The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-05-06
Seleff Storu.
LOVE IN A HOOD.
Br Mr. 9. T. PERRY.

BY Mr. g. T. PERRY.
Chicago Saturday Evening Herald)
"An express package for you, sir"
said the porter as he came into the room
where Reginald Hathaway sat by the
cheerful CRATE fire, smoking his evening
cigar.
'.Indeed!" said the gentleman as he
took it from the porter hands, mentally
wondering who had sent it and what it
contained. As he united the outer wrap
pings Of the package q little note drop
ped out, and Hathaway instantly recog-
nized the addtess to be in the handwri,-
ing Of his favolite cousin Sue. II had
quite forgotten that it wants only few
days OF Christmas" he said to himself.
"Sue never forgets me when she dispeE-
ses her gifts" Opening the note he read
as folloNs:
DEAR Cousin REGINALD: send you
these slippers with my best Christmas
wishes. think they will be good 6t,
because had them modelled after that
old shoe you left here last summer, re-
minder OF the pleasant lramps we had
together at that time. Always your low
ing Cou-IN SUE.
The gentleman took the cover of the
box, and unfolding the soft tissue paper
which enclosed the Christmas gift saw
not aipair Of clippers, but the prettiest
little blue and white hood he had ever
seen In his life.
"Grcat Cesar! what does this mean 2"
he exclaimed as be held the soft zephyr
head gear in his hand. $50 Sues trying
to play trick on me. Perhaps she
means to give sly hint in the matrimo-
nial line. THIS Is certainly very sugges-
tive, but it will take more than that TO
make me give up my comfortable bach, :
lor quarters and habits" He immed.-
ately sat down and wrote:
DEAR Sue: received by express to-.
night blue and white hood. dare say
it would be becoming to some styles OF
beauty, but ! am entirely too dark for
that com 5ination. Furthermore 1t lie too
small for this weighty head OF mine, go
full of legal wisdom. All! Sue, it is in
vain to spread net in sight Of any bird !.
"Misery loves company" Because you
went and got married last year, you
want your friends to do the same. A
very pat hint, but must certainly return
the hood, without weaving any threads
of romance within it's soft meshea Ny
motto is, aLet we'll enough alone." and
/ am well enough. You married people
say you are happy (except to your law
yers, and you feed on the madder of
your deiusions until your homes are red
with II. It's right enough you should.
Somebody says something about slaves
Lugging their chaina. But to come 10
the practical point. / suspect you made
a mistake, and this hood is intended for
one of those '.deares., sweetest girls" !"
you used to rave about in your school
daye. / shall await your commands
In the meantime I shall put it on the
topmost shelf in my closet-so far from
sight that it shall not have an evil isfu-
ence over me. True, as In the old day 9,
REGINALD.
The letter was sent in the evening
maf, but the hood was not resigned to
the top shelf until the next morning.
IL suppose the bows are what they
call gas light blue,'" be said as he laid
the hood down in his lap. II wonder
what kind Of face it is intended to
grace-a blonde, Of course" aud the
gentleman folded the soft tissue paper
over il, and leaning bis head on the back
of bis easy chair, resumed his cigar, and
was soon of in reverie of smokes
reverie which was very inconsistent with
the letter he had written.
In q few days an explanatory letter
came to hand from the eastern cousin.
'.That husband Of mine," she wrote,
"made an awful mistake. He sent you
the wrong box. The hood was intended
for Love Scranton, who bad just moved
to Denver. She is the embodiment OF
goodness and loveliness-a great deal
too good for you, SO you need not be so
conceited as to think I am making ma
neuver toward getting up a match for
you ia that direction. The slippers have
gone to Denver. l have written to have
them returned to you. Please forgive
my blundering matrimonial alliance, and
send the hood on to Love at Denver"
The hood was duly returned to the
box, and then Reginald Hathaway began
to be troubled about the address. Ol
course her real name is not Love,he rea
soned; Sue always gives her friends pc,
nance. 1t would be very presuming Ia
me, stranger, to address lady by hel
pet name. Just like woman! forgets
half her traps when she goes off on Q
journey. After half hours deliberstion
he concluded to leave off the first name
entirely; 80 the box was directed tc
"Miss Scranton, Denver, Color ado"
The next evening after Reginald re.
ceived his express package, another one
was delivered at the residence Of Elishs
Scranton in Denver.
1T is for you, Love-" said the father
"as there is no other Miss Scranton tina,
I know OF in the house.
"For me, papa," exclaimed young
lady, as she left her seat at the piano.
In an instant the outer wrapper was
torn of, end the little note accompany
ing the box fell to the floor.
TT is from that dear, good Sue Ash
ley" she said, picking up the note and
glsncing at the address. Then she read
aloud the contents:
DEAR Love: Here is the hood which
I crotcheted for you. selected blue
and white because you always look o,
sweet as peach in those colors. ! only
wish / could kiss your good face wher
you get it on. In haste. your loving
friend. SUE ASHLEY.
"Sue is just splendid" she exclaimed
lifting the cover of the box but in ar
instant more a look of disappointment
covered her face. "There is no hooG
here, mamma" she said "only pair o.
slippers, and they must be for father
OF course they are good deal too big
for me-" and she LAID that No. 8 slipper
on the carpet and placed her dainty No
2 foot beside il. "Yes, they must be fol
you, father; and Sue, who is granG
almoper about Christmas time, in be