Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-06-03
LAME HETTY.
A wORKIMoMAM's ROMANCE,
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

am foreman In a shirt and drawer factory. l
am forty years old, and never particularly hand
some TO look at. don't suppose my manners
are particularly fascinating either for the girls
"Old Crusty'' aud "Bear" Not that mean to be
cross, but some people haven't the agreeable
ways OF OAhgga.
fhave sat behind the desk in Taper q Button
BELLS nineteen years. I've seen good many Gu
rious phases OF life within that time, but the
most curious of all happened to myself person
ally, aud that Is precisely what am going to tell
you about.
al Wouldn't have had 1t happen for five dol
lars" said DennisOn.
DennlsOn had charge OF the out OF door depart
ment, and be came In that wet, drizzly February
evening, to stand by the CRATE fire in my room.
We had not lighted the gas yet the press and
harry of work were over for the day, aud It was
very quiet and pleasant ia the red shine of the
Goals. was sitting on my tall stool, biting the
feather end Of a Quill pen, and thlnking-thlnk-
ing of | scarce know what.
"What has happened nOwy | said.
It's Lame Hetty," said Dennison. "fwo
rolls Of work missing, aud Hetty declares she
brought 'em here"
laid down the goose quill. Lame Hetty had
been in my thoughts, some how, all that rainy
twilight, just as people and things will take pos
session of your brain at times aud you can't helI
yourself. soft-eyed, low-volced girl who
walked with cruteh, aud always wore delicate
grays aud dove colOrs. | knew her from thu
and used always to speak to her when saw he
standing in the long line of girls who waited, ol
Saturday night, TO deliver their work and receiy
their pay.
That's bad" said !.
Il Ten dollars worth of shirts" said DennisOi
'-"order shirts too aud that makes it worse.
am sorry fol the girl-she had pretty face {
her own, and always liked her; but oil cours
it's necessary TO stand by the rules Loses be
deposit aud no more work"
"But suppose she pays for the missing work Z"
at isn't likely she'll do that" said Dennlsoi
That sort OF girl has seldom ten dollars ahead
81 don't believe it's her fault Dennis0n, insls
edL
''She is responsible, isn't she +"
just then Mr.. Buttonbel came in with a gre
order in his hand from EsN Orleans house.
looked ut it,
tive shall have tight pull Of it, sir, to {
"but it must be Rlied," said he" "Put on
your hands. Turn on full head Of steam.
won't do 10 let Peck q Pattison 20 to any 9th
place" And he hustled away.
every unfortunate" said Dennison," "Lan
Hdty was one OF our very best hands"
H0tty DogrAneo came the next morning a. tlsu
- receive work, and she had q tan dollar bill
her hAnd.
FSOme kind friend has sent this to pay for I
lost rOlo Of work, cir" said she 10 me.
HYOu'r in luck, Hstty," said !, fToWnlng OVei
large column Of tguFsS, aud trying mot to blu
under the earnest, steady look of her Soft, broV
eyos
"And I'm much, oh, 90 much oblidsd to hi
whoever he is," she added in q low tone. "H
! can't use 1t unleas unless you think am inI
cent"
"OG course Do" said i. Ieoking up, At
CULVER OF her voice. II don't believe you Wol
take q pin, HOtty. I've knoWn yo0 for four ye
and believe you are good girl. Its an av
ward mistake somewhere, but there's not ma
mistakes, my girl, but that God clean mp in
own good time. New take your place IN the u
there's no time 70 be lost this morning"
So the matter was settled; but somehoW elo
rested on Lame Hstty. Those who had bees
friends before avoided her nov; the coarse minG
wispered and elggled when the "tap, tap" OF
crutch 0oundOd on the door.
"oh, Mr.. Harvey" said poor aetly one
when Jenny WaFFsn the pfoudsak aud pFatt
sg our giFla, refused TO acknowledge her mod
Low, cite very, very hard 70 beaE.h
TWait, Hetiy; only walt" said ehesFily.
HBut it's breaklnR my heart" said she. "t
al think ana Q thief"
~ DON'T Hstty." =.
~ know that, slE. / should drown myself !
least one peEson IN the world did not believe
tanoeonGF
- The wintaF wore issalf away. TIE basy 80
Il Was succeeded By one Of comparative dulln
ana Taaag the hands struck % the list was ~
ao1Gs , .isi. always = thief" said cid 10