San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-09-15

Just fresh from faris' "i" '"'>
your wife wonld like that. Shall Try
on for your" :,
"Wa'al, yes, I can tell better how II
will look then. Now it looks Just ike
dish"
"There, it goes this way" and Josie
pitched the little thing over her rosy
face, tied the strings in big bow knot
and swept down the length of the room
Don't you like it?' 49,.
"Wa'al, it's kind o'purty, but it's NV
full queer; aintit, John9"
John could only answer that he knew
nothing in the world about women's
bonnets," and took up his reverie, what
ever it was, just where it was broken
off. But looking idly in the long mirror
opposite, he saw Josie making signs to
another girl, and lie soon found that
thew were amusing themselves vastly
at the perplexity of their customer. He
saw, too, that pale, quiet girl, with
smooth brown hair, looked up from her
work Indignantly, and he rather saw
than heard her say, "For shame!' and
grow crimson as she spoke.
His own face flushed little, a he be-
came aware that Uncle Abel was being
made the butt of their jokes-good
Uncle Abel, who was looking at the IA
brics incomprehensible to him, his
heart only full Of the thought how he
should make his present worthy OF the
patient soul for whom it was intended.
Then John was greatly perplexed;
for, as he said truly, he knew nothing
about all the mysterious and bewilder-
ing arrangements of dress that he saw
every day.
Still, he knew that Aunt Betsey's
spare locks, thinly sprinkled with gray,
were not dressed in modern style, and
he could not see whereabouts on that
dear old head any of those gypsies or
fanchons would rest. He remembered
that long ago, Aunt Betsey was won't
to twist her hair with the same energy
that distinguished all her movements,
and that this resulted in hard knob at
the back of her lead, like door-han-
die, which certainly would not harmon
ize with those capeless head-dresses.
Just as his brow was overcast with
this thought the pale girl came near
Uncle Abel, blushing as she did so, in
defiance of the other girls, holding in
her hand plain leghorn bonnet, trim
med with violet ribbons.
She wore q mourning dress, and the
plain brooch at her throat held lock
of gray hair.
II think this might suit you SIR she
said. "If your wife doesn't dress her
hair in these fashions these bonnets
would not do. This is rich and plain,
and covers the back of the head and
neck"
"Wa'al, now, tell me, for have got
so bothered with these things. l want
to get bonnet for Betsey, and 1 mean
to. Now just tell me if you would like
your mother to wear one like that? Oh,
I beg your pardon, ma'am; didn't see.
liam sorry!"
The young girl brushed off tear
quickly, as she said:
IL have no mother now; but If you
will trust me sir, think this will suit.
She had stood hitherto, just out of
The range of John Dare's vision, and
mad not seen him at all. Something in
The sound of her voice attracted him,
md when Uncle Abel called, Here
John Dare!" he stepped hastily toward
hem. -.r-r-t.s.s ..t.e
The girl thrust the bonnet into Uncle
Abel's hands, and would have been out
If sight, if her dress had not caught on
me of the branching stands.
"Amy!" and John Dare, with hot
lush on his face, caught her hand.
Amy Egbert, have I found you at
ast?"
The girls face grew white and red by
urns, and the words she spoke came SO
ow and broken, that only John Dare
ould catch their meaning.
Uncle Abel pushed his spectacles up
IN his forehead, still holding the hat in
lie hand looking oDen-mouthed from