The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-21
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 a 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 a gentle
touch upon a round shoulder turned
petulently away from him, and after
waiting a moment for a word or smile
from its owner in vain, his face 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
crumplcd into limp wad of two baby
lsh, dimpled hands, then the other eye
came out, until finally the whole
dishevelIed head was held defantly
erect.
The general stormincss of the domes-
tic atmosphere seemed to have crept
even into Bab's saucy yellow bangs,
which pulled and crispcd 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
the premature balminess Of thu sunny
March morning, and blew some of the
loose locks intrusively about
her blue eyes. Up fsw the
dimpled hand TO push them aside
as very cross young voice cried, 81
don't care! I-do-not-carer with
emphasis. 'It l cannot havo a new
bonnet won't go to church with Jack
and his sister, whom l never saw.
think Ernest is perfectly mean, so there
AS if l wasn't of as much importance as
the nasty, bloody meat that he eats,
bah! Butchers bill, indeed! Jack al
ways notices, too, and he'll be sure to
feathers are getting, and his sister is
sure to have something straight from
Paris! If 1 could o1ly make two rib
bons and bit of jet look as ravishing
as Kate Arbuckle does my bonnets
wouldn't cost so much, but can't, and
l don't care! l should think Ernest
might let me get trusted for just this
once, as long as he is going to get mo q
bonnet in a 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 see what Nine. Vau-
rier has that will suit me. Then I car
tell Ernest how much it will cost"
Foolish little Barbara flew about the
dainty nest which the dear older brother
had sheltered her IN through all theil
orphaned years; giving an approving
nod at her trim tailor made gown o1
brown as she passed the long mirror OF
her way out to interview Nine. Vauriel
about the much desired bonnet.
'Just the thing for you. 1t came
last night. Lizette, bring the odd,
blue affair, for Mile. Nixon" Truly,
was it not "just the thing?" And oh,
how blue her eyes and how sunny hel
hair shone under the exquisitely pretty
structure, which Madame nestled with
assured touches upon her head. she
really never knew how the matter came
about. Perhaps Madame talked too
volubly to hear her objections, or mark
her hesitation. 1T made no difference
at ALL" she assured Bar bara, "whethel
the bonnet was paid for now or in twC
months" She could not sell it to any
one else without being dissatisfied, hav
| ing seen it above Mademoiselle's COLDER
hair" The bill would ''be in the DO,
to be paid when her brother pie ased,
and so little Barbara went out sure tina
her bonnet was above criticism, but no
| quite so sure that here management o
the matter would bear as satisfactory in
spection when she told Ernest. AS sh
ran down Madame Vaurier's broad ston
steps, hat was lifted by some one wh'
stood by an open coupe in front. 1t wa
Jack Smelling, who shot glance of ap
proval after her from his dark eyes, a
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
ner of his especial viands, that shoulC
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 and be for
given. But when after waiting a lon,
thirty minutes beyond the time mes