River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-01-13
BETSEY'S BONNET.

- Ilidlll EOuIllIN ldIliitI III Il sun 81
homespun gray.
''Wa'al, no, not quite vet, John.
want to get Betsey a hunnit; real nice
one; just as good as Yorker
might want. Cause Betsey worked aw-
full hard this spring. Times are good
too So | guess well see if my Betsey
shan't look as good as anybody. S'posC
you don't want to 60 along with me, dc
your
Let me see-4 O'Clock yes, I'll go
Uncle Abel. Ill 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 ofthe farmers garments, which
at home were wont to lie in solemn
state III the spare room all the week,
only to be worn on Sunday with becom-
ing carefulness There was little like
ness in the face-a trifle too fair for
manly beauty. with its blonde nous
tAche and setting of close brown curls
to the bronzed and bcardlcSs one.
with few locks, spare and cray, beneath
the well-brushed hat: but the blue eyes
We're the same in both, and like those
that were closed forever under the sod
in the apple orchard on Uncle AbeIs
farm, where his dead sister was laid
when johnny was tiny child. 1t
troubled john not 4 whit to be seen
with the plain countryman; in spite of
his perfumed hair and well-glovcd
hand, his heart was as true as steel to
the good friend of his boyhood, and
the inquiring glance of his companions
gave him no annoyance whatever
They reached Madam Bozette's mt
last, and John lounged in the doorway
and straightway engaged in the laud-
able employment of finding out the
prettiest face Of the girls in attendance
think little artificial bloom, came for
ward with the most bewitching chances
to wait upon the farmer who brought
so attractive person with him; and
fancying that She would show her SUI
peIior quality by so doing, made up
her mind to quiz Uncle Abel unmerci-
fully Poor old man, He was never
so miserable in all his life I'm Hop
town he would have made no trouble
whatever Miss Crabtree, in her plain
dress and cap with lavender ribbons.
would have told him ut once what to
got; and her little gray eyes would not
have confused him in the least
But here was fine lady, with great
circumference Of black silk trailing out
along the carpet, waist no bigger than
u wasp. head on which the hair seem
ed struggling in Crlmps 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 ..eld up one style after an
other, or tied them on coquettishly, but
derived no help from him.
Now, young woman, show me some
of your best bunnlts-real good ones.
None of your poor, old-fashioned things
for my wife.
Having SAID this, Uncle Able felt
that 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, Il shirred green satin with red
rose on it, and a gray straw trimmed
with scarlet peoples.
"Now. that will be just what you
want am sure; only twenty-five
dollars, too-so cheap anu SO hecOm-
ing.
Uncle Abel confessed afterwards that
he felt quite COMPOUNDED ut the price,
bat he did not mean to let that
Frenchitied girl know it, sohe only
said, ooh, that's the style, ch? 1t
amt bit ike Bctsey's old one,
though"
ooh, no. sir; the fashion has changed
entirely Now the gypsy is the newest
thing out, and your wife would set the
fashion. | don't doubt
She looked up at John Dare mer-
rily, 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 like that Shall | try
it on for your
Wall. yes can tell better how it
will look then. Now it looks just like
a dish
There, it goes this way" and Josie
pitched the little thing over her rosy
lace, tied the strings in big bow knot,
and swept down the length of the
ItOIlr ION YOU ttAt IL
"Wa'al, Its kind o purity, but its aw-
full queer; amt IT, John?'
John thus appealed to, could only an
swer that he knew nothing IN the
world about women's honnets, and
took up his reyeric, whatever it was
inst where il was broken off But look
ing idly in the long mirror opposite. he
saw Josie making signs to another
Girl. and he soon found that they were
amusing themselves vastly ut the per
plcxitv of their customer. He saw
too. a pale quiet girl, with smooth
brown hair, look up from her work IN
dignantlv, and he rather saw thar
heard her say. For shame anc
grow crimson rs she spoke.
His own face flushed a little as he be
came aware that Uncle Abel was beng
made the butt of their iokes-good I'm
Gle Abel, who was looking so Idmrlng-
~ st the fabrics mprehensIble t
him. his old heart only full Of the
thought how ne should make his pres
ent worthy of the patient soul for whom
it was intended.
Then John was greatly perplexcd, fol
rs he said truly, he knew nothing abou
All tti3t mysterious ttttN4 w ii'4NiAtiS ''t
rangememt Of dress that he saw ever!
day.
Still he knew that Aunt Betsey'
spare locks. thinly sprinkled with gray
were not dressed in modern style, an,
me could not for the life Of him Sc
whereabouts on that dear old head an.
of those gypsies or fanchonS would rest
He remembered that long ago Aun
Retsey was wont to twist her hair viii
the same energy that characterized al
her movements, and that this operation
resulted in a hard knob ut the back Q
her head. like a door handle, which
certainly would not harmonic witt
these capelesS head dresses.
Just as his brow was overcast Wit
this thought the pale girl came nea
Uncle Abel, her cheeks blushing as sh
did so in defiance of the o-her girls
holding in her hand plain Ieghori
hounet. trimmed with violet ribbon
She wore a mourning dress, and tn
nlain brooch at her throat held loo
Of gray hair. IN
4 think this might suit you, s-r, SD
said. IF your wife doesn't dress ne
hair in these fashions, these bonnet
would not do at all. This IS rleh an