The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-06-24


IT don't believe it's her fault, Dennison,
Insisted |.
"She Is responsible isn't she?"
"Yes, but
Just then Mr.. Buttonbell came in with
great order in his hand from New Oriean
house. looked at it.
1--WE shall have tight pull of 1t to exccut,
this" said I, obviously.
"But It must be executed" said he. "Pu
on all your hands. Turn on a full head o
steam. Ii won't do To let Peck e. Patusor
90 to any other place"
And he hustled away.
"Very unfortunate said Dennison. Lame
Hetty was one af our best hands"
Het.y DOrrance came the next morning
as usual to receive work; and she had ten
dollar bank mote in her hand.
Some kind friend has sent me this to pay
for the lost rolls of work. sir" said she TO me
you're IN luck, Hetty," said l., frowning
over long column Of figures, trying not &c
blush under the earnest look of her soft brown
eyes.
"And I'm so muCh-oh, so much obliged to
him, whoever he is" she added, in low
tone "But | cannot use 1t unless-unless
you think am innocent"
"Of course do" said l, looking up at the
culver of her voice. ~ don't believe you
would take pin, Hetty. I've known you for
four years, and believe you are good girl.
It's an awkward mistake somewhere; but
there's not many mistakes, my GIRL but what
Heaven clears up in its own good time. Now
take your place In line; there's no time to be
lost this morning"
so the matter was settled; but somehow a
cloud rested on Lame Hetty. Those who
had been fast friends before avoided her now
the coarser-mlnded whispered and giggled
when the tap tap of her crutch sounded on
the floor.
"Oh, Mr.. Harvey" said poor Hetty, one
day, when Jenny Warren, the proudest and
Iprettiest of our work girls, had declined to
respond to her modest bow, ats very, very
hard 70 bear
"Wait, Hetty only watt said cheerlly.
but it's breaking my heart" said she,
"They all think am a thief
don't, Het,y.'
81 know that, sir l should drown myself
if at least one person in the world didn't be-
licye that was innocent
The winter wore itself away The busy
season was succeeded by one of comparative
dizziness; and among the hands struck off
the list was Hetty Torrance.
"Once a thief, always thief" said old
Jones, the cutter. I'D just as soon that girl
shouldn't work for US"
II would stake my honor that she is no
thief, Mr.. JONES'" said |, holly.
"Well," retortcd the old man, cautiously,
"its necessary TO curtail the list little, and
| 1t may as well be Hetty as anyone
But Hetty Torrance never came to learn
her doom. Day after day went by, and the
familiar tap of her crutch sounded no more
on the floor.
perhaps she is ill-alone-in want"
thought,
And the more pondered on the matter, the
more uneasy felt.
Perhaps she is dead
And with that last overwhelming thought
came the revelation of my own heart
~ had grown to love BETTY Dorrance.
Well. why notg l could afford wife as
well as most men. He,ty was only a work
one of heavens angels, aud heart as white
as lily. OF that l tell certain l loved her
why should l not marry her?
SO sat down and wrote her little note
saying simply that loved her, and asking
her If she could consent to become my wife
and concluded by saying that would call
on the morrow and receive her answer.
just as had sent my letter off, there came
knock at the door,
"Mr Harvey, are you alone? Can I speak
to you for momentg'
as that you, Helena Arden? Why, |
thought you wero married and gone to Cali.
formal l cried
81 am msrried-to spend,hrft and wi.
lain!" SAID she with a little hoarse laugh
land am going to California tomorrow; but
| wanted TO say word to you first. | wanted
TO pay you for something"
For what?'
That roll of work which people accused
Hctty Dorrance, the lame girl, of taking"
Helena! Did yOu take it?" {
YES" she cried, reckessly, 81 took 1t! II S
wanted money sorely then; the landlady
wonldn't let me have my trunks to be mar
red until paid her what owed her. was
standing by lame Hetty that evening. | saw {
her lay the piles of work on the desk; | saw
them slip and fall off the heap. | was just J
going away, and it was an easy thing for me {
to stoop, as if for my own pockethandker {
chief, and pick them up. / pawned them,
thinking could easily redeem them; but |
never did Here is money to pay for them,
hope Hetty was no. blamed"
"She was, though" | SAID slowly. O
IL can't help it, SAID Helena, hightily. a
I've done my best Will you see that she is 5
righied"
"As far as can
And Helena went away, muttering 10 her p
'elf something about all her accounts being L
closed nj last paid but little attention to q
i at the time, but remembered it afterwards. ;,
l went next evening TO Hetty's simple "
odgings, over bakers shop. s.
Miss DOrrance!' said the bakers wife, II
coming out of back room, with a baby IN r,
Ter arms. "Wby, didn't you know? She's
moved away" 81
"Moved! And my letter. k
ave got letter for her yesterday, sir, and e.
We forwarded it to her. No. 80 Avenel Square, >
M
So went to No. SO Avenel Square, little
ZEN of a brown stone house, all baywindows i'
md balconies, standing in its own grounds |.
md there was Hetty at the easement watch. y
ng for me.
"IIetty," said |, "drd you sc; my letter." L
"Ies, Mr.. Harvey" il
And what is your answers c
That | will beyour wife, Mr. Harvey, and ,
that am-oh, so thankful TO have gained n V
good mans love" c
| STONED and Kissed her I,isv face