Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-09-23

BetseY's Bonnet.

Well. Uncle Abel. now YOU are off for
home, suppose trading all done, crops all
bargained for. eh ?" and John Dare lifted
he stood on the hotel steps talking TO
plain country farmer in a suit of homespun
gTay.
"Wa'al no not quite vet, John. want
to get Betsey a bunnit a real nice one JUS,
as good as a Yorker might want Cause
Bet,eys worked awful hard this spring
Times are good. too. So guess we'll see If
nv Bctsey shan't look as good as any body
S'pose YOU don't want to 90 along with me.
do YOU ?"
let me see-four o'clock-yes, I'll go,
Uncle Abel. I'll look at the pretty girls,
though; YOU wont mind that Come on
So they walked up the street, the fashion,
able attire Of the Young lawyer contrasting
strongly with the antquated cut Of the far
mer's 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 careiulness. There was little like
ness in the face-a triie too fair for manly
beauty, with its blonde moustache and set
ting OF close brown curls--to the bronzed
and beardless one, with the few locks, sparc
and gray, beneath the well brushed hat but
the blue ewes were the same in both, and
like those that were closed forever under the
sod in the apple orchard ON Uncle Abel's
farm. where his dead sister was laid when
Johnny was tiny child. Ii troubled John
not whit to be seen with the plain country
man; /; in spite of his perfamed hair and
we'll -gloyed hand, his heart was as true as
h. rood f...pI nS his hAvhnnl pl
the inquiring glance Of his companions gave
him no annoyance whatever.
They reached Madame Rozet,e's at last,
and John lounged in the doorway and
straightway engaged in the laudable employ
inent of finding out the prettiest face OF the
girls in attendance. Josie Molliet, radiant
with smiles, and | think a little artificial
bloom came forward with the mos, bewitch-
ing glances to wait upon the farmer who
brought so attractive a person with him !;
and fancying that she would show her supe-
rior quality by so doing, made up her mind
10 quiz Uncle Abel numerically. Poor old
man, He never was so miserable in all
his life. 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 con-
fused him in the least.
But here was fine lady, with great cir
conference of black silk trailing out along
the carpet, waist no bigger than a wasp, a
head on which the hair seemed struggling
in erimps and curls to get away from the
shining bands strapped tightly around it,
and pair of great black eyes looking
straight at him, while the damsel held up
one style after another, or tied them On CO.
quettishly, 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
wife"
Having said this, Uncle Abel felt that he
had stated the case clearly and should have
no more trouble.
Miss Josie sailed about and returned with
white chip gipsey, trimmed with blue, a
shirred green satin with a red rose on it,
and gray straw trimmed with scarlet pop
pies.
snow that will be just what you want,
/ am sure; only twenty-five dollars, too-so
cheap and so becoming"
Uncle Abel confessed afterwards that be
felt quite confounded at the great price, but
be did not nsan to let that ftsaehiAsd girl