The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-07-21
JUST FOR A LAIR.

u,
Mass, where fifty nimble- fingered girls sat
trimming hats in black, white and fancy
straws which ore piled up before each on
the long, low desks,
Half OF the girls ore natives of Milford,
Pretty, lady-like and we'll dressed, they
have little OF the air and manner of the
traditional shop girl. Most of them have
pleasant homes, but prefer to earn their
own spending money.
Lottie Richards, high school graduate
six months ago. pretty, piquant and mis-
Chi of loving comes from the Office with
dozen dainty white lace straw hats labelled
Artist" and takes her seat amid the
clique Of which she is an important factor.
Aren't these lovely, hobby, something
like artists hats? Those reugh-and ready
ones in green, yellow and brown straw that
we trimmed yesterday were horrors.
shoula think they would give an artist the
nightmare to look at them, much less wear
them
ooh. my! they are too sweet for any
thing!" exclaimed Ella Moore, perching
one on her brown head, THE artist who
wears this ought to be tall and handsome,
with long flowing hair, soft. dreamy eyes,
and white, slender hands,"
If he's much of an artist, he'll have
hard work to keep them white," mughed
Julia Banks, who had dahbled some in
crayon and water colors.
Mr.. Harley was just such q person."
said Lottie. You know 1 told you about
him when came back from Old Orchard
last summer. I never could bear him, he
was just such foppish, conceited thing"
"Wouldn't it be funny if you should
meet one of these hats down there this
SUMMER" laughed Julia.
"Wouldn't it," Lottie flashed back, as
she threaded her needle, and commenced to
band one with black satin ribbon.
"You ought to put private mark upon
some of them, so that if you ever saw one
you could claim it., suggested Ella.
And its owner, too," supplemented
Julia.
'"Te]l me something to put on, and de-
! clare I'll do it," Lottie said, entering fairly
| into the sport of the thing.
write something and put it inside the
| lining" suggested Dora Swift
yes, do, do" chorused the rest.
splendid, girls! What shall it be?" ex-
claimed Lottie, as she adjusted the purple
satin tip which bore Artist" in golden cap
itals, and began sewing down the soft silk
lining.
Poetry" said Ella.
| Say that you want the owuer of the hat
|
said Dora Swift, with girlish audacity.
yes, dol" exclaimed the Others '"You
may lay the foundation of a capital adven-
ture."
II wilt" said Lottie, the spirit of mis-
chief taking possession of her. On a small
square of white paper she wrote in pencil
IF the owner hereafter of this hat is
good looking, agreeable, intellectual and
has small feet and hands, the trimmer OF
said hat, Lottie Richards, would like to
have him for husband.
L. r., NJ Mass.
''There, girls" as it was passed round
from one to the other, "that is rather strong,
l think, but here goes" Lottie said gaily
as after banding her hat she laid the paper
smoothly between the satin tip and the
crown and sewed down the lining neatly
"You must do that one extra nice, said
Ella.
eyes; your destiny may hang upon that
hat" said Dora. in mock solemn tones.
II hope I'll have some fun out of it, any
way" said Lo'tie. IF get into trouble
it will be your f.ult girls: for I should never
have thought Of it but for you.
what trouble can you get ln?" asked
Ella, arching her eyebrows"
"'Shc has 81 ION her address perhar he
come here to find her." said Dora.
Wouldn't it be fun if he should!" ex-
claimed Julia "Rut how is any one to End
it, hid away in there?"
vOh! we must trust to luck for the lining
to get torn out in someway," laughed Ella
The little matter settled, the girls hurried
to ma Ike up for lost time. Lottie's nimble
fingers flew faster, and a dainty flush stole
into her fair cheek as she thought of the
little batteries and compliments of which
| oh fho l, at md haxr
she must earn lots of money to buy things
to make her look pretty the coming sea.
son in the eyes of the summer guests who
boarded in her aunt's cosy home at Old Or
chard.
We give an extract from letter written
from Lottie to Ella. three months later:
Don't you Il in, Ella, q gentleman came
Yesterday and took aunts chamber, two
flights up, and if he didn't come out to- day
in white lace hat just like those we trimed
last spring-even to the purple satin tips
and pink lining! My fling ers are itching to
get hold of it; but of course it is absurd tx
think that, among the thousand of lace
hats sold, he should buy the one with. my
to have him get hold Of it. He has thu
keenest pair Of blue eyes ever saw-not
; bit dreamy, like the ideal artist who was to
: wear it, and he's awfully old-thirty at
least; so, of course, couldn't fall in love
with him: Aunt thinks he's handsome.
don't. He goes sketching every day. and
has some Lovely pictures in \ his room:
well, how do you like them?"
Lottie darted a startl ID, guilty glance q
) Carl Clay ton as he came softly mp tie car.
peted stairway and caught her standing
through the half opened door at the pict:
ures placed around the room In different
positions. Bold marine skeletons, most OF
them, green white capped waves amid which
fearless bathers plunged, dark tempests apt
t0ssin ships, golden sunset over mirror.
} like sea.
"You need not feel so shy" he said, civ.
. ing her queer glance from beneath the
shadow of that artist hat that had been tor.
menting her for weeks. I like to have my
sketches admired. Please step inside
have particular one to show YOU"
! Lottie followed him shyly as he threw
the door wide open, but somehow she coult
not meet the keen blue eyes that always
made her heart flutter, why she did not un
derstand. From remote corner he tool
large mounted canvas and held it before he
amoment, with his eyes 6xed upon her face
then turned it round suddenly. There wal
her own face, sweet and lovely, with til,
, DrOWn nalr ripping over the low white
brow, dainty flush upon the soft ova
| cheek.
The dainty flush deepened until crimso,
tide overspread her face. The first swift
pleasutable surprise that frightened he
soft brown eyes made Carl Clayton's hear
leap with delight. Her lit face was study.
"Oh, Mr.. Clayton" she faltered in sweet
girlish confusion. "I--I-did not think YOU
| won had Dainted mo -
but have you see." Then their eyet
met moment, but something in his made
her want to get away from him. She muir.
INJURED something about her aunt wanting
her, and stole off to her room.
What a little fool I ami" How my cheeks
burn, and my heart is all in flutte-," sne
thought. Il wonder ksw ne came to paint
my picture. wonder if 1 ever looked az
we'll as that" glancing in the mirror,
which gave an affirmative answer.