Hattie Butler left the bindery at her usual hour, and pausing only long
enough to buy an evening paper, as she always did on her way, after
her increase of salary made her feel able to do so, she hurried to her
boarding-house.
Now, the writer is not one who believes that woman is one half as full
of curiosity as man is, but she will not deny that her heroine really
did feel decidedly anxious to know the nature of the important business
which her employer had told her would be revealed in the note which she
was not to open until she reached home.
Hattie lost no time in reaching home, and as she had fully ten minutes
to spare before the supper-bell would ring, she went up to her room to
take off her bonnet and shawl, instead of leaving them on the hooks in
the long hall, as she generally did.
On her way to her room Hattie met Little Jessie Albemarle, who ran to
her and whispered:
“Miss Scrimp has been ever so good to me all day. I’ve got a cot-bed,
and sheets, and a pillow in my room now, and I’m to have two new calico
dresses in a day or two.”
“I’m very glad, dear,” said Hattie. “I hope your dark days are over,
and that before long I shall have very, very good news for you. Now,
run down to your work, dear--I’m going to my room a minute, but will be
down to supper.”
And Jessie, full of a new happiness--it was so strange to be kindly
treated even for a single day--ran down to her duties singing, while
Hattie hurried to her room, lighted her lamp, and opened her note.
A look of wonder and of real perplexity gathered over and clouded her
face as she read it a second time.
“I cannot, for my life, understand his meaning. What can the
proposition be? He knows me too well to ever make any offer but one
that the noblest-born woman in the world could accept. I am poor, but I
am proud--not of beauty, not of education, but of a pure and spotless
name, of an honor untarnished by an evil act or thought. He speaks
kindly, seems to be very sincere, and is surely respectful. I will meet
him, and in the parlor below, for I would blush to have any one see
these poor surroundings, when they know I could afford better. I know
it is against Miss Scrimp’s rules to admit gentleman visitors to see
her boarders, but in this case she must permit the rule to be broken.
I will tell her I must see a gentleman on important business. He is my
employer, and it is my right to meet him here.”
This matter settled in her own mind, Hattie let down her
gloriously-beautiful hair, arranged her simple toilet daintily, and
went down stairs to supper at the very moment the bell rang.
“Wonder on wonders! What will happen next!” was what Wild Kate said as
she filed with the rest into the room.
There was an extra lamp over the center of the long table, and the
increased light shown on a row of plates of cold tongue, sliced ham,
cheese, and three large, real sweet cakes, equally distant on the table.
Such extravagance could not be remembered by Miss Scrimp’s oldest
boarder.
And Little Jess was assisted by Biddy Lanigan herself in passing around
full cups--not of hot water, but of real nice tea, with white sugar and
good milk.
“Miss Scrimp, you’re just the dearest old maid that ever refused a good
offer!” cried Wild Kate, impulsively. “And you’re not old either. You
are twenty years younger to-night than you were last night when I was
saucing you, like the bad girl that I am.”
“We’ll let bygones be bygones, Miss Kate. Take hold--you’ll find no
hairs in your butter to-night!” said Miss Scrimp, quite graciously for
her.
“If I did I wouldn’t be so mean as to tell of it!” said Kate, as she
took two slices of cold ham to herself. “Girls, if this thing keeps
on I’m one to put down a dollar toward buying Miss Scrimp a new silk
dress!”
“And I will double it if we buy good nice dresses for Biddy Lanigan
and good Little Jessie!” said Hattie, quietly, but distinctly from her
chair near the head of the table.
“Glory to her soul! I knew Miss Hattie wouldn’t forget me!” cried
Biddy, and she put a strong cup of tea each side of her plate to show
her gratitude.
The clatter of busy knives and forks, the cheerful hum of happy voices
now drowned everything else, and Hattie, who made as usual but a light
supper, took occasion when she was sure no one else would hear her to
tell Miss Scrimp that Mr. W----, her employer, had made an appointment
to meet her there on business at eight o’clock, and she wished to see
him in her parlor.
“You know it’s agin my rules, dear,” said Miss Scrimp, trying hard to
be gracious.
“I know it, Miss Scrimp, and under no other circumstances would I ask
the favor,” replied Hattie, still speaking in an undertone.
“Couldn’t you see him in my room, and I’d make it seem as if he came to
see me on business,” said Miss Scrimp, in a pleading tone. “You see, if
once I break over my rule, every girl in the house will be askin’ to
have her beau meet her in my parlor, and the whole house would soon be
overrun by horrid men.”
“I did not take that view of the case when I made the application.
But, on second thought, I am very willing to see Mr. W---- in your
sitting-room and in your presence.”
“That’s a dear, good girl! I’ll fix it so I let him in myself, and I’ll
take him right to my room, where you’ll be, and not a girl in the house
shall see him, or know who he came to see other than me,” said the old
maid, happy at the thought that she could hear what this important
business was.
A secret to Miss Scrimp was a jewel to be possessed at the risk of
death almost.
Seeing that the clock at the end of the dining-room was about to strike
eight, she whispered to Hattie to go to her room, and left the table
herself just as the front door bell rang.