The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-05-17
LAME HETTY.

Not that l mean to be cross, but some
people haven't the agreeable way oil
others. M.
have sat behind the tall desk in Tape
e. Buttonbell's nineteen years. L have
seen a good many curious phases, ouI
one of the most curious of any happened
to myself personally, and that is pre-
cisely what am going to tell about.
L wouldn't have had it happen for hVe
dollars said Dennison.
Dennison had charge OF the outdoor
department, and he came in that wet
drizzly February evening to stand by
the crate fire in my room. We had mol
lighted the gas yet; the press and hurry
of the work were over for that day, anc
it was very quiet and pleasant In the
red shine of the Goals. / was sitting or
nv tall stool, biting the feather end OF
Quill pen, and MISUNDERSTANDING OF
scarce knew what.
what has happened nowT l said.
ITS lame Hetty, said Dennison, TWO
rolls of work missing and Hetty declares
she brought EN- here
l laid down the goose quill. Lam'
Hetty had been in my mind somehow
all that rainy twilight, just as people
brain at times, and you can't help your
self, A soft-eyed, low-voiced girl, wh'
walked with crutch and always Wort
delicate grays and dove colors. knew
her from the throng because OF the tap
tap of her crutch, and always used Il
speak to her when saw her standing IL
the long line of girls who waited on Sat
urday night to deliver their work anc
receive their pay.
That's bad, said l.
Ten dollars worth of shirts, said
Dennison; order shirts, too, and thai
makes 1t worse. Pm sorry for the girl
abe had pretty face of her own and
ALWAYS liked her; but of course it's ne
cessary to stand by the rules Loses mel
deposit and no more work.
but suppose she pays for the missing
work?
1T isn't likely she'll do that, said Den
plson. That sort of girl seldom has ter
dollars ahead .
4 don't believe it's her fault, DENIM
son. insisted l.
She is responsible, isn't she'
Yes, but" -.
Just then Mr.. Buttonbell came in Will
a great order in his hand from a Ne"
L
1--WE shall have a tight pull of it, sir
to fill this said obviously.
But it must be filled said he. 'Pu
on all your hands. Turn on full heaC
of steam. 1t won't do to let fecK O
Pattison 90 to any other place, and hi
hustled away.
VERY unfortunate said Dennisoon
Lame Hetty was one Of our best hands'
as usual to receive work, ana she hau
ten dollar bill in her hand.
Some kind friend sent this to pay fo
the lost roll of work, sir said she Il
me.
You're in luck, Hetty,' said l, frown
ing over a long column of figures ant
trying not to blush under the earnes
look of her soft brown eyes,
And I'm much, oh, so much obllgec
to him, whoever he is she added IN
low tone. But can't use it unless yol
think am innocent
OF course | do looking up, at thu
culver of her voice. i don't believe
you would take a pin, Hetty. I've
known you for four years and believe
you are a good girl. Now take YOU
place in the line; there's no time to bt
lost this morning.
So the matter was settled; but some
how a cloud rested on Lame Hetty
Those who had been fast friends before
avoided her: the coarse minded whls-
pered and giggled when the taptap oil
her crutch sounded on the floor
oh, Mr.. Harvey, said poor Hetty one
day when Jennie Warren, the proudesl
and prettiest of our girls, refused to &C
knowledge her modest bow, its very
hard to bear
Wait, Hetty; only watt said l.
cheerily.
But it's breaking my heart said she
They all think l am thief
II don't. Hetty.'
i know that, sir. | should drown
myself if at least one person IN the worio
did not believe me innocent
The winter wore itself away. Inc
busy season was succeeded by one oil
comparative dullness, and among thu
hands struck off the list was Hetty Dor
rahce.
'Once thief, always thief, said ole
Jones, the cutter. I'd just as soon tina
giTl wouldn't work for us
i would stake my honor that she II
no thief, Mr.. Jones, said holly.
well, retorted the old man cautious
ly, it's necessary to curtall the list lit
tie, and 1t may as well be lame Hetty al
any one.
But Hetty Dolrance never came tC
learn her doom. Day after day went by
and the familiar tap of her crutcf
sounded no more on the floor. grew
uneasy.
Perhaps she is sck-alone and in want
thought. And the more l pondereC
the matter of my own heart, the more
uneasy felt,
l had grown to love lame Hetty Dor
rance. Well. and why notp / could at
ford wife as well as most men; Hetty
was only a sewing girl and lame at that
but she had a face like one of Gods an
gels and heart as white as lily. o
that felt certain. | loved her. VIII
should not marry herr
So l sat down and wrote her a few
lines, saying simply that / loved her
and asking her to become my wife, ant
l concluded by saying that l would cal
on the morrow to receive my answer.
Just after l had sent my letter Of
there came knock at my door,
Mr., Harvey, are you alone? Can
speak TO you momeDtT
is that you, Helena Arden Why,
thought you were married and gone Il
California
i am married to spendthrift and
villain said she, with little hOars
laugh, and am going to California TO
morrow; but wanted to see you first
wanted to pay you for something
For what?
The roll of work that people accuse
Hetty Dorrance, the lame girl, of tab
ing
Helena, did you take it?'
Yes, she cried recklessly, Il took il
1 wanted money sorely just then; tn
landlady wouldn't let me have m
trunks to be married until / paid he
what / owed her.
Il was standing by lame Hetty an
saw her lay the pile of work down;
saw them slip and fall off the heap.
was just going away, and it was an cas-
thing for me to stoop. as if for my ow
pocket handkerchief, and pick them VI
pawned them, thinking could easil
redeem them, but never did. Here
the money to pay for them. | HOP
Hetty was not blamed
She was, though, said l slowly.
4 can't help it, said Helena Tightly
I've done my best. Will you see thi
she is rghtedP
AS far as can
And Helena went away muttering |
herself something about all Of her aC
counts being closed at last. paid bt
little attention to it at the time, but re
membered it afterward.
went next evening to Hetty's simp
lodgings, over bakers shop.