Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-25

tom Of fear. and the whole strength OF
this lonely old womaus heart had gone
ont 20 him aS he grew from childhood tC
manhood.
OF course. she meant to leave him all
her money; whom should she leave IL tC
but Fred' She had looked forward to his
marrying and bringing his wife home
ana 10 an old age made bright by Fred :
children But this was Just where the
trouble came in. She wanted him IL
marry Margaret Steuben; she had picked
her out especially.
Margaret was nice girl, of a good
old family, with plenty Of money.
And besides, said Miss Van Antwerp, As
she summed her up TO Fred one night,
-her nose Is little like mine"
Fred laughed at this, and Miss Van
Antwerp hastened To modify it.
Not much like mine" she said: ~only
they won't look badly together"
But in spite of all this, and all her
other eNCellet reasons Fred Obstinately
refused 10 marry Margaret Steuben.
Miss Van Antwerp was very angry with
him, more angry than she haf ever been
with Fred; but il was as nothing TO her
anger when she found that he was en-
gagged To, and actually going to marry
Nellie Martin IA miserable little snub-
nused nObndy.'
After she had said that Fred rose He
looked very tail and white.
Very well, Aunt Susan" he said: Eve
will not discuss the matter. | can not
have Miss Martin insulted even by
you. You have been very kind to me-
but unless You can think differently about
this We had better 90 our separate ways
now"
Fred" cried the old woman, in a fury
al shall never think differently about this.
and will never forgive you if you marry
that - girl"
The dash would have been filled with
adjectIyeS but something in Fred's face
restrained her.
She had never mesnt it, poor old
woman She would have forgiven Fred
anything. Was he not her dead sisters
child, and the only human be-
ing that she really lOvedi But
Fred had taken her at her word, and
had gone away.
1t was over year ago that all this hap
pened, and Miss Van Antwerp's nose had
grown more aud more belligerent, and she
was harder and harder TO suit in the mat
ter Of bounets and hats she was trying
story opened She had tried on seventeen.
and the obliging but much-fatigued sales
man heard her sag, with delight of the
eighteenth: II like that, it suits my
nose
She turned round and round in front of
the long mirror, holding up hand glass
And surveying herself
-Ies.' she said, decidedly; Il like that
hat. You can send it up"
Scarcely had it left the store when a
young woman, plainly dressed, hurried in.
and walked rapidly to the millinery de
partmeat. Going directly to the fore
woman she said:
oh, Miss Allen, can you let me see that
brown bonnet that trimmed for you yes
terfay. want it only for a moment"
We have just sent 1t home, | am sorry
20 say. Old Miss Van Antwerp bought
it
~Old Miss Van Antwerp" echoed the
younger woman ~Oh am so sorryl" she
added, her lips trembling.
Did you want it for anything especial;'
inquired the fOrewoman, kindly.
Il am afraid know it sounds perfectly
ridiculous but I'm AFRAID there's 80 bill !
in the crown. You see" she added hur |
riedly. my husband threw it down in my |
lap just as | was gathering the crown !
lining. knew must finish the hat, SO | |
worked on, and when | was through l |
couldn't find the money anywhere. 1t !
seems perfectly absurd to think it may be |
inside Of that crown lining, and don't be |
lieve it is; but I've hunted everywhere |
else, and / thought | would like to look, |
for heed the money very much"
. would 60 to Miss Antwerp if | We're |
you and tell her all about it," said the !
forewOman. You see We can hardly do |
anything. it not being our money"
Go 10 Miss Antwerp. to Fred's aunt, and |
tell her they were 50 poor that she. his /
wife, was trimming hats for living, and |
thought she had accidentally lost all her |
money in the crown of this particular bon |
nett 1t would DE an interesting tale, GER
tainly. Nellie laughed Historically To her |
self as she thought of it.
Oh, why, of all the people in the world, /
need Fred's aunt have bought that hat
and why had she been so careless as to .
lose that money? She needed it so! Fred |
had come home sick the day he gave her |
the bill, and it was all the money she
would have for some time. She hadn't
told Fred yet Of this last ridiculous piece
of ill-luck.
- might 90 TO the house and see if she's
in" thought Nellie; and if she's out, ]
could say there was some mistake about |
the hat, and ask to see it. | could find out
in a second whether my bill was there"
Slowly, and with heavy heart, she
walked TO Miss Van Antwerp's house, to
Fred's old home; but there her heart
failed her, and she WAS about to retrace
her steps, when suddenly the door opened,
and who should come out but old Miss
Susan herself, and wearing that very iden-
tical hat
Nellie watched II as If fascinated by it.
Miss Van Antwerp did not see her and .
walked down the avenue, while Nellie
followed, her eyes fixed upon the hat
which she felt she must not let go out Of
her sight
~Oh, if a wind would only blow it off,
she sighed. IF she'd only run against
sign or something"
But nothing of the kind happened Miss
Van Antwerp walked on at dignified pace
and presently entered large dry gOodi
store.
Nellie breathlessly followed.
Miss Van Antwerp took the elevator to
the top story. and Nellie climbed up the .
stairs and looked around till she saw her.
Could it bes yes, she really was buying
breakfast cups. and the brown bonnet lay
quite unguaricI "a ihc counter.
Nellie's heart beat So that she nearly /
smothered. Sne crept softly up to the
bonnet. No one was looking. She put
one hand in it and adroitly broke the .
gathering string of the lining. She slipped
her fingers inside and felt a soft some
thing Yes il WAS her ragged old bill!
Fairly quiverlng with excitement she /
drew it out when Young woman! what
ar" you doing with my bonnet" sounded
an awful dice in her ears.
Poor Nellie. She gave a little scream