The Washington critic., 1888-04-21
BAe's SpRINc BoNNET.


what q wicked, selfish va.--. oh,
my goo-oodncss ~ she ended with q
gasp. Yes, there II was, in good,
round figures-S2):
To one imported straw bonnet, et,.......s1sOo
s25.oo
Received payment
25! -! 20l POI 25l 25l 25l They
danced crazily before her eyes as she
sank i'm da2ed little heap on the
floor. What would Ernest say2 She
was but seventeen, and II never oc-
Cured TO her unbusinesslike ideas
that Nine. Naurier was taking al
vantage Of her, and that she could
send the bonnet back. Aunt Valerie
had money, but Ernest had forbidden
her ever TO borrow penny Of Aunt
Valerie on pain Of his deepest disap.
proval. lie was so proud and honest,
that manly brother and she, "nasty
little selfish thing" had dared TO cail
him "mean." "He was worth a hun
dred Jack Snellings, so there"
That very evening Jack called with
his sister, who was very kind and
cordial in her gentle, reserved way,
and the invitations for Easter Day
were resumed with some well-bred
insistence, upon learning that her
brother was absent and Aunt Valerie
was to join them. But there was
good stuff in Bab's sturdy little body
after all, and even while her eyes
took in the quiet elegance Of Miss
Mildred Snelling's attire, she was
coming to Spartan resolution. She
would 60, but she would not wear an
unpaid-for bonnet. Somehow, she
felt better after that, and when a tel
egram arrived before Easter SAYING
that Ernest would return the next
Monday, she was quite ready with q
smiling welcome to greet the unex-
pected announcement of--Mr. Smell
ing. Something Jack had to say kept
him in such ferment that he could
not wait; so he had called to put
it to the test and win or lose"
But somehow matters did not progress
just as Jack had anticipated. For
when he had told her in his most
manly way how dear she was, and all
that he wanted her to promise, Bah
simply buried her blue eyes in two
limpled little hands and sobbed.
'You wouldn'tl Oh, you wouldn't,
if you knew what, what u ho-orrid
little wretch ] am !" And then, the
ice once broken for the revelation,
she told Jack all the miserable tale.
When SHE got through she waited
was too disgusted with her to speak"
She "knew he would be-" and began
TO sob afresb. This was too much,
and Jack drew away the hot hands
and wet handkerchief to show her his
own eyes, dancing with suppressed
laughter. Didn't you get any mail
tonight ?" he said at last. "No-yes
-not-that is, got a-Oh, never
looked at it ! Some one came in,"
she stammered, wonderingly. "Well,
60 and get it, please, nowW said
Jack, releasing her, to run out aud
return with an envelope, which she
tore hastily open-"Mme. Vaurier's
bill-receipted !" she gasped. "What
does it mean ?" Read, and you will
see," said Jack. Mime. Vaurier hap
pens to be Mildred's milliner as well,
and as she made some purchase the
same date, that you did, the book
keeper has mixed the bills and sent
them TO the wrong brothers, that is
all. My sisters bill is probably
awaiting your brothers return at his
office. Suppose you let the matter go,
as it will be, l hope, but a short time
till may pay all your bills unques-
toned That is for you to say"
1t was answered satisfactorily, no
doubt, for a very rosy little Bah gath
cred herself resolutely together half
hour later and insisted upon taking
the bill into the library, where it
should meet her brothers. eye the
first thing upon his return. A little
later she stood in her clinging, pale
blue dress, leaning against the deep
maroon hangings of the archway
Her dark lashes, in startling contrast
with her yellow hair, almost rested on
her cheeks, trife pale now, as she
realized the serious and sacred sweet
ness of the new tie.
1T is kind of you, Jack, to wish to
shield me from modification at my
own folly, but cannot wear it until
Ernest has forgiven me, and he is the
only one YETI with little shy en-
| phasis), "who has right to buy my
bonnets will not wear 1t to-
morrow"
"Oh, yes, you will, little one," said
a voice behind the red draperies, as
they swung apart, and Ernest Nixon
saught the startled girl in his arms as
he entered the room. at was rather
mean to listen, Jack, but finding bill
for my sisters bonnet, with Your sig
nature, on my table, upon my prema-
ture arrival to- night, ] naturally looked
up prompt solution of the situation.
It's all right, and if you look in before
you leave I'll give you check for
| your autograph"
You may as well hand me my sis
ter's bill, which you will find among
your papers somewhere, at the same
| time" said Jack, laughing.
And the next day two new bonnets
met upon the heads of their fair
owners, with such damage to the
heart of Ernest Nixon that when he
told Jack and Bah later of his success
ful business venture in Philadelphia,
he also added that before next Easter
he proposed that they should eX-
change their sisters bonnet bills per-
manently, q proposition which was
promptly accepted Hartford Times.
A Colony of Journalists.
A number of young married journalists
| In Los Angeles have perfected a scheme