The Washington critic., 1886-11-30
A HAT-MARK ROMANCE.

A HAl-MARh KUMANUE.
Philip Northam, coming hastily out
of the Exchange building one morning
in January, slipped on some ice at the
top Of the marble steps and slid rapidly
to the bottom. On his way, however,
he encountered Il gentleman who was
leisurely descending before him,
whipped him briskly from his feet and
brought him down by his side to the
pavement below. This unexpected in
PRODUCTION was accompanied by q
prompt removal of their respective
hats. Philips rolled down to the curb
stone, and the strangers whirled along
the pavement to be stopped and re-
turned by au oppor,une bootblack
Fortunately no bodily damage was
done to either of the embarrassed
young men, who instantly picked them.
selves up, with mutually unnecessary
apologies. Philip had been the agres-
sive party, but the same haste TO catch
train that had occasioned the tender.
ing of the apology made 1t naturally
very brief. lie barely took time to as.
sure himself that his fellow voyager to
the sidewalk was not hurt, then clapped
his hat on his head and rushed onward
with the same speed that defeated It,.
self few seconds previous.
We state that Philip clapped his hat
on his head, but the truth Is he clapped
on hat in every way resembling it,
yet as unlike 1t as a hat that we have
never worn Is unlike the hat Of our
everyday wear. Philip had not gone a
block when he realized that he had
made mistake, and exchanged hats
with the stranger, whom he had other
wise incommoded by hurling him down
stairs. 1t would seem that destiny had
been gratutously unkind through
fensive wayfarer and for no apparent
reason but her own wilful fancy. How
ever, it would probably be useless to
even If Philip had had time. SO he
hat as he sped up by the elevated to his
train at Forty second street, and wa;
glad TO find in it a hallmark, tht
initials w. w. @. neatly en-
broidered on band of dark
SuTuct sllh anu bIuuiuCulCu Will
sprays of floss silk vine. No one had
ever embroidered a hat.mark for
Philip, and the rightful owner of the
misappropriated head. covering became
at once invested with sort of romance
in Philips mind. The hat of itself
was anything but romantic being one
of those hard, stiff Derbys, that seem
to have been invented for no othel
purpose than to counteract any posi-
Bile good looks on the part OF tht
owner. "W. w. c." Philip pom
dcred not little over these cabalistiC
signs Of feminine care aud interest. lie
examined them so closely, indeed, that
after the manner of ardent explorers
he made an unlocked for discovery
Under the little silken band was tucked
firmly slip of paper. Thinking i
might contain, perhaps, the full com
plement of the initials, Philip opened
and read it. A great flush passed over
his face. and his heart quickened witt
sympathy. On the paper were writer
these words, in delicately feminin,
hand:
WILL: II you care to preserve this littl
souvenir you will some time know that
love you; too late, perhaps, for happiness
ut hot too late for truth. God gran
that you may safely cross the ocean an(
c:oss back again to me.
That was all Philips ardent sou
thrilled with tenderness as he rever
ULtly replaced the little scrap o
pepper in its hiding place and con
tinued to look down at 1t like one II
dream. How could he put 1t OF
again with this sad secret hoverin;
above his brain? 1t seemed a sacri
lege that he, stranger, should b.
crowned even temporarily with thi
burden of an honor into which h.
was not born" or course, NECESSITY
compelled him to wear 1t until h
could procure one of his own, bu
the pathos of those few yearning word
gave him no peace. Even when Ii,
had ceased to be conscious o
their actual proximity to his curly darl
locks and was again his own man, a
least to the extent of new Dlrby. h
was not rid of their haunting spell
The advertisements he paid for in be
half of "W. W. c." would have pur
chased half dozen hats, but the
brought him no sign or token fro n tn
missing owner, and as time wore on tn
strange hat with its pathetic secret Ia
hidden in box in Philips wardrob
and became thing of the past.
Meanwhile Fate, spinning her wel
Of many tissues, spun for Philip
among other things, hat mark o
his own. 1t was very, very pretty, au
very, very precious, and Philip fel
like q king who is for the first tim
crowned with his royal inherltanc
when he knew that he was a1judge
worthy to wear the favor of s'ende
lily fingers whose lightest touch ha
thrilled him like n concentration q
electric batteries. Fate's name, on thi
occasion, was Myra Browne. She WI
fair aud light haired, with pretty gra
eyes and soft independence of min
and manner, Philip had fallen in Low
with her at first sight, but she had onl
grown by slow degrees from indilfet
encc to interest, from interest to friend
ship from friendship to-wel, III
next step is scarcely perceptiblo, bu
her progress eventually resulted 10
glorious attainment for Philip. II
could scarcely trust himself to the con
temptation of his own bliss when II
realized that the happiness of thi
strong yet delicate and impasslone
soul was given into his keeping.
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