The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-11-01
LOVE OF A BONNET.


Recorder" as he crossed Canal
street, arm in arm with his bosom
friend, Al. Knowlton, lodging truck
as he uttered the words, ana stub
bing the toe of tight boot against
the curb in consequence.
swell, now that you are in town,
and on Broadway, you ought TO keep
your word, and buy her as nice
bonnet as YOU can find, answered
his friend. as be steadied tie news
paper man, restoring to him hls
equilibrium.
"Yes, know ] ought TO; but you
see we country editors are not bless
ed. usually, with as many dollars as
there are quads in the case. i have
come on to New York to buy mate
rial and to see about commission
merchant ads. and | must not run
myself short. Then, again, 1t Is
matter of two hundred miles to Free
tcwn, and / must 90 up the river on
business before | go home, so that,
on the whole, the expense and the
trouble of carrying the head gear Is
too much. | guess Angie Will have
TO do without it.
"Do without it, exclaimed Knowl-
ton, with wealth of reproach in hls
tone. "Do without it, You are a
pretty fellow to grumble about ex-
pense and distance. Your gen eros
ity is about as poor as your gr am.
mar. You say you have come on
to New York to buy printing mate
rial: now say come on and buy a
bonnet for your wife. You can do
the opposite, but she will bless the
expense if tits handsome hat, and
she can let her neighbors know IT
came all the way from New York.
NO, ! guess | won't get 1t this
time" said Editor Bawshay.
"But | guess you will, though, "
replied Knowlton. I'll give you no
peace until you purchase very
love of bonnet for that charming
woman to whom you refer so careless
ly as my wife Come, now, we will
begin with the first store where
there is the least likelihood OF find
ing one. Here, old fellow, is place
where they sell artificial flowers; LET
us 60 in and see if by chance there
is a bonnet for sale.
Somewhat against hls will Baws-
hav suffered himself to be drawn into
the trap, and presently KnOwlton
was asking to ''see some bonnets.
"Well, said the proprietor of the
establishment, in reply 'well, we
don't keep bonnets; our business is
confined to artificial flowers; but
perhaps we have one or two which
have been used to display samples
of our goods, which We can let you
have at a low figure. Step this way
please"
In the rear of the large store five
bonnets were found and duly in
spected. The first four were unani
mouslv condemned, but the fifth
was charming. So thought the twC
male connoisseurs as they gazed a
the delicate affair held aloft in The
right hand of the merchant, who
swayed it gracefully in curvinileal
lines-giving it a sheer now to lar
board and now to starboard.
YES" quoted knowlton- who
was a batchelor, of course au fan
in all matters of this sort-''it il
Just the thing you want, Bawshay-
buy it"
Suddenly the proprietor wat
blessed with a happy thought.
Here, Jenny" he cried, address
ing a blooming young girl, the cen
tire of group OF five women lth'
same number as the stock of bon
nets who were engaged in arrayin!
roses and leaves not ten feet away
Here, Jenny, will you be so gooC
as to try this on"
Jenny was a lovely creature, wht
evidently could make any bonne
seem other than it was by simply
wearing it. She did not appear Il
like the idea of disporting hersel
before two strange men in order Il
show off the becomingness of al
elegant head covering as an induce
ment to them to purchase the same
it was a little out of her line; bu
she came forward and tried the bon
not on, blushing gloriouslv tn
while, making a most fascinating
picture, which the editor and hi
friend regarded with open and un
disguised admiration.
The hat was pronounced "periec
ton itself" and the charming cir
returned it to the merchant with ;
delicious air of confusion and EN-
barrassment.
Bawshay produced a roll of bills
thus apparently giving the lie to tn
legend about country editors incur
able impecuniosity and demanded
How much?"
ANY milliner in town woul,
charge you at least twenty-five dol
lars for it: but as we don't sell hats
and this is something unusual witt
us, YOU may have it for five dollars.
Five dollars" said Knowlton, un
der his breath. Five dollars! Abou
right as to value, but dirt cheap a
hat prices 60.
"All right, said Bawshay; pleas
put it up"
Knowlton hoped that the flower
man would prolong the process, 10
he was infatuated with the fair gin
who had exhibited the article c
dress in such a bewitchlng manner
and be could hardly keep his eve
off her" as the phrase goes.
Bawshay, married man though b
was, furtively regarded the youn
lady as she piled her vocation, stil
as red as the roses she was at wor
upon.
"Smitten, eh?n said the editor, a
he friends reached the sidewalk wit
the bandbox containing the treasuI
between them.
"Well, yes, / am, and no mii
take" returned Knowlton. That
the girl | have been looking for
wonder how | can ever become az
quainted with her."
That is easy enough, " said Baws
hay. You keep fancy store, don
you? Well, open an artificial flowe
department, and buy your stock {
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