The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-07-23
THE ROMANCE OF A HAT TRIMMER

IS. H. Thdycr in Christian at Work.
THE ROMANCE OF A HAT TRIMMER.
A large, light, airy trimming hall in
the straw works of Cushing & Co., Mil
ford, Mass, where fifty nimble-fngered
girls sat trimming hats in black. white
and fancy straws, which are piled up
before each ON the long, low desks.
Half of the girls are natives of Mil
ford. Pretty, lady-like and well 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, a high school grad
uate six months ago, pretty, piquant
and notwithstanding, comes from the Of
fee with dozen dainty white lace straw
hats labeled Artist" and takes her
seat amid the clique of which she is an
important factor.
"Aren't these lovely, nobby,. some
thing like artists hatsP Those rough
and-ready ones in green, yellow and
brown straw that we, trimmed yester-
day were horrors. ] should think they
would give an artist the nightmare to
look at them, much less wear them"
30, my! they are too sweet for any,
thingr' 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. a love of mustache, and
white, slender hands," Je
IF he's much of an artist, he'll have
hard work to keep them white" laughed
Julia Banks, who had dabbed some in
crayon and water colors.
9 Mr.. Harley was just such person."
said Lottie. "You know | told you
about him when / came back from Old
Orchard last Summer. l never could
bear him, he was such foppish con-
ceited thing"
Wouldn't it be funnyif you should
meet one of these hats down there this
summerr' laughed Julia.
"Wouldn't it?" Lottie flashed back,
as she threaded her needle and COM
menced 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. 81
:. And its owner, too" supplemented
Julia.
.sTell me something to put on and l
declare I'll do it." Loitie said, entering
fairly into the sport of the thing.
a. Write something and put it inside
the lining" suggested Dora Swift.
- Yes, do, do" chorussed the rest.
.'Splendid, girls! What shall it be?"
exclaimed Lottie. as she adjusted the
purple satin tip which bore - Artist
in golden capitals, and commenced to
sew down the soft silk lining.
Poetry" said Ella.
"Say that you want the owner of the
hat for husband, and sign your name
to it," said Dora Swift, with girlish au-
dacity.
/" Yes, dor exclaimed the others.
/" You may lay the foundation of cap
ital adventure"
g / will!'' said Lottie, the spirit of
mischief taking possession of her. On a
small square OF white paper she wrote
in pencil;
q If the owner hereafter OF this hat
is good-looking, agreeable, intellectual
and has small feet and hands, the trim
mer of said hat, Lottie Richards, would
like to have him for husband.
L. r., M, Mass"
There, girls" as it was passed
round from one to the other, that is
rather strong, 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.
s.You must do that one extra NICE"
said Ella.
:. Yes; your destiny may hang upon
that hat" said Dora, in mock solemn
tones.
Al hope Ill have some fun out of it,
any way" said Lottie. "If get into
trouble it will all be your fault, girls,
for l should never have thought Of it
but for you.'
:. What trouble can you get imp
asked Ella, arching her eyebrows.
'.She has given her address; perhaps
he'll come here to find her." said Dora.
g Wouldn't it be fun if he shouldr'
exclaimed Julia. but how is anyone
to find it, hid away in thereP''
:" .! we must trnst to luck for the
lining to get torn out in some way"
laughed Ella.
The little matter settled, the girls
hurried to make up for lost time. Lot
ties nimble fingers few faster, and a
dainty flush stole into her fair cheek
as she thought of the. little batteries and
compliments of which she was the re-
cipient last SIMMER, and how she must
earn lots OF money to buy things to
make herself look pretty the coming
season in the eyes of the summer guests
who boarded at her aunt's cosy home
at Old Orchard.
We give an extract from letter writ
ten by Lottie to Ella three months
later:
Don't you think. Ella. . gentleman