Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-05-22
VOL. 73.-3736. NO. 80.

executed my commission quietly, and was
about TO leave, when he accosted me.
Would You have the kindness TO give
me your advice 2" he said. al wish TO
make present of a Leghorn hat TO a lady
in America, and il must be of the best
quality"
Thus appealed to, | sfted out the finest
straw for his inspection. "Leghorn hats
are all made in the Florence manufactures,
you know" I said.
lie made no response; he was staring at
my hands with very peculiar expression.
blushed slightly, and hid them in the crown
Of the Leghorn hat. They were very small
and wellshaped had trouble with my
gloves usually, wearing childs size.
Brother Harry used to admire their tiny pro-
portions, and accuse me of vanity in the
possession of such extremities. Here was
this tall officer in a foreign city actually
pausing in the midst of buying gift for an
unknown lady probably his fdncee-to
stare at my little hands in evident astonish
ment. was more vexed than fattered.
| What right had he to gaze at me so fixedly,
after having claimed my assistance? ? What
would Annie think of my adventure
| recalled him somewhat primly to a sense
OF duty, suppose, for he proceeded to pay
| for the hat, after had warned the shop
| people not to charge him more than double
the usual price. lie thanked me in sub
dued accents, and even limited that as the
ship was to be in port some weeks, he hoped
| any residents would come on board. / re-
Tented sufficiently to inquire how he pro-
posed sending the Leghorn hat, and learned
that it was to be intrusted to the captain of
brig, bound for New York.
"Perhaps had bestaddress the box here"
he said, again consulting me with his eyes.
"Yes," ! assented, gaining firmness and
decision of tone from his very irresolution.
The clerk brought him an immense ink
stand with very rusty and gritty pen at
tached. My companion dipped the pen into
the ink and stirred it thoughtfully, as if it
had been soup.
I" | hope she will like it" said this extraor-
dinary man, consulting me again, with
mos sheepsh expression of countenance.
Perhaps she owns ever so many Leghom
hats already" in sudden alarm.
No, no." returned soothingly.
| pictured to myself this lady whom he
was so anxious to please. How proud she
would be of the exquisite Etruscan straw
which she would wear to church How
envious would be her neghbors !
"There, will that answer 2" He held be-
fore me the written address.
| gasped as | read "Miss Helen West
more, Berryville, Vermont"
My own name was Helen Westmore, and
Berryville had been my home The Leg
horn hat which had selected with so much
care was evidently intended for myself.
"You can not be DIR. Eaton, who took care
Of my poor Harry, and wrote me the letters
about him ?" l cried, between sobbing and
laughter. Z" am his sister"
"He told me his sister had the smallest
hands in the world" he replied excitedly.
After that there were dinners at Annies,
moonlight drives along the shore, entertain
ments on the man-of-war, with ample leisure
for explanations and condolences. The sur
geon who had taken care of Harry had been
his intimate friend during long voyages, and
had retained the image of the sister at home
all these years. In retiring on half-pay he
had been tempted to seek her out.
Had not assisted at the purchase of my
own hat he would never have found me
when he returned to America. The little
woman in gray was not to be the old-maid
aunt in Annie's household after all, but to
return to her own country as a happy wife,
even if in sober, sedate fashion. Verify
human destinies hang by straw
A box stands on high shelf in the old
home. 1t contains an untrimmed Leghorn
hat.-Hapers' Weekly.