The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-04-05
Seleft Stogy.
BETsEY's BONNET.

swell, Uncle Abel, you are of for
home, suppose trading all done, eh ?"
and John Dare lifted bis hat and pushed
back his thick hair as he stood on the
hotel steps talking to a plain country
farmer.
"Wa'aI, no, not quite yet, John i
want to get Betsey bunnit; real nice
one; just as good as . Yorker might
want. Cause Bensv's worked awful
hard this spring. Times are good, too
S'pose you don't want to 60 along With
me, do You ?"
.Lete me see-4 o'clock-yes, I'll 20.
Uncle Abel I'll look at tue pretty girls,
thongh you won't mind that, come on =
So they walked up the street, the FASH,
ionable attire OF the young lawyer con
trasting strongly withphe antiqusted cut
oi the farmers garments, which 81, home
we're wont TO lie in solemn state in the
spare room all the week only to- be worn
on Sunday. There was little likeness in
the face--a tribe too fsir for manly beau
", With its blonde mnstache and setting
OF close brown curls--tO the bronzed
and beardless one, with the few locks,
spare and gray, beneath the well brushed
hat, bat the blue eyes were the same In
both. and like those that we're closed tor
ever under the sod, where his dead sister
was laid when John was . tiny child. It
troubled John not whit to be seen with
the plain countrvman; In spite Of his
perfumed hair and well-gloved hands bis
breast was as true as steel to the good,
friend of his boyhood
They reached Madame Rozette's. at
last, ard John lounged IN the doorway
and straightwsy engaged in the laudable
employment OF finding out the prettiest
face Of the girls in attendance. Josie
Molliet, radiant with smiles and, I think,
q little arutcial bloom. came forward
with the most bewitching glsnces to wait
upon the farmer who brought 80 attract
i've person with him; and fancying that
she would show her superior quality by
so doing, made up her mind to quiz Un.
Gle Abel numerically.
ssNow, young woman, show me some
OF your best bonnets-real good ones.
None Of your poor old-fashioned things
for my wife!'
Having said this, Uncle Abel felt that
be had stated the case clearly and should
have no more trouble. III
Miss Josie called about and returned
with . white gipsy, trimmed with blue, a
shirred green satin With rose on it,snd
gray straw trimmed with scarlet pop
pies.
.Now, that will he just what you want
am sure; only S25, too-so cheap and
go becoming.
Uncle Abel &C cnfessed afterward that
he felt quite confounded at the price, but
that he did not mean to let that Frenchi-
ied girl kno~ it, so he only said, "Oh.
that's the style. eh9 1t amt bit like
Betsey's old one, though"
"Ob, no sir; the fashion has changed
entirely. Now the gipsy is the newest
thing out, and your wife would set the
fashion, don't doubt" '''
She looked up at John Dare merrily,
but could not interpret the look in his
eyes; so taking it for granted that it was
an expression Of odmiration, she pursued
that same strain.
"Just fresh from Paris. / am sure
your wife would like that. Shall l try
| it on for YOUR
"Wa'al, yes, can tell better how !,
will look then. Now it lnoks just like o
dish"
"There, It goes this way" and Josie
pitched the little thing over her ROSY
face, tied the little strings in big bow
knot and swept down the length Of the
room. "Don't you likeitf'
"Ws'al it's kind o purity; but it's aw-
ful queer, amt IL. Jobn?"
John could only answer that he knew
no, bing In the world about women's bon
nets" and took up his reyerie. whatever
| it was, Just where It was broken of But
looking idly in the mirror opposite he
saw Josie making signs to another girl,
and be soon found that they were anus
| ing themselves vastly at the perpIexity
Of their customer. BE, saw, too thai q
pale, quiet girl, with smooth brown hair,
looked up from her work indignantly,
and he rather saw than heard her say,
"For shame!" aud grow crimson as she
spoke.
His own face flushed little as he be-
came aware that Uncle Abel was being
made the butt Of their jokes-good Un-
Gle Abel. who was looking at the fabrics
incomprehensible to him, his heart oply
full Of the thought how be should make
bis present worthy Of the patient soul fol
| whom II vaa intended. ~ =