Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-07-23
;; REDEEMTNG
; HER SEX
By VENA KENNEDY WILSON
q Copyright, 1901, by V. X. Wilson
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"Are you sure, madam, you DouShI
nothing in the upholstery department
on Thursday"
"Yes, ] am sure
"Then this receipt for 1920 was CIV
en- you for a five dollar deposit"
Eyes; it must have been. l was here
Thursday and paid So on a rug, and
when I got home found the receipt
was for $500"
"Well, just take chair, and l VIII
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 another lie"
In few minutes he turned to her
and said courteously, but coldly;
Strange; our slip says s.. Now, l
will give you Il duplicate receipt. /
will keep the receipt you gave me for
the $3.50. 1t is of no value to you"
lOOklllS UcI III lut "
mo; oh, no! OF course not. Thank
you! I-I-kncw had paid the So"
After she had left lie took his way
with a smile TO the upholstering de-
partment. When he returned, the
smile was almost sheer.
"WellY 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 50 and,
Judging us by herself, was afraid we
would deny receiving it, so hatched up
that lie. BY heavens, believe 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;
give more women; I'VE more nes'
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
shabby grotesQue. The skinny cape,
the threadbare waist, the behowered
bonnet and i'll hanging skirt were Of all
colors and materials. They were alike
only in cleanliness.
She raised her sharp brown eyes,
hesitated and smiled n little temu-
lousy, showing gums entirely devoid
of teeth Then Strengthening herself
up she said slowly:
1--WE come to see if you'd take a rug
back"
"What is the matter with the rug"
"Nothin', only don't want it"
GLOW long have you had it? \ couple
Of days, | suppose" ironically.
"Nos I've had it purity near two
month"
"But you have not used it. of course.
"Well, it's been on the floor all the
time. but only set there when | have
company, an | don't have company
very often" this little alphabetically
"Its a 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.
81 do want it, but-but I've got tC
have some money an l can't get it un
less l can send the rug back"
"How much was it?'
eleven dollars an forty cents" she
answered dejcctedly.
care you sure there is nothing wrong
with the rug?" he asked in an inslnuat
ing voice "If it is crooked or off color
or not as represented, | may be able
to do something for you"
NO." emphatically, but sorrowfully
"there amt nothn' wrong with the
rug. It's purity an all right, but II
mint hurt any, an l must have the
money, an'-an' | thought you NIGH
take it back"
GIVE me your name and address,
he said, land | will call tomorrow ant
look at it. 1 will tell you then what
can do" His eyes held smile tina
was not amusement or contempt, but
combination of incredulity and 10,
4 that made the underclerk wonder.
The next afternoon he climbed five
fights of stairs and was ushered int
the room with the rug.
It's Haunting colors, the glaring chro
mos. the table with the installmen
plan album. the few wooden chairs
and the old cane rocker, even the on
little scarlet geranium, were noted IL
single glance. But lie looked ut TIT
old woman's face long and steadily. |
was such a battered old face, as though
time, sorrow and privation had Tough
out their desperate battle there ant
left each time traces TO tell the tale.
Its a purity rug" was what sh
said.
"You don't want TO give up the rug
Why do you do soF'
She clutched nervOuSly at her aprol
and shrank within herself before tn
man who seemed to fill the room wit
bis dominant, forceful personality. IL
was so strong, young, well groomed
that she felt suddenly old, weak ant
helnless hnfnrn him