The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-22
Who She Was.

Chubby, DEAR" observed Mrs. Simpkins,
mildly, one morning after breakfast.
Mr.. Simpkins Immediately put down his
newspaper and rammcd both hands deter
mincdly into his trowser pockets. Twenty
years. experience of married life had made
him willy, and he knew that this bland form
of address presagcd persuasive attack on
his pockct-book. When Mrs. Simpkins
wanted money she addressed him as s'hub-
by, dear" in their ordinary domestic inter
course he was plain 'tMr. S." or "Simp-
kins."
Chubby, darling" said Mrs. Simpkins,
81 really must have u new bonnet this
spring. Pm quite ashamed to 60 into the
street."
Mr.. Simpkins groancd.
81 saw one at a Broadway store yestcr-
day." continued Mrs. S.; "a beautiful thing,
so stylish and so chcap-only fourteen dol
lars"
"That's always the tune" blurtcd forth
Mr.. Simpkins. 'IIcrc's corruption in every
department Of the Government; silver
worth only 80 cents on the dollar; and
but what's the use of talking of economy to
womcn2"
Mrs. Simpkins arose, and passing over to
her husband, sat down on his lap, and put
longer young. IIer check had lost somc-
thing of its beautiful bloom, and her figure
its girlishncss, but there was in the action
that which recalled to Mr.. Simpkins the
days of long ago, when he was proud to
hold her thus, and when he would cheer
fully have paid for a hundred bonncts a
year if she had asked for them.
"N1y DEAR" he said, relcnting little, edo
you know what $14 will buy7"
eyes" she said, simply, cit will buy
that bonnet"
Mr.. Simpkins sighed, and his pockctbook
came slowly forth from his pocket.
""Therc !" he said, handing her the money;
81 can't SEQ the sense in a woman having
so many bonncts. There's whole barrel
full up in the attic now."
Mr. Simpkins arose with gesture Of i'm
patience, and jamming on his hat, stalkcd
down town to his busness. He stopped on
the way and bought $l2 box of cigars,
and lunched that noon at a fashionable re-
staurant at an expense of 50. 30; but, then,
these things were necessities, and Mr..
Simpkins did not have barrclful Of old
cigars in the attic.
Whether it was the remembrance of his
wife's little act of girlishness that morning,
or whether his heart was tingcd with a
slight feeling of rcmorse for his umgracious-
ness, Mr.. Simpkins took his way home up
Broadway that night with warmer feelings
toward womankind than he had known for
a long time. In some way every woman
lie met appeared attractivc-a psychologi-
cal phenomenon which other men besides
Mr.. Simpkins have observed i'll their own
experience. In fact there was scarcely a
woman who passed him that afternoon
>I,t ,,nf i,,
spcct either of eyes, hair, teeth or dress.
81 declare" he said to himself, 81 had
no idea there were so many pretty women
in New York"
But when Mr.. Simpkins reached 10th
street there descended from 23d street
stage a vision of such perfect female lowell
ness as made the heart of Mr.. Simpkins
fairly leap into his throat. Clad in what
seemed to him the most'ccgant and bcwitch-
ing of summer costume, and wearing tho
most piquant of hats, tied beneath the chin
with q bow Of cherry. .colorcd ribbons, the
long ends of which tloatcd saucily over her
shoulder, this celestial being trippcd across
the street to Stewards raising her snowy
skirts as she went, and displaying en- pas
SAINT an ankle sufficiently bewitching to
cause Hiram Powers in despair to smash to
infinitesmal atoms all the craven images he
had ever attempted to make.
Mr.. Simpkins stopped short and gaZed
after her. He was no longer young man,
but the fires of youth still smoldercd within
his breast, and seemed now to burn with an
ardor as fierce ne that of twenty years ago.
"By Jupitcr!" ho exclaimed, ''could
anything be moro lovely7"
Without moments hesitation he crossed
tho street and entered Stewards In pursuit.
At that moment ho would have given the
price of fifty bonnets. for another single
glimpse Of TINT ono with cherry ribbons.
But his search was In vain. Tho lady had
disappeared. Upstairs and down, In the
elevator, around the rotunda, through every
department Of tho immense establishment,
went Mr.. Simpklns, so many times that the
clerks began to eye him with curiosity moi
unmixcd with suspicion AT last, in de-
spair, Mr.. Simpkins gave up tho search ant
sadly wcnded his way homeward.
cit was drcam,n he said to himself
softly. can infatuating, beautiful dream
might have known It could not last."' 7
At the supper.table that night Mfr. Simp
kins was unusually grave and reserved
Bewildering kid button boots stared at hin
from tho sugar bowl, cherry -colorod bonne
ribbons foassd In bis toay the very napkin pras Y
t'1lsse 81