Connecticut western news., 1888-05-02
BAB'S BONNET.

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 Bab Nixon ended his words with gentle touch upon a round shoulder turned petulently away from him, and after waiting a moment for word or a smile from it's owner in vain, his face clouded slightly and he passed quickly out of tho breakfast room.
 As the sound of his steps died away one dismally wet bluo eye appear ed furtively above scrap of linen cambric crumpled into limp wad of two baby ish, dimpled hands, then the other eye came out until finally the whole dishevelled head was held defiautly erect.
 The general storminess of tho domes- tic atmosphere seemed to have crcpt 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 iu just then through the open window, thrown up to let in the premature balminess of the sunny March morning, and blew some of the loose locks intrusively about her blue eyes. Up flew the dimpled hand to push them aside as very cross young voice cried, q don't care! Edo-not-carel' with emphasis. 'If cannot have a new bonnet won't go to church with Jack and his sister, whom I never saw. l think Ernest is perfectly mean, so there As if I wasn't of as much importance as the nasty, bloody meat that he eats, bahl Butchers bill, indeed! Jack al- ways notices, too. and he'll be sure to see how perfectly mangy my old blue feathers are 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 bonnets wouldn't cost so much, Lut I can't, and I don't carel I should think Ernest might let me get trusted for just this once, as long as he is going to get me 6 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 see what Mmc. Vau. rier has that will suit mc. Then I can toll Ernest how much it will cost"
 Foolish little Barbara flew about the dainty nest which the dear older brother had sheltered her ID through all theil orphaned years; giving an approving nod at her trim tailor made gown oi brown as she passed the long mirror or her way out to interview Mme. Vauriel about the much-deslred bonnet.
 'Just the thing for you. It came last night. Lizette, bring the odd, blue affair, for Mile. Nixon." Truly, was it not '.just the thing7' And oh, how blue her eyes aud how sunny hel hair shone under the exquisitely pretty structure, which Madame nestled with assured touches upon her head. Sh, really never knew how tho matter came about. Perhaps Madame talked too volubly to hear her objections, or mark her hesitation. ''It made no differenc, at all," she assured Barbara, "whethel the bonnet was paid for now or iu twt months" She could not sell it to an, one else without being dissatisfied, hay ing seen it above Mademoiselle's golder hair" The bill would "be in the bo. to bo pal when her brother pie ased, and SO little Barbara went out sure tha her bonnet was above criticism, but n O 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 ono wh stood by an open coupe in front. It 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 Bab as she laid aside her wraps and prepared to greet her brothers return with din ner 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'' and be for
 given. But when after waiting a lonI
 thirty minutes beyond the time mes senger came intcad with hurried note 'tOff for Philadelphia; send my trap after me; care Wales Brothers, 1, 24
 Chestnut street. Will write"-her hear sank. Now, what was to be done Clearly there was nothing except t wrltc and tell him ali about it. So tn next day Ernests bag was packed an' forwarded, and renitcnt letter wen ! by the first mii to Philadelphia.