Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-06-20
LANE HETTY.

LAME II El T.
I am the foreman in shirt and drawe
factory I am forty years cid. and neve
was particularly handsome to lock at.
don't suppose nj manners are PARTICULAR
fascinating either, for the eifls mostly cal
me, as I am given to understand COX
Crus,y'' and Bear" Not that I mean tt
be cross, but some people haven't the agree
able ways of others
| I have sat behind the tall desk in Tape
l & Buttonbell's nineteen years. I've seen a
good many curious phases of life within thai
time, but the most curious Of all happened
to myself personally, and that is precisely
! what am going to tell you about
II wouldn't have had it happened for
FIVE dollars" said Dennison.
Dennison bad charge of the out Of door
department, aud he came in that wet, driz,
ely February evening, to stand by the CRATE
fire 10 the room. We had not lighted the
gas yet the press and hurry of work were
over for the day, and it was very quiet aud
pleasant in the red shine Of the Goals. I
vas sitting on my tall stool, biting the fea-
Their end of quill pen, and thinking
thinking of scarce knew what.
"Wbat has happened now?' l said
"Its Lame Hetty," said Dennison. 1.-Two
rolls of work missing, and Helty declares
she brought 'em here
I laid down the goose quill, Lame Het
ty had been in my thoughts, somehow, all
that rainy twilight, just as people and
things will take possession of your brain at
times. and you can't help yourself A
soft-eyed, low voiced girl who walked with
a cruteh, and always wore delicate grays
and dove colors. I knew her from the
thropg because of the "tap, tap of her
cruteh, and used always to speak to her when
I saw her standing in the long line Of girls
who waited, on Saturday night, to deliver
their work and receive their pay.
''That's bad" said I
"Ten dollars worth Of Shirts" said Den
n,ison-' order shifts, too. and that makes
it worse. Fa, sorry for the girl-she had
pretty face of her own. and | always liked
hev; but Of course its necessary to stand
by the rules. Loses her deposit and no
more work"
"But suppose she. pays for the missing
work p
at isn't likely she'll do that" said Den
nison. This sort of girl has seldom ten
dollars ahead"
Il don't believe it's her fault, Dennison,"
Insisted I.
"Sl.e is responsible, ism she %
eyes, but"
Just then Mr. Buttonbell came in With
great order in his hand from New Or
leans house. I looked at it.
"We shall have tight pull of it. sir. to
GIL this" said L, obviously.
''But it must be filed" said he. 'Put
on al your hands Turn on a full head Of
steam. 1t won't do to let Peck & Pattison
60 to any other place. And be hustled
away.
every unfortunate" said Dennison -
ELAINE Hetty was one of our very best
hands"
Hetty Dorrance came the next morning
as usual TO receive work, and she had ten
dollar bill in her hand.
'Some kind friend has sent this to pay
for the lost rolls Of work, Sir" she said to
me.
"You're in luck, Hetty, said I, frown-
ing over long column Of figures, and try
ing not to blush under the earnest look
of her soft, brown eyes.
"And I'm much, oh, go much obliged to
him whoever he is" she added, in a low
tone. "But cannot use it unless-unless
you think / am innocent"
"Of course do said I, looking up at
the culver of her voice. II don't believe
you would take pin, Hetty. I've known
you for four years, and [ believe you are a
good girl. It's an awkward mistake some
where. but there's not many mistakes, my
girl, but that God clears up in his own
good time Now take your place in the
line there's no time to be lost this morn.
Jag"
So the matter was settled but someao 81
cloud rested on Lame Hetty Those who
had been fast friends before avoided her
now the coarse minded whispered and
giggled when the tap, tap" Of her crutch
sounded on the floor.
"Oh, Mr.. Harvey" said poor Hetty one
day, when Jennie Warren, the proudess
and prettiest of our girls, refused to acknowl
edge her modest bow, cts very, very hard
to BEAR
"Wait, Hetty only watt" said [
cheerily.
"But it's breaking my heart said she
"They all think I am thief
II don't. Hetsy."
Il know that, sir. I should drown IN y
self if at least one person 10 the world die
not belive me innocent
''The winter wore itself away. The bus.
season was succeeded by one of comparative
dullness, and among the hands struck of
the list was Hetty Dorrance.
''Once thief, always thief, said ole
Jones, the cutter. ed just as soon thai
girl wouldn't work for u.s."
Il would stake my honor thst she Is NJ
thief. Mr.. jones'" said I, hotly.
"Wel!, retorted the old man, cautiously
''its necessary to curtail the list little
and it may as well be Lame Hetsy as an.
one."
But Hetty never came to learn her doom
Day after day went n.y. and the familiar ia
of her crutch sounded no more on the floor