Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-01-13
BETSEY'S BONNET.

Nv ell. Uncle Abel, now you are off
for home, suppose; all done, crops all
bargained for, eh9' and John Dare lifted
his hat and pushed back his thick hair
as he stood on the hotel steps talking to
plain country farmer in u suit of
hOmespun gray.
"Wa'al, no, not quite yet, John. |
want to get Bet5ey Il bunnit a real nice
one; just as good as II Yorker
might want. Cause Beteey worked aW-
full hard this spring. Times are good
too. So guess we'll see if my Betsey
shan't look az good as anybody. S'pose
you don't want to 60 along with me, do
you"
Let me sec-i o'clock-ycs, I'll go,
Uncle Abel I'll look ut the pretty girls
though; you won't mind that. Come
on"
So they walked up the street the
fashionable attire of the young man
contrasting strongly with the antiquat-
ed cut Oft farmers garments, which
ut home were wont to lie in solemn
state in the spare room all the week,
only to be worn on Sunday with becom-
ing carefulncss. There was little like
ness in the face--a tritle too fair for
manly beauty, with its blonde nous
tachc and setting of close brown curls
to the bronzed and bcardless one,
with few locks, spare and gray, beneath
the wcll-brushcd hat; but the blue eyes
we're the same in both, and like those
chat were closed forever under the sod
IN the apple orchard on Uncle Abcls
farm, where his dead sister was laid
when Johnny was Il tiny child. 1t
troubled JohE not a whit to be seen
with the Dlain countryman; in spite of
his perfumed hair and well-gloycd
hand, his heart was rs true as steel to
,he good friend Of his boyhood, and
the inquiriug glance of his companions
gave him no annoyance whatever.
They reached Madam Rozette's at
last, and John lounged in the doorway
and shaightway engaged in the laud-
able employment of finding out the
prettiest face of the girls in attendance.
Jose Molliet, radiant with smiles, and |
think little artificial bloom, came for
ward with the most bewitching chances
to wait upon the farmer who brought
so attractive n person with him; and
fancying that she would show her SUI
perior quality by SO doing, made up
her mind to quiz Uncle Abel unmerci-
fully. Poor old man lie was never
so miserable in all his life. In Hop
town he would have made no trouble
whatever Miss CrabtrCc, in her plain
drcs, and cap with lavender ribbons,
would have told him ut once what to
get; and her little gray eyes would not
have confused him in the least,
But Mere was a fine lady, with great
circumference Of black silk trailing out
along the carpet, waist no bigger than
Il wasp, head ON which the hair seem
ed struggling in crimps and curls TO get
away from the shining bands strapped
tightly around it, and a pair Of great
black eyes looking straight ut him, while
the damsel held up one style after an
other, or tied them on coquettishly, but
deriyedno help from him.
Now, young woman, show me some
of your best bunnits-real good ones,
None of your poor, old-fashioned things
fur my wife.
Having said this, Uncle Able felt
chat he had stated the case clearly and
should have no more trouble.
Miss Josie sailed about, and returned
with white chip gypsy, trimmed with
blue. a shrred green satin with a red
rose on ii, and Il gray straw trimmed
with scarlet peoples.
Now, that will be just what YOU
want. / am sure: only twenty-five
dollar, too--so cheap and so becom-
ing"
Uncle Abel confessed afterwards that
nc felt quite confounded at the price,
bat he did not mean to let that
Freuchifed girl know it, sohe only
said, "Oh. that's the style, eh? It
amt 4 bit like Betscys old one,
though
ooh, uu, sir; the fashion has changed
entirely. Now the gypsy is the newest
thiug out, and your wife would set the
fashion, don't doubt
She looked up nj john Dare mer-
rilv. but could not interpret the look IN
his eyes: so, taking it for granted that
it was an expression OF admiration,
She pursued the same strain
"Just fresh from Paris ! am sure
your wife would Ike that. Shall try
1t OH for youo'
.yyr,tlI - Iean foii latter how H