Wichita eagle., 1889-02-09
BAB'S SPRING BONNET.
a Real Love of a Thing, and It's
Romantic Story.

J COulOuuu III, DdU, i udpSu tcu uOlldIS
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 a moment for word or
smile from its ownerin 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
abovea scrap of linen cambria crumpled into
q limp wad, by two babyish, dimpled hands;
then the other eye came out, until finally
the whole disheveled head was held def
antly erect.
The general storminess of the domestic
atmosphere seemed to have crept even into
Bab's saucy yellow bangs, which duffed and
crisped II unexpected kinks about the pref
ty low brow and white temples, as the
silky fuzz about baby's head is won't 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 abeut her blue eyes. Up
few the dimpled hand to push them aside,
as very cross young voice cried: 81 don't
care! I-do-not-care with emphasis.
eff can not have new bonnet won't go
with Jack and his sister, whom l never
saw. think Ernest Is perfectly mean, so
therel As if l wasn't Of as much impor-
tance as the nasty, bloody meat that he eats,
bah! Butchers bill, indeed! Jack always
notices, too, and he'll be sure to see how
perfectly NANCY my old blue feathers are
getting, and his sister is sure to have some
thing straight from Paris If | could only
make two ribbons and bit of jet look as
ravishing as Kate Arbuckle does, my bon
nets wouldn't cost SO much, but can't, and
| don't care!
Il 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
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 Nine.
Vaurier has that will suit me. Then 1 can tell
Ernest how much it will COST
Foolish little Barbara few about the dam
ty nest which the dear elder brother had
sheltered her in through all their orphaned
years, giving an approving nod at her trim
saiior-made gown Of brown as she passed
the long mirror on her way out to interview
Nine Vaurier about the much-desired bon
net.
Just the thing for you. It came last
night. Lizette, bring the odd, blue affair,
for Nile. Nixon" Truly, was it not "just
the thingl" And oh, how blue her eyes and
how sunny her eyes shone under the ex-
ouisitely 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. at made no difference at ALL" she
assured Barbara, whether the bonnet was
maid for now or in two months She ''could
not sell it to any one else without being dis
satisfied, having seen it above mademoi-
selle's golden hair The bill would be
in the box to be paid when her brother
pleased" and so little Barbara went out sure
that her bonnet was above criticism, but not
quite so sure that her management Of the
matter would bear as satisfactory inspec-
ton when she told Ernest. As she ran
down Nine. 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 a glance of approval after her
from his dark eyes as 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 dinner
of his especial visnds, that should make him
as wax in her hands
The dinner hour came, and Barbara, fresh
as rose IN her soft wool gown, was ready
to Tess up and be forgiven But when
after waiting long thirty minutes beyond
time a messenger came instead. with hur-
rieS >ote: Of for Philadelphia. Send my
traps after me: care of wales Brothers,
1914 Chestnut street VIII write,n her
heart sank Now. what was to be donel
Clearly there was nothing except TO write
and tell him all about it So the next day
Ernest's bag was packed and forwarded,
and a peuItert letter went By the first mail
to Philadelphia
Dav after Oar went By and no letter
came in reply. No word from Ernest of any
kind; as though TO emphasize his dispieas-
ure. Aunt Valerie, who was always ready
in an emergency came 20 stay with her. and
then the great storm shut down al comm1-
nicas;en from other cities. and poor. mis-
era,Ae little Bah was left to imagine al
possible and impossible ca,ar-ities as hsv-
ing befalIen her brother. Some delay In
sending home the bonnet had been re
uuested by Bsresr., WIN was little uncer-
tain as 10 whs. Ernesss rigid sense OF ics-
tee would pco-pt him TO do. and then the
storm further delsyed the delivery Of the
tsli-tsle box
But finally i cam e, and Bah locked her
self into her room TO open II with a "cread-
fully gene feeling as she afterwards ae-
scribed il Sue took 01 the soft layers OF
white paper, cut CT which fell the ball Shs
lifted it mechanically. Fifteen dollars"
We're the figures she lad sean on tho oox
when madame sooL il oC.. AID Ernest hsd
SAID he had net -fe1-" On what
wscxed selfish Va Oh My eoo-ood0ess.n