The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-02-14
MISCELLANY.
THELOST BONNET.

"oh, want to go! I wsnt to go SO
much !" said Ella Haskell to herself land
TO think that must stay at home just for
want of bonnet, 1t is too mean. de-
clare it is. might Just as well have bought
sne last week when 1 went to The city, but
thought the fashions were not settled yet.
[ can't wear black velvet with blue mus
lin. And it's just the incest picnic we've
had. Oh, dear"
"A letter, ELL I've been to the station
to get 'em. And rice and raisins for pud.
lingl" shouted little Jack Haskell, tossing a
white envelope upon his sisters bureau as
ae rushed past her door.
From Cousin Hester" said Ella, glanc-
mig at the envelope. Full of brag as usu-
al. l suppose. What airs she did give her.
self while she was here, to be sure. All be.
cause her father has made a little more
money than pa has. I wonder she isn't
ashamed to write"
However, she opened the letter at once,
and sat down to read it. 1t opened thus:
"DRAR ELLA ;. I find I have left my
bonuet box behind me. l put it on the up
per shelf of the closet in my room and Il
.here was no occasion for anything but my
hat. and the bonnet was really too handsome
TO wear out in the wilderness never looked
at il again. Please send it at the first OPP
portunity by express"
Ella read no more. The letter dropped
out of her hand She flew out of her room,
and into the spare bedroom that had been
given to her cousin during her visit, and
there upon the upper shelf, she found a
box, which, being taken down and opened,
revealed dainty bonnet of palest blue
shirred satin, with delicate feathers to match,
and two gale pink crushed roses daintily
perched npon the orown-1a bonnet that
bore upon its lining the signature of Par
sian lnilliner.
Tbs most beautiful bonnet ever saw T.
cried Ella.
As she spoke she perched it lightly on her
head, saw that il became her. and on the in.
slant was overcome by temptation.
If could only borrow it and wear it &c
the picnic !" she whispered.
She caught mp the hand-glass and looked
at her profile. 1t was a most charming
view of her face.
II will" she added. Didn't she Dor.
row my blue veil and wear it entirely out,
AMI lose my silver thimbie, and tuck up the
curtains OF her room so that they had to be
done up over again MS soon as she wac gone ?
And it cannot do much harm to bonnet to
waar IL once very carsfullvv
Aud Ella sat down at once to write little
note of acceptance to the young man who
had requested the pleasure of her com.
pany."
''Going ?" said Mrs. Haskell, lifting her
eyebrows in surprise. "Well, hope you'll
enjoy yourself but win you feel comfort
able in your old bonnet?'
swell, I'll manage somehow, ma" said
Ella, not daring to meet her mothers eyes;
for she knew what her opinion would have
been about borrowing handsome bonnet
in that fashion; and the problem she was
nov solving was how to conceal the fact
that she wore il from the members of her
family. The only plan that occurred to her
was to cover it with grandma's big brown
berage veil, which she borrowed for the pur-
pose, receiving many instructions no' to tear
it or lose it.
Silas Perkins came in his buggy to the
door at the proper hour, and Ella ran out of
the house and entered the buggy rather hast
lily, with her head apparently enveloped in
snuff-colored turban.
Out of sight of the porch, Ella unpinned
the snuf-colored veil, and sat beside Sllas
Perkins in a blue and rose-tinted bonnet that
took his breath away with admiration.
In fact, it was the sight of the bonnet, and
ihe pretty face under it, and the tints of
gold it brought ont in the waving hair, that
made Silas forget that his horse Napoleon
would not bear the whip, and give him a
graceful flick upon his neck, wherenpon
Napoleon at once asserted his independence
by running away. The road was smooth,
and in the course of quarter Of an hour, as
S;las declared, he brought that horse to his
senses. The actual fact was that Napoleon
grew tired of running and moderated his
pace. But meanwhile q dreadful thing had
nhppentu. AHe Dtuuch VI ueo WHICH
grazed the buggy in passing had wiped
away that dainty Paris bonnet, which
weighed next to nothing. and Ella, as she
clutched the back of her seat in terror for
her life, was utterly unaware of the fact.
In fact. the scene of the picnic was reached
before either of the occupants Of the buggy
were aware OF what had occurred.
Meantime, Annty Wheeler, whose house
faced the road, had seen the runaway and
noticed the accident to the bonnet aud had
sent her grandson, Peter, to take it from the
oak bough After waiting at her. door for
an hour and half she concluded that Ella
was either killed on had not known where
she lost her bonnet. and returned to her
kitchen.
And you jest carry the bonnet homo 70
Mrs. Haskelrs, Peter" said she. Say
that Ella lost ii of, but don't tell that she
was run away with, for there's no need of
scarin' her ma without cause. Ella is just
hity-tity enough not to know whether her
bonnet is ON her head or off It."
Peter, shy, white-headed child, obeyed
with sulky reluctance He carried the bon.
net to the house, and greatly 1isliking ex.
plantations and questioning, performed his
errand by poking it in at an open window
under which table happened to stand. 1t
was the spare bedroom window, and Eve
minutes after. Nancy, tho new help"
came into the room to wash that very win.