The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-06-13
LANE HETYI.
4 wORKExGMAN,s ROMANCE.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

| am the foreman in shirt and
drawer factory. | am forty years old,
and never was particularly handsome
to look at | don't suppose my man.
ners are particularly fascinating either,
T for the girls mostly call me, as | am
given to understand, "OId Crusty. -
and Bear" Not that [ mean to be
cross, but some people haven't the
agreeable ways of others.
/ have sat behind the desk in Tape
Il ButtOnbell's for nineteen years, and
have seen a good many phases of life
within that time; but the most curious
of all happened to myself personally,
and that is precisely what l am going
to tell you about.
Il wouldn't have had it happen for
five dollars" said Dennison.
Dennison had charge of the Out-Of-
door department, and he came in that
wet, drizzly February evening, to stand
! by the CRATE fire in my room. We had
not lighted the gas yet; the press and
! hurry of work were over for the day,
and it was very quiet and pleasant in
the red shine of the Goals. | was sit
ting on my high stool, biting the feath-
er end of a quill pen, and thinking
thinking of scarce knew what
What has happened now ?' I said.
'It's Lame Hetty," said Dennison.
'Two rolls Of work missing, and Hetty
declares she brought 'em here"
| laid down the goose quill Lame
Hotty had been in my thoughts, some
how, all that rainy twilight, just as
people and things will take possession
of your brain at times, and you can't
help yourself A soft eyed, low voiced
girl who walked with a crutch, and al
ways wore delicate grays and dove
colors. | knew her from the throng
because Of the 'tap, tap'' of her crutch,
and used always to speak to her when
l saw her standing III the long line of
girls who waited, on SATURDAY. night, |
to deliver their work and receive their !
pay.
That's bad ~ said I.
Ten dollars worth of shirts" said
Deunison; "order shirts, too, and that
makes it worse. I'm sorry for the girl, |
as | always liked her; but Of course
it's necessary to stand by the rules |
Loses her deposit and no more work"
but suppose she pays for the miss
ing work 2"
1T isn't likely she'll do that" said |
Dennison. This sort of girl has sell !
dom ten dollars ahead"
Il don't believe it's her fault, Denni-
SON." insisted |.
"She's responsible, isn't she?"
yes. but
Just then Mr.. Buttonbcll came in
with a great order in his hand from
New Orleans house. l looked at it.
eve shall have a tight pull Of it, sir,
to fill this" said l, obviously.
But it must be filled, said he; put
on all your hands Turn on a full
head of steam. 1t won't do to let
Peck & Pattison 90 to any other
place" And he hustled away.
Very unfortunate, " said Dennison
Lame iIetty was one Of our very best
hands"
Hetty Dorrance came the next morn
my as usual to receive work, and she
had q ten dollar bill in her hand
"Some kind friend has sent this to
pay for the lost rolls of work, sir"
said she to me.
YOU'RE in luck, Hetty," said I,
over long column of figures
and trying not to blush under the earn
est look of her soft, brown eyes.
"And I'm much, oh, so much obliged
to him, whoever he is" she added, in
a low tone. But | can't use it unless
Unless you think am innocent"
''Of course | do" said |, looking up,
at the quiver of her voice 81 don't
believe you would take pin, Hetty
| have known you for four years, and
| believe you are a good girl. It's an
mistake somehow, but there's
not many mistakes, my girl, but that
God clears up in his own good time
Now take your place in the line there I
IS 10 time to be lost this morning." '
So the matter was settled but some
how a cloud rested on Lame Hettv.
Those who had been her fast friends
oefole avoided her now the coarser
minded whispered and giggled when S
he tap, tap" of her crutch sounded V
IN the floor
"Oh, Mr.. Harvey" said poor Hetty q
me day, when Jennie Warren, the
>roudest and prettiest of our girls, re- i
used to acknowledge her modest bow, v
it's very, very hard to bear" t
"Well, Hetty, only wait" said l, b
.heeriIy. e
"But it's breaking my heart" said
he. ''They all think am q thief" e
Il don't, Hetty" +
Il know that, sir. l should drown
myself if at least one person in the
World did not believe me innocent"
The winter wore itself away. The L
'usy season was succeeded by one of
dnIIness. and amonn the 2