Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-22
REDEEM|NG
!; HER SEX
By VENA KENNEDY WILSON
Copyright, 1901, BY Y. K. wilson


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"Are you sure, madam, you bought
nothing in the upholstery department
on Thursday"
"Yes, / am sure"
"Then this receipt for 1920 was Civ.
en- you for five dollar deposit?'
Yes: it must have been. was here
Thursday and paid S5 on rug, and
when got home l found the receipt
was for $500"
well. just take . chair, and l will
look it up"
The head of the department went
through a pile of papers before him.
A family amused contemptuous glance
in his eye told the underclerk that he
had branded her story "aQother lie."
In few minutes he turned to her
and said courteOusly, but coldly:
Strange; our slip says S.. Now, l
will give you duplicate receipt. l
will keep the receipt you gave me for
the $3.29. 1t is Of no value to yOu,".
looking her in the eye.
NO: oh. no. OF course not. Thank
you! I-I--knew l had paid the So"
After she had left he took Gis way
with smile to the upholster:ng de-
partment. When he returned. the
smile was almost a sneer.
"Weny' 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 So and,
judging us by herself, was afraid we
would deny receiving 1t. so hatched up
that lie. By heavens, believe a wom-
an would lie her soul away to save a
dollarw
The other man chuckled.
"You think it is funny. Well, l
don't"
An hour later he turned to his clerk
again:
Five more women: five more lies;
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 skinny cape,
the threadbare waist, the befowered
bonnet and ill hanging skirt We're of all
colors and materials. They were alike
only in cleanliness.
She raised her sharp brown eyes,
hesitated and smiled little tremu-
lously, showing gums entirely devoid
Of teeth. Then strengthening herself
up she said slowly:
'I've come to see II you'd take rug
back"
What is the matter with the rug?"
"Nothin. only don't want It,"
"How long have you had it? \ couple
of days, l suppose" ironically.
"No, I've had it purity near two
month"
But you have not used 1t, Of course"
"Well. it's been Oh the floor all the
time. but only set there when have
company. an don't have company
very often" this little apolOgetically.
"It's purity rug an like it. but
want to send it back"
"Why did you buy it, If you didn't
want it," he asked bluntly.
Il do wan: it, but-but I've got to
have some money an l can't get it un-
less can send the rug back"
How much vas it,
eleven dollars an forty cents" she
answered dejectedly.
Are you sure there is nothing wrong
with the rugI" he asked in an insinuat-
ing voice. IF it is crooked or Off color
or not as represented, l may be able
to do something for you"
NO" empbatically, but sorrowfully,
"there amt nothin' wrong with the
rug. It's purity an all right. but 1t
amt hurt any, an must have the
money, an'-an' l thought you might
take it back"
Give me your name and address,"
he said, land l will call tomorrow and
look at 1t. 1 will tell you then what l
can do" His eyes held u smile that
was not amusement or contempt. but q
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 ut the
old woman'S face long and steadily. 1t
was such 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 sol?
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. Il had
no thoughts Of prying into your busi-
ness. l only want to help you out OF
this If I can"
'I know, I know" she said quickly,
"an' you're good-good. You'll think
me silly old woman, but can't bear
to disappoint him. Nigh thirty years!
It's a long time, an we've both got
old an ugly. but our hearts is just the
same. II he hadn't said 1t almost the
last thing, I wouldn't care so much,
but, Molly said he, be careful OF
your teeth. You've such purity
mouth. An'-an'-now I asn't no teeth
at all, an him a-comin' after all these
years! It's long time to be in prison.
an that's why I want the rug, cause
It's so bright an cheerful, an he hain't
seen nothin' very cheerful all these
years, but-but l must have the teeth.
I had the money for them, too, but
they'll only send him to Cincinnati,
where he went up from, so I'll have
Cows that fail
your COUS to breed, espe.
oionu