River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-11-21
LAME HErTY.

l am the foreman in large hosier estab-
lIshment III New York. | am 40 years old
and never was particularly handsome 10
look at. ! do not suppose my manners are
especially fascinating either, for the girls
mostly call me a. | am given TO understand
"Old Crusty and Bear" Not that mean
to be cross, but some people haven't the
agreeable ways of others
| have sat behind the tall desk in Tone &
ButtonbelPs nineteen years I've seen a
good many curious phases of life within
that time but the most curious cf all hap
pened to myself personally-and that is
precisely what ] am going to tell you about.
!" wouldn't have had it happened for
five dollars said Dennison.
Dennison has charge of the outdoor de.
partment and he came in on that wet.
drizzly, February evening, 10 stand by the
cheerful fire in my room. We had not
lighted the gas yet; the press and hurry of
the work were over for the day, and it was
very pleasant in the red shine of the fire. I
was sitting on my tall stool, biting the
feather end of a quill pen, and thinking
thinking of | scarce know what
What has happened now ~ said [
It's Lame Hetty,' replied Dennison.
Two rolls of work missing, and Hetty de-
clares she brought EN- here
| laid down the gOose-quill Lame Hetty
had been IN my thoughts, somehow, and all
that rainy twilight, Just as people and
things will take possession of your brains al
times. and you can I help yourself. A soft
eyed, low voiced girl, who walked with a
crutch, and always wore delicate grays and
dove colors. knew her from the tbronu
because of the tap-tap" of her crutch,and
! 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 Den.
nisOn-" order shirts too, and that makes
1t worse. ! am sorry for the girl she
has a pretty face of her own and / ALWAYS
liked her; but of course il is necessary Ia
stand by rules Loses her deposit and mo
work
But supposes she pays for the missing
work 2n
1T isn't likely she Il do that, :" said Den
nison This sort Of girl seldom has ten
dollars saved up"
4" don believe it's her fault, Dennison,' y
insisted l.
She's responsible, isn't she n
] Yes. but
| just then Mr. Buttonhell came in with a
great order in his hand from New Orleans
house | looked az it,
We shall have a tight pull of it, sir, to
execute this" said |.
But it must bc executed" said he.
. Put ON your hands Turn ON a full head
OF steam II won't do 10 let Peck Il Pat
/ trtson go 10 any other place.
! Aud he hustled away.
Very unfortunate" said Dennison.
" Lame Hetty was one of our best hands,
/ llctty Dorrance came the next morning
* usual "a receive work and she had ten
dollar bank note in her hands"
Some kind friend has sent me this 10
/ pay for the lost rolls OF work, sir, said she
4 a. me.
You're in luck, Hetty, said |. frowninp
over a long list Of figures, and trying not Is
blush under the earnest gaze of her soft
brown eyes.
And I'm much oh, so much obliged 10
him, whoever he is, shc added, in u low
tone. "But can't use it uuless-unlcss
you think that am innocent
oh, of course do, said | looking up
the culver in her voice 81 don't believe
/ You would take pin, Hetty, I've known
/ YOU four years and believe you are a good
girl. It's an awkward mistake somewhere.
but there's not many mistakes, my girl, but
what Heaven clears up in it, own time
I Now take your place in line there's no time
/ 10 be lost this morning.
So the matter was settled but somehow a
cloud rested ON Lame lIctty Those who
had teon fast friends before avoided her
now the coarsost minded whispered and
giggled when the "tap, tap" Of her crutch
sounded on the floor
"Oh, Mr.. Harvey" said poor Hetty one
day when Jenny Warren, the proudest and
pretticst Of our work girls had declined ~
respond 70 her modest bow. sits very. very
hard 70 bear
Well, Hetty only wait, said / cheeri-
y.