Mohave County miner., 1888-07-07
BAB'S SPRING BONNET.

..Confcund Il. Bah. J haven't BIO In the
world. and the butchers blu came In
yesterday Cheer up. little gsri, and never
mind the new bonp~t jack Smelling must
DO no end OF cad II he minds what kind
Of frame your dear little face looks oui
Of. The big brother Of Bah Nixon ended
his words with gentle touch upon
round shoulder turned petulanily away
from him. and after waiting a moment for
q word or smile from It's owner to vain
his face clouded slightly and he passed
quickly out Of the breakfast room
As the sound OF his step died away one
dismally wet blue eye appeared furtivcly
above o scrap OF linen cambric crumpled
into limp wad. by two babyish, dimpled
hands. then the other eye came out. until
finally the whole dishevsled head was held
defantly erect.
The general stormineSs Of the domestic
atmosphere seemed 70 have crept even
into Bab's saucy yellow bangs. which
gufied and crisped In unexpected kinks
about the pretty low brow and white tenn
pies. as the silky fuzz about baby's head
Il wont to disport itself A breeze came
in Just then through the open window
thrown up to let In the premature balni
ness Of the sunny March morning. and
blew some of the loose locks intrusively
about her blue eyes Upnsw the dimpIed
hand to push them aside. - very cross
young yoice cried II don't carei lido
mot csrsi" with emphasis III cannoi
have new bonnet won't 60 with Jack
and his sister. whom | never saw !
think Ernest IL perfectly mean. 20 there
AS II wasn't Of as much importance as
the nasty, bloody meat that he eats, bah
Butchers bill. indeed Jack always no
tices, too, and he'll be sure to see how
perfectly NANCY my old bluo feathers are
getting, and his sister b sure to have
something straight from Parisl II Icould
only make two ribbons and = bit Of JET
look ss rayishing as Kate Arbuckls does.
my bonnets wouldn't cost 30 mush. but J
can't, and don't carel
II should think Ernest might Let me get
trusted for ono just this once. as long as
he Is going to got me bonnet In little
while, anyway. mean TO ask him this
very morning. and It won't do any harm
to stop on the way to the Office and see
what Mime. vaurier has that win suit
me Thsa can tell Ernest how much II
will cost"
Foolish little Barbara 6ew about the
dainty nest which the dear elder brothes
had sheltered hsr In through all Their
orphaned years, giving an approving nod
at her trim tailor made gown Of brown .,
she passed the long mirror on her way on,
| 10 interview Nine vaurier about The
much desired bonnet.
Just the thing for you. II came Last
night. Lizette. bring the odd blue affaiI
for Mile. Nixon" Truly. was It not '.jus,
the thingY" And OIL how blue her eye
and how sunny her hair shone under ths
exquisitely pretty structure which
madame nestled with assured touche,
upon her head. She really never knew how
tho matter came about Perhaps madam.
talked too volubly to hear her objection
or mark her hesitation. "rt msds M
| difference at ALL" she assured Barbara
whether the bonnet was paid To-
4 now or In two months." She ''could no
sell IL TO any ono else without being dis
satisfied. having seen II above mademoi
selle's golden hair" The bill would ''b'
In the box to be paid when her brothe
| pleased and 80 little Barbara went ou
sure that her bonnet was above criticism
but not quite 30 sure that her manage
ment of the matter would bear as salts
factory inspection when she told Ernest
As she ran down Nine. vaurier's broa,
stone steps. hat was lifted by some on
who stood by an open coupe In front. I
was Jack Smelling, who shot glance o
approval after her from his dark eyes q
he passed . the steps with his sister.
Now to ell Ernest. thought Bah. q
she laid aside her wraps and prepared Il
greet her brothers return with dinne
Of his especial viands. that should maxi
him as wax In her hands
The dinner hour came, and Barbara
fresh a. rose In her soft wool gown. va
ready to " Tess up" and be forgiven Blu
when. after waiting long thirty minute
beyond the time, q messenger came In
stead with hurried note: "OG for Phil
adelphisA Send my traps after me. car
Wales I,ros.. 1914 Chestnut street WI
write. her heart sank Now. what was 4
be donei Clearly there was nothing ex
cept to write and tell him all about II
SO the next day Ernest's bag was packe
and forwarded. and q penitent letter wen
by the frst mail to Philadelphia
| Day after day went by and no letts
came In reply. No word from Ernest Q
any kind. as though TO emphasize his dis
pleasure. Aunt Valerie. who was alway
ready In an emergency, came to stay wit
her. and then the great storm shut dow
all communication from other cities, an
poor. miserable little Bah was left I
imagine oil possible and impossible calam
tiles as having befallen her brother. Som
. delay In sending home the bonnet ha
been requested by Barbara, who was
little more uncertain as to what Ernest
rigid sense Of justice would prompt hir
to do, and then the storm further delaye
J the delivery Of the tell tale box.
But finally It came, and Bah locked bel
self Into her room TO open It with
"dreadfully gone feeling" - she sftel
, ward described It. She took Of tho sol
layer OF white paper. out Of which fell th
bill Sho lifted 1t mechanically "F
teen dollars" were the figures she ha
. seen on tho box wher madame took