The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-10-02
WHO SHE WAS.


Mf~Simpkins Immediately put down hi
newspaper and rammed both hands deter
minedly into his trousers pockets. Twenty
years experience Unmarried life had made
him willy, and he knew that this bland form
of address presaged persuasive attack on
his pocket-book.r When Mrs. Simpkins
wansed money, she addressed hip as ''hubby
dear" in their ordinary domestic intercourse
he was plain eMr. S." or "Simpkins."
Hubby, darling" said Mrs. Simpkins Il
really must have new bonnet this spring.
l am quite ashamed to go into the street.
Mr.. Simpkins groaned. - e -
81 saw one at Broadway store yester-
day. continued Mrs. Simpkins, "a beauti.
full thing, 50 stylish, and so cheap-only
fourteen dollars" Il II ~ s0n;fH
Chats always the tune" blurted forth
Mr.. Simpkins. "Here's corruption in every
department of the Government; silver worth
only ninety-eight cents on the dollar, and
but what's the use of talking economy to
women?"
Mrs. Simpkins arose, and, passing over
toshef husband, sat down in his lap, and put
hef arms around his neck. She was no
longer young. Her cheek had lost some
thing its girlishness, but there was in
the action that which recalled to Mr.. Simp-
kins the days of long ago, when he was
proud to hold her thus and when he would
cheefully have paid for hundred bonnets
q year if shezhad asked for them.
"My dear, The said, relenting a little, "do
you know what fourteen dollars will buy?"
"Yes," said she, simply, sit will buy that
bonnet"
Mr.. Simpkins sighed, and his pocket-book
came slowly forth from his pocket. "There,"
said he, handing her the money, 81 can't
see the sense in a woman having so many
bonnets; there's whole barrel full up in the
attic nowp faa4er} .iL eiA 4
Mr.. Simpkins arose with gesture of inn
patience, and jamming on his hat, stalked
down town to his business. He stopped on
the way and bought twelve-dollar box of
cigars, and lunched that noon at fashion
able restaurant, at an expense of two dollars
and half; but then these things were ne
cessitiss, and Mr.. Simpkins did not have q
barrel full of old cigars in the attic.
Whether it was the remembrance of his
wife's little act of girlishness that morning,
6rSwhether his heart was tinged with slight
feeling of relnorse for his ungraciousness,
Mr. Simpkins took his way home up Broad
way that day with warmer feelings toward
womankind than he had known for a long
time, In some way every woman he met
appeared attractive-a psychological phe-
nomenon which other men besides Mr.. Simp-
kins have observed in their own experience
In fact there was scarcely a woman who
passed him that afternoon whom Mr.. Simp
kins did not notice, in respect either OF eyes
hair. teeth or dress.
81 declare he said to himself, II had ne
idea there were so many pretty women IN
New York"
But when Mr.. Simpkins reached Tenth
street, there descended from Twenty third
street stage vision of such perfect lowell
ness as made the heart Of Mr.. Simpkins
fairly leap into his throat. Clad in wha
seemed to him the most elegant and bewitch
piquant of hats, tied beneath tn,
chin with a bow Of cherry coloret
ribbons, the long ends of which
fioated saucily over her shoulder, this celes
tial being tripped across the street to Stew
arts, raising her snowy skirts as she went
and displaying en- PEASANT an ankle sufficient
ly bewitching to cause Hiram Powers il
despair to smash to infnitesimal atoms al
the graven images he had ever attempted t
smake.. = Mr.. Simpkins stopped short an
Fgazed after her. He was no longer youn
man, but the fires of youth still smohidere
in his breast, and seemed now to burn wit
an ardor as fierce as that of twenty years age
"By Jupiterl" he exclaimed, "could any
thing be more lovely?" ~, sa ia
Without moments hesitation he crosse
the street and entered Stewards in pursuit
At that moment he would have given tn
price of fifty bonnets for another sing!
glimpse of that one with cherry ribbon
But his search was in van-the lady ha
disappeared. Up stairs and down, in tn
elevator, around the rotunda, through ever
department of the vast establishment swef
Mr.. Simpkins, so many times that the clerl
began TO eye him with curiosity not unmi,
ed with suspicion At last, in despair, M
Simpkins gave up the search and sadl
wendell his way lhomeward. oo..
1T was dream" he said to himself, softl
tan infatuating, beautiful dream. l migl
have known it could not last"
hAtthe supper table that night Mr.. SIM
kins was unusually grave and reserved. b
wilderlng kid button-b boots stared at him frol
the sugar-bowl, cherry -colored bonnet-ri
lions foated in his tea, the very napkin
sresolved themselves into white petticoa
with the snowiest of 'fri1ls. - - -
"My DEAR" said Mrs. s., "what max
you so melancholy2" .rrrercT
"Eh?" said Mr.. Simkins, starting fro
Is his reverie. 20, nothing. Deuced tire
Hard day at the Office" -
poor old hubby" said Mrs s., soothin
ly. I-I-got that bonnet to-day, dear"
Mr.. Simpkins grunted-
"Would you like to see it7' queried b
1"' a. s sny other time Mr.. simpkins mig
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