The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-01-15
LAME HETTY.

Lam the foreman of large hosiery
establishment in New York. I am
forty years old. and never was par
ticQlarly handsome to look at. 1 don L
suppose my manners are particularly
fascinating either, for the girls mostly
call me, as / am given to understand,
't0Id CrustyD aud Bear" Not that
/ meant to be cross, but some people
have not the agreeable ways of 9th
ers.
1 have sat behind the tall desk in
Tape 8 ButtonbeIl's nineteen years.
have seen good many phases of
life within that time, but the most cur
ious Of all happened to myself indi-
vidually-and this is precisely what
1 am going 10 tell you about.
81 wouldn't have had it happen for
i've doflars,1 said Dennison.
Dennison had charge OF the out
door department and he came i'm on
that wet drizzly February evening, to
stand by the cheerful fire in my room
We had not lighted the gas yet; the
press aud hurry of the work was over
for the day, and it was very quiet and
pleasant in the red shine Of the fire.
1 was sitting on my tall stool bit
ing the feathered end of my quill pen
and MISUNDERSTANDING of I scarce
knew what.
What has happened now ?D said 1.
It's lame Hetty," replied Denni-
son. 1.-TWO rolls OF work missing and
Hetty says she brought 'em here"
l laid down the goose quill. Lame
Hetty had been in my thoughts, some
how, all that rainy twilight, just ae
people.and things viii take possession
Of your brain at times, and you can't
help yourself.
4 soft-eyed low-voiced girl, who
walked with a erutch, and always
wore delicate grays and dove colors.
| knew her from the throng because
Of the 4 tap, tap of her cru1ch, and
used to speak to her when 1 saw her
standing in the long line of girls who
waited on Saturday night TO deliver
their work and receive their pay.
~Ten dollars worth of Shirts" said
Dennison-"order shirts, too, and that
makes it worse. I'm sorry for the
girl; she has pretty face Of her OVID
and always liked her; but of course
it's necessary TO stand by the rules.
Lose her deposit and no more work.
But suppose she pays for the miss
ing work p
Its not likely she'll do that" said
Dennison. "rhis sort of girl seldom
has ten dollars saved up.1
g don't believe it's her fault Dem
nison." l insisted.
She's responsible, isn't she?"
eyes, but
just then Mr.. Buttonbell came in
with great order in his hand for a
large New Orleans house. l looked
at il.
:. We shall have tight pull of it.
sir, to execute this" said /.
q But il must be executed" said he.
''Put on all your hands. Turn on a
full head of steam. Ii won't do to
let Peck 81 Patterson go to any other
place.
And he hustled away.
Very unfortunate" said Dennison
s'Lame Hetty was one of our best
hands"
HeLty Dorrance came the next
morning, as usual, to receive her
work and she had ten-dollar bank
note in her hand.
sSome kind friend has sen. me this
to pay for the lost rolls of work, sir"
said she to me.
You're in luck, Hetty," said /,
tAOW AAnS Ofct q lOilS iAsb VI uSuEebl
and trying not to blush under the ear
nest gaze of her soft brown eyes.
And I'm mueh-oh, so much
obliged to him, whoever he is." she
added in low tone. .But | can't
use IT unless-unless you think I'm
innocent"
"Of course 1 do,'' said I, looking up
at the culver of her voice. ssI don't
believe you would take pin, Hetty
I've known You for four years, and /
awkward mistake, somewhere, but
there's not many mistakes, my girl,
but what Heaven clears up in its own
good time. Now take your place in
line; there is no time to be lost this
morning."
So the matter was settled; but a