St. Landry democrat., 1882-05-27
The Mistake in Buying a Bonnet.

the valley, or pea-gfeen chfysanlhe-
NUNS? It's just like man! Not the
least idea of taste! And they'll put
anything on to him. Probably some old
things they had left over from last year,
and then stuck them together on a
childs hat and told Jack it was the
latest style! And he believed them, the
ninny! t'siust like him! Well, he may
wear it, if he wants to; I sha' n tn'
Jack arrived at this juncture, his face
,beaming like bran-new tin pan in
noonday sunshine. Seeing the millinery
in the hands of his helpmate. he ex-
claimed, gleefully:
$50 you've got it, Mary! A little
surprise, you know. It's sumner ain t
iG?''
81 should say it was, Mr.. jack
1t was the tone of these words rather
than their intrinsic intelligence that
caused Jacks face to elongate sud
denly.
''Why, what's the matter, Mary?" he
exclaimed, iii alarm.
"Matter, Mr. Jack!'' returned Mary,
holding the bonnet out at arms length,
as if it had been a recent occupant OF
the smallpox hospital. ''Matter, Mr..
jack" she repeated; 81 should think
you'd ask! just look at it!''
why" said Jack, beginning to lose
confidence in his ideas on taste, ''isn' t
it pretty?" ........
Pretty!' screeched Mrs. j.
With that she let the millinery fall
from her grasp, and then dropped all in
a heap 1.-THE nearest chair and fell to
weeping like force pump.
1t was hard on poor Jack. He had
promised himself no end of pleasure as
Che result of his little surprise. "Mary
will be SO happy?' he had said to HIM
self. cit will come so unexpected, too!
And how she will admire my taste"
Instead of this, that beautiful bonnet lay
neglected on the floor, and his wife was
on the verge of Mysteries!
What was he to do under these dis
tressing circumstances? Do? What
would any husband do in the presence
OF tears?
"Oh, well, Mary" he said, coaxing-
Iy, eff it doesn't suit you, OF course you
can change it. 1 ought to have known
that man isn't fitted to pick out bon-
net. There, dear, don't cry any more;
but put on your things and go right
down to Plushington' and pick one out
yourself. Now don't cry, dear. I've
got to go to the office; but you'll 60 to
Plushington's right away, won't you,
dear?'
Mrs. Jacks tears gradually dried,
though a great sob every now and then
showed the terrible anguish which still
rent her bosom. She deigned no an
.sWer to her lords entreaties, exceptln g
something or other about that ~"horrid
thing" and was about to break out
again into fresh weeping, when Jack
begged her again to go to the milliner'
right off, kissed her hastily, and dis
.ereetly left her alone with her grief.
When the door was safely shut behind
him-the truth must be told-he did
say something that rhymed with lamb,
but it is certain that lamb was not
the word he used.
It was wonderful how quickly Mrs.
Jack recovered from her sorrow. Hard
Nv had the street door closed ere she was
herself again. There was now a look
of triumph on her face. Hastily put
ting on her street garments, she showed
the despised bonnet into the band-box,
and a minute later was on her way to
Plushington's. :,
1t is needless to follow her thither. i
you are woman, you know how
woman disports herself in millinery
shop; if man, the less you know about
such places the better for your peace Of
mind. ae
The next day was Sunday, Easter
Sunday, and as Mrs. Jack walked down
the broad aisle in her new bonnet-the
bonnet Of her own choice-she was su
.premeIy happy. And Jack was happy,
too chs spouse in So heavenly
frame of mind.
swell. vum!'' @ n
Thus said Mrs. Jack, as she took he
seat; for right in front of her in tht
Bangupton pew, there sat Mrs. Bangup
ton-the recognized leader in the fash
ionable worldIwith a bonnet the yer,
counterpart of that horrid thing
which Jack had sent home as q surpris'
ITO Mrs. j. I'D Il
This is what Mrs. J. '.vummed'
about. I'd
There were the identical neutra
strings; the nondescript roses, chrys
anthemums, lilies and asters, were al
there; the amean, scrimpy, night-cap
py thing was before her in every par
fticular. n~t
1t is safe to say that Mrs. Jack go
little edification from the service tina
morning. Mrs. Bangupton's bonnet wa
mixed up with the hymns; it was every
where throughout the creed, collects
prayers; the morning ~. lessons were en-
from text to finish, was Bangupton an
bonnet; and the benediction was mad
ap Of the same ubiquitous elements.
On her way home Mrs. Jack was nc
90 cheerful as when she started thence
On the contrary, she was taciturn, sad
NOT to say morose. Jack saw that some
th;nsr ,,yaS ,uyror,r Int. being discrpe