Huntsville gazette., 1881-07-02
THE WRONG VERDICT.

"Do / want any tapes and shoe.
lace?" said Mr.. Penfield, in his big,
comfortable voice, that always seemed
to have the supicion of a laugh down In
its sonorous depths. ''Do l look like
anybody that is likely to want tapes and
shoe-laces. No, sissy, don't!" And
then, as Flora Rawson was moving
slowly away, with a mute, uncomplain-
ing expression of despair in her face, he
added, kindly, "But, all the same, you
had better come in and warm yourself F;
you look half frozen to DEATH
"Thank you, SIR" said Flora, and
she came gratefully to the fire, setting
her basket of cheap wares on the floor,
and warmed herself, shyly glancing
around the while at the cozy little pri-
vate room with its cheerful red carpet
on the floor, the curtains at the window
and the leather cushioned easy-chairs
The fire blazed and cracked in the
grate-Flora secretly wondered how
anyone could have the heart to waste
coal so recklessly-a clock with a plate
glass front licked leisurely on the wall,
and Mr.. Penfeld, making entries in his
big ledger and day-book, whistled softly
under his breath as he did so.
"What is your name, childP" he
asked, at last, without turning his head.
"Flora Rawson, sir,'' was the meek
reply.
..How old are you?"
"Going on fourteen, sir, l believe. :"
"And how does it happen that you're
selling gimcracks like these around the
country, instead of being put at some
honest trade" said Mr.. Penfeld, with
his quill in his mouth, while he got up
to search for some blotting paper.
Flora hung down her head. "There's
only me,' said she. "Father and
mother are dead, and my step-mother
says I've got to earn my own living!"
"Where do you liveP" said Mr.. Pen
field, brusquely.
SIN Holmes Lane--the little cottage
just this side of the china factory"
Humph!" said Mr.. Penfield. "That
locality has a bad name!"
/" Yes, sir, !" Flora made haste to ex-
plain, 'there was a bad set lived there
last year. But my step-mother, sir, she
tries to be decent and honest-and she
goes out washing and cleaning, by the
day, to support my little half-brothers
and sisters, and"
But here she became conscious that
Mr.. Penfeld was intently surveying her,
and colored scarlet, all of a sudden.
"Would you like to learn the gold
leaf business?n said he. ''And work
here in the factory, with these girls who
are coming up now for their wages?"
Flora glanced timidly at the long line
of bright-faced, neatly dressed. young
women who were collecting outside Mr..
Penfeld's sliding window, which af-
forded easy communication with the
ware-room without.
" Could T, sir?" said she, drawing her
breath quickly, with a sort of sob.
q don't know why not," said Mr..
Penfeld. "It's pity that a smart,
likely girl like you should be tramping
around the country, selling buttons and
pins, when there are respectable trades
to be learned. I'm busy tonight. Come
here at nine O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing, and I'll see if we can make room
for you. No-you needn't go until you
are thoroughly warm," he added, with
q sudden sentiment of compassion, as
he noted her blue fingers and slight,
shivering frame. And then he applied
himself with energy to the task of pay
ing off the hands-a ceremony which
took place every Monday afternoon at
five precisely.
Flora Rawson stood by the fire q little
longer, but she felt the eyes of the
smartly dressed operatives upon her,
and became painfully aware OF the de-
ficiencies of her faded dress, shabby
worsted shawl and frayed straw bonnet
with its NANCY velvet bows-so present
" she crept away, without disturbing
kind Mr.. Penfield.
He finished his task presently-al ex-
cent having old Mrs. Reilly, who scrub