Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-11-13
LAME HE Fly.

! IQfty years Oiu: abC never was Iait
cuiarly handsome to lops st. | don
suppose nv manners are especiaIl
fascinating either. Tor the girls mosil
call NE, as an given to understan nC
"Old Crusty' and Bear" Not th;
| | mean to be cross, but some pcopl
haven't the agreeable ways of Others
l have sat behind the tall desk i
Tape & Bu,tonbell's nineteen year
Ihave seen many curious phases c
life within that time, but the mo.
curious of all happened to mysel
personally-aud that is precisel
what am going to tell you about.
=. IL wouldn't have had it happe'
| for five dollars, said Dsnnison.
Deunison had charge OF the QUITO
doors department, and b. came in Of
that wet drizzly February evening, t
stand ry the tire in my room. W
had not lighted the gas yet; the pres
and hurry Of work we're over for th
day, aud it was very quiet and pleas
an iu the red shine of the fire.
was sitting on my tall stool, biting
the feather end Of a quill pen, soc
lilinking-thinkiug Of scarce knos
what.
"Hhat has happened, now?'' said |
ats Lame Hetty," replied Denni.
son. Two rolls OF work missing
and Hetty declares she brought 'em
here"
Il laid down the goose qnill
Lame Hetty had been in ny
thoughts, somehow, all that rainy
twilight just Os people and things
will IKE possession Of your brain al
tines, and you can't help yourself
A soft eyed, low-vOiced girl, who
walked with crutch, aud always
wore delicate grays and dove colors
[ knew her from the throug because
of the "tsp, tap" Of her erulch and
used always to speak to her when |
saw her stsudiog i'd the long Iioe of
girls who waited, on Saturday night,
to deliver their work and receive their
pay.
"That's bad" said [.
"Ten dollars worth of shirts said
Dennison; "order shirts, too, and
that makes it worse. rm sorry for
the girl, she had pretty face of her
own, and | always liked her; but of
course it's necessary to stand by
rules. Loose her deposit, and no
more work.
But suppose she pays for the
missing work%
1T isn't likely she'll do that, said
Dennison. "This sor; of girl seldom
has ten dollars saved up
IL don t believe it's her fault, Deu-
Dispu," insisted |.
"She is responsible, isn't sbs?'
eyes, but
Just then Mr.. Buttonbell comes in
with a great order in his band from
New Orleans house. ! looked at it
I'VE shall have tight put OF it,
sir, to execute this said |, dubious
y.
"Bnt it must be executed" said be.
Put on Ill YOUR bauds. Turn on 8
full head of steam 1t won't do to
let Peek aud PattisOn 80 to any other
place"
Aud be hustled away.
Very unfortunate" said Denni-
sou. "Lame Hetty Was one of our
best hands
Ilerty Dorrance came the next
morning, as usual, TO receive work,
aud she had ten dUllar bank note
in her hand.
"Some kind friend has sent me
this to pay Tor the lost rolls Of work,
sir, said she to me.
You're in lcck, Ilety,' said |,
froTnipg over long column OF
figures, anj trying not 10 blush un-
der the eurnest look OF her soft brown
eyes.
And I'm much, oh, so much
obliged to him, whoever he is she
added. in low tone. But J caD't
use it unlcss-uuIess you think |
am innocent
"Of course l do said I, looking
up at the quiyer of her voice. Il
don't believe you would take pin.
Hetty. I've known you ioT four
years, and | believe you arc good
girl. It's an awkward mistake some
where; but there's not many mistakes
my gill. but what Heaven clears up
In its own good time. Now take
your place in line; there's DO time to
be lost this morning
So the matter was settled; soue-
Row cloud rested on Lame iletty.
Those who bad been fast friends be
re avoided her nov; the coarse
minded whispered and aigglcd when
The tap Of her crulca sounded on the
foo.
"Oh, Mr. Harvey" said poor !let-
ty one day, when Jenny Warren, the
proudcst and protest Of or work
girls, bad declined to respond to her
modest bov, us very, very hard to
bear"
"Wait, Hetty, only watt" said |,
But It IS breaking my heart said
She. They all think | am thief
Il don't Hetty"
Il know. that sir. | should drown
myself If at least one person in the
world didu't believe that was iono'
cent
The winter wore itself away. The
busy season was succeeded By one oi
com paraiire dullsess; and among the
hands struck of the list was Het'y