Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-06-19
BETSEY'S BONNET.

well, Uncle Abel, now you are off fo
home, l suppose trading ali done, crops al
bargained for, eh p and John Dare iiftes
his hat and pushed back his thick hair as ht
stood on the hotel steps talking to plair
country farmer In suit OF home-spur
gray.
Wa al, no, not quite, John. | want tc
get Betsey bunnet, real nice one, just as
good one as Y orker might want Cause
Betseys worked awful hard this summer
Times are good, too, SO [ guess wei see i
my Betsey shant look as good as any body
S'pose you don't want go along with me do
you.
Let me see-four o'clock-yes, I'll 90.
Uncle Abel. I'll look at the pretty girls
though; you won't mind that Come on u
So they walked off up the street, the fash.
iOnable attire of the young lawyer contrast
ing strongly with the antiquated cut of the
farmers garments, which at home were
wont to lie in solemn state in the spare room
all the week, only to be worn on Sunday
with becoming carefulness. There was little
likeness in the face-a trihe too fair for man
ly beauty, with its blonde moustache, and
setting of close brown curls-to the bronzed
and beardless one with the few locks, spare
and gray, beneath the we'll brushed hat; but
the clear blue eye was the same in both, and
ike those that were closed forever under
the sod by the apple orchard on Uncle Abel s
farm, where his dead sister was laid when
John was a tiny child. 1t troubled John
not whit to be seen with the plain coun-
tryman. In spite of his perfumed hair and
we'll glOved hand his heart was true and leal
TO the good friend of his boyhood, and the
lnquiring glances of his companions gave
him no annoyance whatever.
They reached Madame RoZette's s at last,
and John lounged in the doorway and
straightway engaged in the laudable employ,
ment of finding out the prettiest face among
all the girls in attendance. Josie Mollett,
radient with smiles and-and, think, a
little artificial bloom. came forward with her
most bewitching glances to wait upon the
old farmer who brought so attractive a per-
son with him and, tancying that she would
show her superior ability by so doing, made
up her mind to quiz Uncle Abel unmerci-
fully. Poor old man! In Hoptown he
would have had no trouble whatever. Miss
Crabtree, in her plain dress and cap with
lavender ribbons; would have told him at
once what to get, and her little gray eyes
would not have confused him in the least.
But here was fine lady with great cir
conference of black silk trailing out along
d.W
head on which the hair seemed struggling
IN crlmps and curls to get away from shin
ing bands strapped tightly around it, and a
him. While the damsel held up one style
after another, or tried them on coquettishly,
Uncle Abel looked at John imploringly, but
derived no help from him.
Now, young woman, show me some of
your best bonnets-real good ones. None
OF your old fashioned, poor things for my
Having said this Uncle Abel felt that he
had stated the case clearly and should have
no further trouble
Miss Josie sailed about and returned with
white chip gypsy, trimmed with blue, a
shlrred green satin with red rose on 1T,
and gray straw trimmed with scarlet pop
pies.
Now this will be just what you want,
am sure; only twenty-five dollars, too-so
cheap and so becoming.
Uncle Abel confessed afterward that he
felt quite cenfounded at the great price, but
ald not mean to let that Frenchiied girl
Know 1t, SO he only said, s'Oh, that's the
style, Ell? 1t amt bit like Betseys old
one, though
"Oh no, sir, the fashion has changed en-
uirely. Now this gypsy Is just the, newest
thing out, and your wife would set the fash
ION IN the town, don't doubt"
She looked up at John Dare merrily, but
could not interpret the look in his eyes; SO
taxing it for granted that it was an express
son Of admiration, she pursued the same
strain. ~
=, Just fresh from Paris am sure your
vile would like that. Shall try it on for
you"
:, Wa'al, yes, can tell better how it looks
then: Now it just looks like dish
There-it goes on in this way and Jo-
SIC pitched the little thing over her rosy
lace, tied the strings in a big knot and