The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-04-26
BAB'S BONNET.

BAB'S BONNET.
''Bab, I haven't $40 in the world, and
the butchers bill came in yesterday.
Cheer up, little girl, and never mind
the new bonnet. Jack Smelling must
be no end of cad if he minds what
kind of frame your dear little face
looks out Of" The big brother of Bah
Nixon ended his words with gentle
touch upon a round shoulder turned
petulently away from him, and after
waiting moment for word or smile
from its owner in vain, his faco clouded
slightly and he passed quickly out of
the breakfast room.
AS the sound of his steps died away
one dismally wet blue eye appear ed
furtively above scrap of linen cambric
crumpled into limp wad of two baby
lsh, dimplcd hands, then tho other eye
came out, until finally the whole
dishevelled head was held defantly
erect.
The general storminess of the domes-
tic atmosphere seemed to have crept
even into Bab's saucy yellow bangs,
which puffed and crisped in unexpected
kinks about the pretty low brow and
white temples as the silky fuzz about a
baby's head is wont to disport itself.
A breeze came in just then through
the open window, thrown up to let in
tho premature balminess of the sunny
March morning, and blew some of the
loose locks intrusively about
her blue eyes. -1.g-sa11napstbS
dimpled hand to push them aside
as very cross young voice cried, Il
don't care! I-do-not--care with
emphasis. 'Tf cannot have new
bonnet l won't go to church with Jack
and his sister, whom / never saw. ]
think Ernest is perfectly mean, so there
As if wasn't of as much importance as
the nasty, bloody meat that he eats,
bah! Butchers bill, indccd Jack al
ways notices, too, and he'll be sure to
see how perfectly NANCY my old blue
feathers arc getting, and his sister is
sure to have something straight from
Parisl If could only make two rib
bons and bit OF jet look as ravishing
as Kate Arbuckle does my bounets
wouldn't cost SO much, but l can't, and
| d MT caro-! / should think Ernest
might let me get trusted tor just this
once, as long as he is going to get me a
bonnet in little while, anyway.
mean to ask him this very morning, and
it won't do any harm to stop oa the way
to the Office and sec what Nine. Vau-
ricr has that will suit me. Then / can
tell Ernest how much it will cost"
Foolish little Barbara flew about tho
dainty nest which tho dear older brother
had sheltered her In through all their
orphaned years; giving an approving
nod at her trim tailor made gown oil
brown as she passed the long mirror on
her way out to interview Nine. Vaurie1
about the much desired bonnet.
sJust the thing for you. 1t came
last night. Lizette, bring the odd,
blue affair, for Mile. Nixon" Truly,
was it not ''just the thingG" And oh,
how blue her eyes and how sunny her
hair shone under the exquisitely pretty
structure, which Madame nestled with
assured touches upon her head. She
really never knew how tho matter came
t7about. Perhaps Madame talked toe
volubly to hear her objections, or mark
her hesitation. 1T made no difference
at ALL she assured Bar bara, "whether
the bonnet was paid for now or in two
months. She could not sell it to any
one Else without being dissatisfied, hav-
ing seen it above Mademoiselle's golden
hair" The bill would "be in the box
to be pal when her brother pie ased,"
and SO little Barbara went out sure that
her bonnet was above criticism, but moi
| quite SO sure that here management of
the matter would bear as satisfactory in
spection when she told Ernest. As she
ran down Madame Vauricr's broad stone
steps, hat was lifted by some one who
stood by an open coupe in front. 1t was
Jack Smelling, who shot glance of ap-
proval after her from his dark eyes, as
he passed up the steps with his sister.
Now, to tell Ernest" thought Bah.
as she laid aside her wraps and prepared
to greet her brothers return with din
ncr of his especial viands, that should
make him as wax in her hands.
The dinner hour came and Barbara,
fresh as a rose in her soft wool gown,
was ready to '"fess up aud be for
| given. But when after waiting long
ttiity minutes beyond the time mes
senger came iutcad with hurried note !:
"off for Philadelphia; send my traps
after me; care Wales Brothers, 1, PA
Chestnut street. Will write"-her heart
sank. Now, what was to be donel
Clearly there was nothing except to
write and tell him all about it. So the
xt day Erncsrs bag was packed and