The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-08-31
miscellaneous.
BAB'S SPRING BONNET.

"Confound 1t, Bah, l haven't ten dollars 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 round
shoulder turned petulantly away from him
and after waiting moment for q word or q
smile from its owner in 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 furtively
above scrap oflinen cambria crumpled into
q limp wsd, by two babyish, dimpled hands
then the other eye came out, until finally the
whole disheveled head was held defiantly
erect.
The general storminess of the domestic
atmosphere seemed to have crept even into
Bsb's saucy yellow bangs, which fluffed and
crisped in unexpected kinks about the pref
ty low brow and white temples, as the silky
fuzz about q 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 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: 81 don't carel l.
do--not-carep with emphasis. "If can
not have new bonnet won't 60 with Jack
and his sister, whom 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 | Butch
sr's bill, indeed Jack always notices, too,
and he'll be sure to see how perfectly NANCY
oil hltra faath tnD III hta
sister is sure to have something straight from
Paris If could only make two ribbons and
a bit of jet look as ravishing. as Kate Arbuckle
does, my bonnets wouldn't cost so much,
but can't and don't carel
II should think Ernest might let me get
trusted for one just this once, as long as he
is going to get me bonnet in little while
any way. mean to ask him this very morn.
ing, and 1t won't do any harm to stop on the
way to the office and see what Mime. Vaurier
has that will suit me. Then can tell Ern-
est how much 1t will cost.'
Foolish little Barbara flew about the dain-
ty nest which the dear elder brother had
sheltered her in through all their orphaned
years, giving an approving nod at her trim
sailor made gown Of brown as she passed
the long mirror on her way out to interview
Nine. Vaurer about the much desired bon
net.
"Just the thing for you. 1t came last
night. Lzette, bring the odd, blue affair,
for Mile. Nixon" Truly, was 1t not 'just
the thingf" And oh, how blue her eyes and
how sunny her eyes shone under the ex-
quisitely 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 hesita-
ton. ut made no difference at all" she as
sured Barbara, "whether the bonnet was
paid for now or In two months" She could
not sell 1t to any one else without being dis
satisfied, having seen 1t above mademoisee's
golden hair" The bill would "be In the
box to be paid when her brother pleased"
aud 30 little Barbara went out sure that her
bonnet was above criticism, but not quite 80
sure that her management of the matter
would bear as satisfactory inspection when
[ she told Ernest. As she ran down Mime.
| Vaurier'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 approval after her from his dark
eyes, passed up the steps with his sister.
"Now, 10 tell Ernest" thought Bah, as she
laid aside her wraps and prepared to greet
her brothers return with dinner of his
especial viands, that should make him as wax
| In her hands.
! The dinner hour came, and Barbara, fresh
as q rose in her soft wool gown, was ready
TO "fess up" and be forgiven. But when
after waiting long thirty minutes beyond
time messenger came instead, with hur.