The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-02-01
MRS, JACKS EASTER BONNET.

"I wonld't wear it if was dying"
soliloquized Mrs. Jack.
And it is fair to presume that Mrs.
Jack spoke the truth. At least, it is not
customary for ladies OF mature years to
array themselves in the transcendent
glory of Spring millinery preparatory to
an encounter with the death angel and
there would seem to be no good and
sufficient reason for supposiug that Mrs.
Jack should depart from the custom of
her sex upon SO interesting an occasion.
GET isn't the strings that I object to
so much, continued Mrs. Jack; "though
the Lord knows they are homely enough.
They are neither one thing nor yet an
other, if they were pink, or green, or
red, or yellow, there'd be some sense in
them; but they don't bear the least re-
semblance to any one of those colors; or
rather they look like all of them together.
Neutral color, suppose they call lt!'
she continued looking upon her reflected
image in the mirror with supremest
acorn. It's all very we'll for Jack to claim
naturally in politics and religion in his
newspaper, but I'd have him to know
that I can't bear anything neutral in
bonnet strings, and what's more, l
,wontw
Mrs. Jack had worked herself into
quite state of mind by this time. Stop
ping a moment to regain her breath, she
continued
81 could stand the strings, suppose;
but such q mean, scrimpy, night-cappy
thing l never will wear-so, theret'
With this she pulled the new bonnet
off her head with jerk that sent myriad
hairpins whizzing in all directions to
bangs, frizzes and waves.
"Now, whoever saw an old gold rose!'
she cried, appealing to the mirror, ''or
black asters, or brown lilies of the valley
or pea-green chrysanthemums? 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 q child's hat and told Jack
1t was the latest style! And he believed
them, the ninny It's just like him!
Well, he may wear it, if he wants to;
shant!'
Jack arrived at this juncture, his face
beaming like braud.new tin pan in
MONDAY sunshine. Seeing the millinery
IN the hands of his helpmate, he ex-
claimed gleefully-
$50 you've got it, Mary! A little sur
prise, you know It's sumner, amt it?"
81 should say it was, Mr.. Jack"
It was the tone Of these words rather
than their intrinsic Intelligence that
caused Jacks face to elongate sud
denly.
"Why, what's the matter, Nary" he
exclaimed in alarm.
Matter, Mr.. Jackr' returned Mary,
holding the bonnet out at arms length,
as if it had been a recent occupant of the
smallpox hospital. "Mr. jack" she re-
peated; 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 screechel Mrs. J.
With that she let the millinery fail
from her grasp, and then dropped all Id
q heap on 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
the result of bis little surprise. Mary
will be so happy he had said to him
self. SIT will come so unexpected, too,
And how she will admire my taste!" In
stead 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. we'll, Mary" he said, coaxingly
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's and pick one out
Yourself. Now don't cry, dear. I've goi
TO 90 to the office; but you'll go to Plush
ington's right away. won't you dear?"
Mrs. Jacks tears gradually dried
though great sob every now and then
showed the terrible anguish which still
rent her bosom. She deigned no answer
TO her lords entreaties, excepting some.
thing Or other about that "horrid thing,
and was about to break ont again into
fresh weeping. when Jack begged her
again to go 10 the millIner's right OF,
kissed her hastily, and discrsetly left
her alone with her grief. When the door
was nnfely shut behind him-the truth
1919 - x<~1I-ha Asd 49, anrw~thin0 th AZ