Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-11-29
Mi9tellaufoMs,
ALL ABOUT A BONNET:
OR, THE LAW OF DIVORCE.

OK lHE LAW or DIV OkCE.
Not many miles from Springfield, ILL.,,
there lived, and, we presume, there still
lives, couple who one fine day fell head
over heels in love with each over; and moth
ing would satisfy them-Henry Wilson and
Mary Spencer-but that they should wear
the same name, live under the same roof,
and drink out of the same teapot, for the
rest OF their natural lives.
Wilson is a well-to-do farmer-peculiar-
ly independent Of the world and his wife,
the daughter Of stock-raiser, who is not
without some hundreds Of dollars in Uncle
Samuels tive-twentes and ten-forties. Each
felt quite independent Of the other i'll none
tary matters which, in this world, is not
always the case.
Henry met Mary at ball, and they lik-
ed each other so well that they polked,
mazourked, and waltzed together through
the night, and finally parted with the un-
deTstanding that they were excellent part
nGrs in dance.
Waiting is productive of a good many
things besides scandal. In this instance,
it led Wilson to propose to Mary, and Mary
led to marriage. But--how happy this
great, round globe Of ours would be if those
conjunctions but and If were not in any vo-
cabuIary? They never stopped in their
ardor to speculate upon or philosophize
about " incompatibility of temper" and
hence the rock on which they split
The honeymoon was, as honeymoons gen
orally are, redolent with the perfumes ex-
tracted from those exotics-"m my DEAR"
"my love-" "my darling" and it lasted
even beyond the usual phase of corkscrew
journeyings of Luna around her master
Earth.
In fact, it is related Of Mr.. and Mrs. Will
son, that for the space Of one whole year
not a cloud darkened the atmosphere of
their matrimonial heaven-that all was Sc
rene but it was neither noticed nor known
that the barque in which they had taken
passage should always float on the connu-
bal sea without encountering storms or
contrary winds.
Well, the tempest did come. 1t came up
On them suddenly, and entered abruptly in
to law court; and it was about bonnet,
which didn't suit the complexion Of pleas
ant faced Mary, but did exactly hit the fan
cy of her lord and master"
Henry had some business in Sprins field
which transacting to his satisfaction, he
concluded he would look around him and
make a note Of the fashions. While saun-
tering along, thinking Of nothing in partic-
ular, his eye CHANGED to fall ON a bonnet,
not in a milliner's window, but on the head
of lady, who was strolling through the
streets, taking her usual afternooning."
What a nice hat :" calculated Henry
By some chance the person who wore it
i
ed, turned her head until her face confront
ed that Of the critic; and then out of as
pretty pair of violent eyes as it is posi-
bic to conceive in woman, beamed her
thanks, while her rosy lips wreathed them
selves into smiles that set the heart of the
young Benedict, who ought to have known
better, palpitating at the rate of one hun
dred and ten to the minute.
For time it was all over with Henry.
He forgot all about his Mary, and his eyes,
being expressive ones, somehow informed
the lady that she had made a momentary
conquest.
You admire my bonnet ?" said she, in a
low, silvery voice, with chirrup in it that
sounded like bird music heard at a dis
tance, in the ears OF the infatuated man
Co 1885, Lit lllo"CIGu IEtiuuiOuS-
ly, removing his hat as he spoke. "I--I
like it very much indeed. l thought how
very nice my-my wife would look in one
Just like it."
A light, a very light cloud passed over
the face of the lady when she heard the
word wife" but instantly her eyes bright
ened and her lips became radiant as it was
possible to make them, with good nature.
We'll, sir" said she, "as have nothing
particular to do, and as like to assist peo-
pie out of difficulties, if you have no objec-
tions will accompany you to my millin-
er's, where | have no doubt you can get a
hat made precisely like mine in few
hours"
Henry was delighted--charmed at the
condescension of the fair stranger. He
could not think of words sufficiently point.
ed to thank her.
AS a matter Of course, he could not de-
cline an invitation so gratuitously extend
ed and at once, escorted by the lady, march
ed to the milliners. There he found bon
net that was, if anything, even an improve
ment on the one worn by his new acquain-
tance but it could not be got ready for at
least half day. This was unfortunate, as
it would, if he purchased it, detain him in
Springfield over night.
He finally resolved on possessing the hat,
delighted with the 7.,ea of the surprise his
Mary would have He left the store of the
mllllner accompanied by the affable lady.