The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-03-18
ROMANCE OF A HAT,
by MAURICE s1LNGsBY.


Socially speaking, the little hat factory
of Enos Badger was a hive Of industry,
and scores of the prettiest girls in Epping
and the surrounding country might have
been found within its four wall during
the busy season, which usually consumed
eight out of the twelve calendar months.
During these eight months the factory
presented bustling and attractive scene,
with so much beauty, freshness and
vivacity concentrated under one roof.
Indeed, these lovely and sprightly crea-
lures, decked out in snowy calicoes and
muslins, were the busy little bees that
made honey all the day, metaphorically
speaking, for their straight-laced and
somewhat parsimonious employer. The
upper floor was occupied by the sewers,
and the ground floor by pressers, liners,
trimmers and packers-thus turning out
the hats in readiness for the trade, from
the commencement OF the process to its
completion.
Fannie Wilbur, the prettiest girl in the
whole of Enos Badgers establishment, if
not the most intellectual, worked on the
lower floor, among the miscellaneous
crowd of employees we have alluded to.
Her part was to line the hat after it left
the hands of the presser. Three or four
more were employed at the same work
besides Fannie, all of them fresh, healthy
and attractive young ladies.
Annabel Drew, very talkative but
pretty young woman, had been telling a
romantic story of an acquaintance during
the war, who had secured a good hus.
band under the following romantic cir
cumstances: 1t was at a time when
ladies throughout almost every town and
village in the land were making and
sending their little donations to the SOL
diers.
Miss Drew's friend contributed some
trihing articles of her own handiwork,
and accompanied them with her full ad-
dress. The package fell to the share of
an orderly sergeant, whom the changing
fortunes of war subsequently elevated to
the rank of colonel. The result was,
in his lonely and unoccupied hours, he
wrote to the young lady and begged her
to enter into correspondence with him.
Asserting to his proposal, she wrote him
letter descriptive Of herself, aud her
real situation and prospects in life.
The orderly liked her style; thought
he could interpret her character through
this medium; and wrote again, proposing
an exchange of photographs. To this
the young lady assented, and in due
time the exchange was made. Other
letters followed, gradually assuming a
more tender and lover-like tone, as their
correspondence rapidly advanced toward
what may be considered the eliminating
point.
The upshot of the whole thing was,
they met at the close of the war, were
mutually impressed in each others favor
so much SO, in fact, that they went to
clergyman on the very evening of his
arrival, and were privately married.
"Thus, at one sep" said Miss Drew,
"from a poor girl she became rich
lady"
"Heighol wonder if any such good
luck will ever happen to usl" queried
Fannie Wilbur.
"Perhaps," replied Miss Drew, elf we
could only contrive to make ourselves
known to some romantic young man of
means"
Fannie paused for a moment in a
brown study. Suddenly she looked up
smiling.
81 have it'll" she exclaimed, triumph
antly; and taking one of her hat Innings,
she hurried to the desk, and wrote, in a
delicate, fine hand, "Frances Wilbur,
spinster," giving the name of the town
and State.
Then she sewed it in the lining, laugh
ing all the while at her own cleyerness.
"There, now, wonder if shall be as
lucky as the girl you were telling off,"
al hope So" responded Miss Drew,
but she didn't mean it.
In due time that identical hat filled its
legitimate niche in the great world of
trade, and was purchased by a wealthy
young fellow in the city of New York.
On the evening of the day it came into
his possession Walter Leslie, the young
gentleman in question, was seated, in
company with friend, in his own suite
of apartments at the Windsor. Each had
his lttI GleNhltu On lue DdCh Ol CHAIR,
and each was drawing consolation from a
cigar of choice brand. Indeed, Walter
Leslie was rich enough to indulge in the
best the market afforded He had al
ready dipped so deeply into the fashion
able follies of society as to have become
a little blase at the age of ive-and-
twenty. But we will listen to the brief
Dialogue between the two, and let the
reader draw his own inference.
81 tell you, Percy, am thoroughly
disgusted with these fast and fashionable
young ladies of the period" said Leslie,
knocking the ashes off his cigar. II
tell you feel as though l had been
stepped to the very lips and surfeited
with these questionable pleasures and
follies of the day. 1t is impossible for
fellow in my situation, with plenty OF
money at his command, to venture into
society at all without being besieged by
a score of maneuyering mammas, who
will fairly throw their gushing daughters
into your arms, and run the risk OF your