Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-07-09
; REDEEMING ;
! HER SEX
Bs.VENA KENNEDY WILSON
Copyright, 1901, bD V. K. Wilson


"Yes, l am sure"
'"Then this receipt for $500 was CIV
en- you for five dollar deposit?"
Yes; 1t must have been. was here
Thursday and paid S5 on rug. and
when 1 got home I found the receipt
was for $3.29."
"Well just take chair, and 1 will
look 1t up"
The head of the department went
through u pile of papers before him.
\ family amused contemptuous glance
In his eye told the underclerk that he
had branded her story another lie"
In few minutes he turned to her
and said courteously, but coldly:
Strange; our slip says 50. Now,
will give you n duplicate receipt. l
will keep the receipt you gave me for
the $500. 1t is of no value to you,"
looking her in the eye.
mo; oh, no! OF course not. Thank
you! I-I-knew had paid the So"
After she had left he took his way
with n smile to the upholstering de-
partment. When he returned, the
smile was almost II sneer.
"Well?' said the underclerk, with a
laugh.
Same old thing" he said wearily.
"The receipt was given for goods
bought by her Thursday. She has lost
or mislaid her receipt for the s. and,
judging us by herself, was afraid we
would deny receiving it, SO hatched up
that lie. BY heavens, l believe II wom-
an would lie her soul away to save
dollarr
The other man chuckled.
You think 1t is funny. Well, 1
don't"
An hour later he turned to his clerk
again:
'Five more women; five more lies; a
good record for an hour"
A woman stood beside him, and as
his eyes scanned her quickly he smiled
involuntarily.
She was not shabbily genteel, but
shabbily grotesque. The skimpy cape,
the threadbare waist, the beflowered
bonnet and i'll hanging skirt were Of all
colors and materials. They We're alike
only in cleanliness
She raised her sharp brown eyes,
hesltated and smiled little tremu-
lousy, showing gums entirely devoid
of teeth. Then Strengthening herself
up she said slowly:
1--WE come to see If you'd take rug
back"
"What is the matter with the rug?"
"Nothln', only don't want It,"
"How long have you had 1t? A couple
Of days, l suppose" ironically.
"No, I've had 1t purity near two
month"
But you have not used 1t, of course"
"Well, it's been on the floor all the
time, but l only set there when have
company, an l don't have company
very often" this little apologetically.
Its purity rug an l like it, but
want to send 1t back"
why did you buy 1t, If you didn't
want it?" he asked bluntly.
II do want 1t, but-but I've got to
have some money an can't get it un-
less can send the rug back"
"IIow much was it,"
"'Leven dollars an forty cents" she
answered dejectedly.
Are you sure there is nothing wrong
with the rug" he asked In an insinuat-
ing voice. IF 1t is crooked OF off color
or not as represented, l may be able
to do something for you"
NO" emphatically, but sorrowfully,
there amt nothin' wrong with the
rug. It's purity an all right, but it
amt hurt any, an / must have the
money, an'-an' thought you might
take it back"
Give me your name and address,"
he said, land l will call tomorrow and
look at it. 1 will tell you then what l
can do" His eyes held a smile that
was not amusement or contempt, but
combination of incredulity and JOY
that made the underclerk wonder.
The next afternoon he climbed five
flights of stairs and was ushered into
the room with the rug.
Its Haunting colors, the glaring chro-
mos, the table with the installment
plan album, the few wooden chairs
and the old cane rocker, even the one
little scarlet geranium, were noted in
u single glance, But he looked at the
old woman's face long and steadily. 1t
was such a battered old face, as though
time, sorrow and privation had fought
out their desperate battle there and
left each time traces to tell the tale
ITS purity rug" was what she.
said.
you don't want to give up the rug.
Why do you do so?"
She clutched nervously at her apron
and shrank within herself before the
man who seemed to fill the room with
his dominant, forceful personality. He
was so strong, young, well groomed,
that she felt suddenly old, weak and
helpless before him.
Excuse me-" he said kindly. 81 had
no thoughts of prying into your bust
ness. l only want to help you out of
this If can"
81 know, ! know" she said quickly,
Al.t. IL