The Opelousas courier., 1886-08-21

4 49, oER1 r.
/ were you and tell her all about it
said the forewoman. stYou see, we cal
hardly do anything, it not being oul
money"
Go to Miss Van Antwerp, to Fred
aunt, and tell her that they were SO poo
that she, his wife, was trimming hats fol
a living, and thought that she had acci
IDENTIFY lost all her money in the crown O
that particular bonnet! 1t would be al
interesting tale, certainly, Nellie laughed
Historically to herself as she thought o
it.
IT might go to the house and see i
she's in" thought Nellie, sand if She
out, I could say there was some mistak,
about the hat, and ask to seq it.
could find out in a second whether my
bill is there"
So, slowly and with a heavy heart, she
walked to Miss Van Antwerp's house, t.
Fred's old home; but there her hear
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 identical hat.
Nellie watched it 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 il
off" she sighed. eff she'd only run
against a sign, or something"
But nothing of the kind happened.
Miss Ven Antwerp walked on at a digni-
fed pace presently entered a large dry
goods store.
Nellie breathlessly followed.
Miss Van Antwerp took the elevator
and Nellie climbed up the stairs and
looked around till she saw her.
Could it be-yes-she really was buy
ing breakfast cups and the brown bonnet
lay quite unguarded on the counter.
Nellie's heart beat so that she nearly
smothered. She erept softly up to the
bonnet. No one was looking. She put
n hand in it and adroitly broke the
gathering-string of the lining. She
slipped her fingers inside and felt a soft
something. Yes, it was her ragged old
bill!
Fairly quivering with excitement, she
drew it out, when; Young woman!
what are you doing with my bonnet2'
sounded IN awful voice in her ears.
Poor Nellie! She gave a little scream
and dropped the hat, still cIutching her
bill.
Il only wanted my money" she fall
tered. ut got in the crown by mistake
when I was trimming the hat. ! am
very sorry. didn't mean" Then
she stood and trembled like a culpret,
and wished Fred's awful aunt would
turn her beak- like nose another way.
By this time Miss Van Antwerp had
recognized 9'that little snub-nosed thing"
She grew a little SITTER and her voice
was a shade harsher as she said:
"You trimmed that hat-you-why,
where isl
Erred is sick, y said Nellie, simply.
4eTell me about Fred,n she said, in an
anxious voice, and Nellie noticed that
her face was pale and drawn, and that
even her nose, that inyincible feature,
had a subdued look.
Fired has been wcll,n said Nellie,
with dignity, s'until yesterday. I am
going home to him now
aCan would you would he like to
see megn she exclaimed.
know he would be very glad an
Nellie, heartily.
They walked along in silence.
SIS he ARE you very pooran asked
Miss Van Antwerp a~wkwardly, after .
pause.
Nellie colored, an then answered, stead.
lily:
1T was very hard at first, but after ;
Fred found a place. / trimmed
hats, because ! could do it easily, and
because they would let me dot at home.
I was trimming that hat Of yours when
Fred came home. He had just ben
paid, and he tossed this $40 bill down in
my lap, and I'm sure don't see how |
ever did it, but I gathered it up in the
crown, I wouldn't have tried to find 1t,
but | wanted the money for medicines
and things for Fred. I had no idea Of
thrusting myself in your way"
The little woman drew herself up
but old Miss Van Antwerp
scarcely heard her.
Poor FredI MY poor, dear boyp' she
murmured to herself, with all the pent-
Up love and longing of q year.
They nearly surprised Fredaout Of his
senses when they came walking in to-
and how he laughed when he
heard about the lost bill and the found
Bonnet.
OF course they went home to live with
Aunt Susan, and, except for q slight
h the dramatis person@, her old
age was just what she expected it would