The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-02-16
GOOD FOR EVIL.
VVvVVv.VV.VvvvVv'
Mrs. Jarvis was a business woman


fed off this mortal coil was not great
ly missed. And Mrs. Jarvis. consoled
herself by opening a suit manu-
factory.
Here she sat upon this glorious Au-
gust afternoon in her own little pri-
vate office, pen behind her ear and
a pencil between her lips, adding up
q long column of figures-a tall,
portly, finelooking dame, in rich black
silk, with costly jewels sparkling upon
her fingers and that comfortable look
upon the face which accommodating
wealth is sure to bestow.
Sixteen and six are twenty-five"
said Mrs. Jarvis, resting her pencil
at the foot of the line. "Two-and
two to carry-eh? Who is there?"
An apologize little knock had come
to the office door--it was Mr.. Mad
stone, Mrs. Jarvis cashier and fore
man in general.
tits me, ma'am, said Mr.. Maidstone,
whose close-shorn hair stuck up all
over his head, like the bristles of
backing brush. THAT Mrs. Pennant
is here with her bundles"
Mrs Jarvis glanced first at her
ledger and then at the calendar that
hung on the wall over the desk.
six hours behind time." said she,
austerely. "The order went out at
9 o'clock this morning, minus the IL
suits she was finishing. Tell her to
leave her work and come here for no
more. OF course, | shall not pay her,
and she may think herself fortunate
that she is not compelled to pay the
usual fine"
II wish you'd see her yoIrself!"
blurted out Maidstone, scratching his
bristly head. She looks pale and
sick, and"
"Pshaw!" interrupted Mrs. Jarvis,
rising from her seat. with rustling
of black silk skirts. "You haven't the
resolution of chipmunk. Maidstone,
and never had! You'd let all these
girls and women run over you, if it
wasn't for me-"
And she swept through the narrow
door of the office out into the long
bare workroom, where the click of 20
sewing machines buZZed on the sultry
air and several haggard women waited
at the counter.
"Oh," said she, stopping short be-
fore the nearest one, Mrs. Pennant,
you are six hours behind. The order
has gone.'
81 am very sorry, ma'am," hesitated
hut
was ill-my little Jessie-and l had
no one to care for her but myself.
sat up all night to finish the suits
I did. indeed-and--"
"All these details make no differ
ence to me-" interrupted Mrs. Jarvis,
! with a sharp, crispy voice. Business
Is business, and the very soul of it Is
punctuality. You may leave your
suits, but don't expect any more work
from here
The poor woman's wan face worked.
"Mrs. Jarvis, -faltered she, you are
. woman, and mother, like myself.
II your child was ILL"
1--WE won't descend to comparisons,
il you please" said Mrs. Jarvis, Jelly.
"Good-day. I am much occupied at
| present"
"You surely don't mean, Mrs. Jarvis,
that you are not going to pay me for
| what have done?" cried the woman.
"Why should II" said Mrs. Jarvis.
"Your work has arrived too late to go
| in it's regular order. You have vio-
| lated the rules and regulations of this
| establishment, and as necessary
consequence, have forfeited your
pay. Hopkins" to the clerk, take
these suits into the packing-room."
Mrs. Pennant's lip quivered, her
eyes, which had been full of entreaty,
now flashed Indignantly.
"Mrs. Jarvis" said she, 81 know
very well that l am at your mercy,
but, all the same. this sort Of thing
| looks to Inc like swindling."
81 cannot help it--rules are rules"
said the business woman, cold as
adamant.
my child lies i'll at home. I had
| counted on this hard-earned money to
buy the medicine and necessaries that
she must have. Mrs. Jarvis, for
heavens sake, do not withhold it
from mel"
| General rules will bear hard upon
| Individual cases." said Mrs. Jarvis,
glancing furtively ct her watch. 81
cannot depart from them, however"
Mrs. Pennant lifted her thin hands
| in an unconsciously tragic attitude.
"Woman!" she uttered, may the
curse of Heaven light upon you for
your cruelty to the widow and father
less! May He give back into your own
bosom, heaped up and running over,
the measure you hold so pitilessly
to me-"
And turning away, she left the suit
manufactury, amid the breathless ST.
lence of the assembled working
women. Mrs. Jarvis smiled and
| shrugged her shoulders.
"All this is mere rant" said she.
Maidstone, bring that last inventory
into my Office"
| But the next day, when on reach
ing the building, as usual, the 20
sewing machine girls found that it
had been burned to the ground during
the night, they instinctively thought
of the widows curse.
It was the janitor's fault. He had
I gone into the stockroom with a
lighted candle, and. started by the
springing of cat. had let it fall too
near basket of waste paper, and an
instantaneous conflagration had been
the result. And. what was worse, the
Insurance had run out on the evening
of the previous day, and Mrs. Jarvis
was a ruined woman!
| Yet she was not easily discouraged.
She tried again, and rallied her forces
with true muscular energy, bu: 1t was
all in vain. There is tide of fortune
in the affairs of everyone-and hers
| waC on tho phh