e bons, for Wallace Mapes, though not e,
4 actly handsome man, had face whic
women and children instinctively trustee
7 But neither smiles nor ribbons moved hin
e Either his mothers sickness or his natur;
r seriousness OF mind might have aecounte
J for this seeming indifference; but eviden
a ly the little boy" had imbibed SON
/ knightly idea of the sacredness of woman
q hood under all circumstances, and COZ
y sidered womanly shop-girl as worthy
/ respect as the grandest lady in the land, Il
he treated them with as much defcrenceas
/ they had been Earls' daughters, every OF
e of them. and the girls were sensible enong
r to be better pleased than il he had pr
S sumed 10 flirt with them. As for Lett
r she was too much engrossed with busine
d to think of putting OF" I" either smiles
d ribbons. For the first, however, the
+ was no occasion. smiles being as natuI
e to her face as sunshine in june, while ri
v bons were luxury in which she felt Z
t poor to indulge. Yet she liked the youI
h man thoroughly, was very grateful for {
II interest he took in the business, and glad
te availed herself of his help in making 0
to the accounts.
Meanwhile IN the little home there We