The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-05-02
THE SEWING WOMAN.

What was to dot Never was
woman placed in such a pitiable con-
dition. had been brought to Rus
sia by New England sewing ma
chine company to run their machines
nt an agency of theirs IN street
IN st. Petersburg, where hand
some shop had been rented. One
blustery cold day toward the close of
October found the shop door closed
and learned to my dismay that our
agent had disappeared and the ma
chimes had all been seized for rent
and debts. What was to be done2
All the money / had in the world
was about equivalent to &12. What
was due me ] had left IN our agents
hands. and felt sure it was lost.
Thought of everything In the 25
minutes which elapsed between my
heartbreak when I found the shop
door closed and my rapid walk to
my lodgings Fortunately my room
had been hired for the month and
had l,eelt paid for in advance had
at least a roof over my head for a
few weeks. An idea suddenly struck
me. had been making an evening
dress on the machine for Russian
lady who spoke English. She had
some idea of buying machine.
In order to expedite the work
had taken to my room the body of
her dress, and having machine
there had sewed on it of nights.
That machine I would certainly
keep. 1t would not go far toward
the payment of the debt the agent
owed me. hurried home. Per
haps there was a letter with some
money it. There was nothing. I
must find the lady-but howl She
had left no address. She had hardly
spoken to me. thought heard
her say she would come again, and
1 believed she had fixed on this very
day. There was but one chance in
a thousand 1 must stand in the
street and wait until she appeared
hastened back and took up my
position near the shop. scanned
every woman passing by. Itwas bit
terly cold and raw, and the wind
chilled me- was faint with anx-
iety. Had 1 only known more of
the language would have asked q
policeman to take me to the Ameri
can consul-to the minister. was
in despair. Suddenly a carriage
drove up, q footman opened the door,
and lady elegantly dressed alightr
ed. tore across the street. 1t was
the Russian lady.
With my heart in my mouth 1
told her my pitiful story and begged
her to help me. If she wanted
servant. would she only try met /
had sewing machine and would
make her dresses for nothing if /
could only stay with her until ]
could write to my people at home.
They would send me money, and i
could get back to the United States.
My words must have had but little
sense in them, i was 30 broken heart
ed. for at first she hardly seemed to
understand me.
Il am without friend in the
world here-a poor American wom-
an. thousands of mile from her
home"
She looked steadfastly at me, then
opened her portemonnaie.
No. no." said. II want no
money. Icannot beg. 1 am not yet
SO poor as to ask aims But do you
not remember met The store is
closed The man who kept it has
run away. / showed you the way
the machine worked"
Then she scanned me quickly;
next cross questioned me sharply.
How could young girl trust her
self alone in this strange country1"
she asked.
II was not alone. Two other young
women came from the United States
with me. Two weeks ago they were
sent home, and the miserable man
in charge induced me to stay, prom
ising to give me money enough at
the end of next month for my trip
home to the United States. Might
not the police look up the matterl 1
have been outrageously swindled."
The police7 and my dress-am to
lose ita" the lady asked impatiently.
Not all of it. The skirt is in the
shop. the body-the waist is in my
room almost finished" 1t seemed to
me dreadful that in my agony she
should talk about her dress.
Where do you liver" she inquired
abruptly. / told her "Get into the
carriage, " she said. did SO. When
we were off the main street, she
stopped the carriage, got out with
me, and we walked to my lodgings.
opened the door. On the table
was her basque It did not seem to
interest her She picked it up, how
ever, glanced at it moment, then
threw it down. She examined the
sewing machine.
How long would it take me to be-
come proficient in working this2"
she inquired as she sat down before
the machine and tried the pedals.
''Is it fatiguingf"
No, madam Oh, would you buy
it7 1t is mine by rights. The money
for it might help me to leave st.
Petersburg"
How long did you say it would
take me to become proicient3"
Two weeks-perhaps less"
Would it disigure my handsf'
She took of her gloves, showed her
well cared for hands, her fingers
glittering with rings.
your beautiful hands would hard
IT, H., r,,.1;Ir,,I