Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-12-19
LAME HETTY.

| am the foreman in a large hosiel
establishment In New York. | am AZ
years old, and ! never was particularly
| handsome to look at. / do hot sup
pose my manners are especially fasci
mating either, for the girls mostly cal
me as | am given to understand, ssOld
Crusty and Bear" Not that l near
to be cross, but some people haven't
the agreeable ways of others.
| have sat behind the tall desk in
Tope s. ButtonbelTs nineteen years
I've seen good many curious phases
of life within that time; but the most
curious ef al happened to myself per
sonany-and that is precisely what
going to tell you about.
III wouldn't have had it happened
for fve dollars" said Dennison.
Dennison has charge of the outdoor
department, and he came in ON that
wet, drizzly, February evening, to
stand by the cheerful fire in my room
We had not lighted the gas yet; the
press ard hurry Of the work were over
for the day, and it was very pleasant
in the red shine OF the fire. / was sit
ting on my tall stool, biting the feather
end of quill pen, and thinking
thinking of scarce know what.
"What has happened now 2" said I.
.tIt,s Lame Hetty,n replied Denni-
son. 1.-TWO rolls of work missing, and
Hetty declares she brought 'em here.
laid down the goose-quill. Lame
Hetty had been in my thoughts, some
how, and all that rainy twilight, just
as people and things will take posses
sion Of your brains at times, and you
can't help yourself. A soft-eyed, low
voiced girl, who walked with crutch,
and always wore delicate grays and
dove colors. | knew her from the
throng because Of the s'tap-t tap" Of her
crutch, and I saw her standing in the
long line of girls waiting on Saturday
night to deliver their work and receive
their pay.
"Ten dollars worth of Shirts said
ssorder shirts too, and that
makes it worse. [ am sorry for the
girl; she has a pretty face of her own
and | always liked her; but of course
it is necessary to stand by rules. Loses
her deposit and no work"
!" But suppose size pays for the miss
ing work ~
ut isn't likely she1ldo that.' said
Dennison. This sort of girl seldom
has ten dollars saved up.0
"I don't believe it's her fault, Den
nisGli," insisted |.
ssaa's responsible, isn't she9o
ayes, but"
just then Mr.. Buttonbell came in
with a great order in his hand from a
New Orleans house. / looked at it.
awe shall have a tight pull of it,
sir, to execute this" said I.
"But it must be executed said he.
"Put on your hands. Turn on full
head of steam. 1t won't do to let Peck
& Paterson go to any other place."
And he hustled away.
"Very unfortunate" said Dennison,
+" Lame Hetty was one OF our best
hands"
Hetty Dorrance came the next NOR
ming, as usual to receive work; and
she had ten dollar bank note in her
hands,
"Some kind friend has sent me this
to pay for the lost rolls Of work, sir"
said said she to me.
"You're in luck, Hetty,n said /,
over a long list of figures,
and trying not to blush under the
earnest gaze of her soft brown eyes.
ssAnd Pm much-oh, so much OBJ
liged to him, whoever he is, "she added,
in a low tone. "But can't use it un-
less-unless you think that / am inno-
cent"
"Oh, of course do," said I looking
up the quiver in her voice. HI don't
believe you would take pin, Hetty,
I've known you four years and / be
ieve you are good girl. It's an aWk-
ward mistake somewhere, but there's
aot many mistakes, my girl, but what
Heaven clears up in it's own time.
Now take your place in line; there's
10 time to be lost this morning.
So the matter was settled, but some
lOW d C1Ouu s1CStCu Ol 1IdHIC 1AOUey'
Those who had been fast friends be-
iore avoided her now; the coarsest
minded whispered and giggled when
5he sstap, tap of her crutch sounded
IN the floor.
"Oh, Mr.. Harvey,.' said poor Hetty
me day when Jenny Warren, the
,roudest and prettiest of our work
,irls had declined to respond to her
modest bow, "it's very, very hard to
)ear.n
aWell, Hetty, only watt said I
,heerily.
s9But it is breaking my heart,n said
he. "They all think / am thief
"I don't, Hetty."
II know that, sir. I should drawn
myself, if at least one person in the
world did not believe was innocent
The winter wore itself away. The
'usy season was succeeded by one of
dullness; and among the
ands struck off the list was Hetty
torrance.
.Once a thief, always thief,n said
Id Jones, the cutter. L had just as
oon that girl should not work for us.D
q uWell,v retOrted the old man, eau