The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-13
WHO SHE WAS.

Mr.. Simpkins Immediately put dowr
his newspaper and rammed both hand'
determinedly into his trousers pockets
Twenty years experience of married life
\ had made him willy, and he knew that
this bland form of address presaged a per
suasve attack on his poeket-book. Wher
Mrs. Simpkins wanted money she ad
dressed him as hubby, dear" in theil
'erdiuary domestic Intercourse he wa
plain "Mr. s." or "SilKpkins."
Hubby, darling" said Mrs. Simpkins
a really must have - new bonnet thi'
spring. Pm quite ashamed to go int,
the street"
Mr. Simpkins groaned-
Il saw one at Broadway store yester
day." continued Mrs. S; "a beautiful
thing, so stylish and SO cheap-only four
teen dollars
THAT'S always the tune" blurteG
forth Mr.. Simpkins. "Here's corruption
in every department of the Government
silver worth only 9S cents on the dollar
and-brt what's the use of talking Of
| economy to women%'
Mrs. Simpkins arose, and passing ovel
10 her husband, sat down in his lap and
PITT her arms around his neck. She was
no longer young Her cheek had lost
something of its beautiful bloom, and
her figure its girlishness, 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 cheerfully have paid for a hun,
drcd bonncts year if She had asked for
them.
MY DEAR" he said, relenting a little,
10 you know what S14 will buyw
yes" she said, simply, lit will buy
| that bonnet"
Mr.. 'Simpkins sighed, and his pocket
book came slowly forth from his pocket.
There" he said, handing her the money,
81 can't see the sense in woman having
so many bonnets; there's a whole barrel
full up in the attic now"
Mr.. Simpkins arose with gesture of
impatience, and, iammng On his hat,
stalked down town 10 his business. He
stopped on the way and bought a Sl2
box Of cigars, and uuched that noon at
a fashionable restaurant at an expense of
81 50 but then these things were neces-
sites, and Mr.. Simpkins did not have a
barrel full Of old cigars in The attic.
Whether it was the remembrance oi
his wife's little act of girlishness that
morning, or whether" his heart was tnged
with Il slight feeling of remorse for hi,
ungraciousness, Alr, 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 he met appeared at.
tractiye - a psychological phenomenon
which other men besides Mr. Simpkins
have observed in their own experience
In fact, there was scarcely woman who
passed him that afternoon whom Mr.
Simpkins did not notice, in respect either
of eyes, hair teeth or dress.
Il declare" he said to himself 81 hat
no idea there were 20 many pretty womer
in New York"
But when Mr.. Simpkins reached Tenth
street there descended from Twenty
third-street stage vision of such perfec
female loveliness as made the heart O.
Mr.. Simpkins fairly leap into his throat
Clad in what seemed to him the mos
elegant and bcwitching of summer COS
tunes, and wearing the most piquant o
hats, tied beneath the chin with bow
of chcrry-colorcd ribbons, the long end
of which foated saucily over her shoul
der, this celestial being tripped acros
the street to Stewart's, raising her snow,
skirts as she went, and displaying eI
PEASANT All ankle sufficiently bewitchin.
to cause Hiram Powers in despair t,
smash to infinitesimal atoms all th
craven images he had ever attempted t,
make. Mr.. Simpkins stopped short an,
gazed after her. He WAS 10 longer
young man, but the fires of youth still
smoldered within his breast, and SCENE,
now to burn with IN ardor as fierce a
that Of twenty years ago.
'By Jupitcr!" he exclaimed, "coul
anything be more lovely?'
| Without a moments hesitation b
crossed the street and entered Stewart
in pursuit. At that moment he woul
have given the price Of fifty bonnets 70
another single glimpse of that one wit
cherry ribbons. But his search was i
vain. The lady had disappeared. U
stairs and down, in the elevator, aroun
the rotunda, through every department
of the immense establishment, went Nj
Simpkins, so many times that the clerk
began to eye him with curiosity not ul
mixed with suspicion. At last, in dc
spair, Mr.. Simpkin5 gave up the scare
and sadly wended his way homeward.
at was a dream he said to hinscl
softly, "!,n infatuatng, beautiful dream
| might have known it could not last"
At the supper table that night Nj
Simpkins was unusually grave and II
served. Bewildering kid button boot
staredat him from the sugar-howl. cherr,
colored bonnet ribbons Aoated in his te.
the very napkins resolved themselve
into white pctticoats with the snowies
of trills.
'lIy dear" said Mrs. S., "what make
YOU 50 melancholyw
"EhT' said Mr.. Simpkins, starting fror
his revcrie. 80, nothing. Deuced tiret
Hard day at the office"
"Poor old hubby said Mrs. S. soott
ingly. "I-I-got that bonnet to-da,
dear"
Mr.. Simpkins grunted.
"Would you like to see it," querie
his wife, doubtfully. ..
At any other time Mr. Simpkins Nigh
have said "Y cs" but now, with the reco
lection of those cherry ribbons uppe
e most in his mind the inspection of an