River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-03-28
A SENSIBLE BONNET.
1t Brought Something More Of
Worth Than Gold.
II am readv. Harry. -

IT am ready, Harry"
Harry Cleveland raised his eyes from
his paper. and quickly there came a
cOmical expression on his handsome,
bronzed face. and after surveying with
wonderful eyes his sister for half
minute, he asked:
What in the name OF common sense
have you got on your head. Nettie?"
why. my bonnet. OF course, Is it
not a beauty The latest style"
1T ought to BE- the last Of that style!
Pom my word. Nettie. I've not the
moral courage to walk down town with
you with that concern on.
You verdaut youth Please to re-
member you have been away from civ
ilizatiOn for five years. ! really sup
pose you expected Ia see me with"
Only Just "a sensible bonnet on. /
declare, Nettie. the boys will take aft
er Us. OH ildeed / can't! Have you
nothing else difcreut?-I mean that
you can wear
I've nothing ! viii wear. Every
lady who prctends TO dress respectfully
wears these bonnets. Don't you know?
Oh, / forgot only arrived in
New York late yesterday. and came
right through To- Us. l suppose you
We're too tired and sleepy TO notice the
b0nuets in the car with you. Did you
really expect 10 see me with a soup
plate turned upside down on my head.
or a cottage or Quaker style?
forget which we were wearing when
you went away Nettic said. survey
ing with a welI-pleased expression the
tower Of ribbon. lace, feathers and
flowers reflected in the mirror.
Very well. Nettie ! shall send
James. and order carriage. / can
not walk down town with you with
that get-up on. IwilI have to come to
it gradually. did notice one bonnet
in the car, aud more particularly, the
sweet face in il.
In it, Well, that sounds too funny!
A face in bonnet would be something
surely to warrant the boys taking after
the one who went out So" said Nettie.
laughing.
..Nettie. il you viii put OF that
concern. and wear pretty. sensible
bonnet. will give you fifty dollars"
..Why, Harry. | would not appear in
public with such bOnuet as would
please you. for, we'll, not five times
fifty dollars
Cousin Harry. ( wish you would
make me that offer. shall order my
nh I..,,.,..t - E-- ,..,r,,, 81, e. f,-,-I,
minnie voice.
''All right. Claire You order
pretty. little cottage bonnet, the color
TO suit yourself. and wear it to the
music Saturday afternoon, and fifty
dollars are yours.
Nettie pouted. and murmured some
thing like .'OId maid
.'Oh, Ncttic," 5 aid her brother. in
rcproachful tone.
i don't care. Claire. l believe, Just
likes 10 look as old maidish as pos
sibIc. I've wondered many times that
she did not enter some religious order.
She only wants the money you will
give her for some Of her char"
..Nettie. this is very unlIind. Please
say no more al ut it," Claire said. in
low tone. Der sweet. pale face bend
ing lower over the sewing she held.
Nettic just then caught sight of a
friend passing on the opposite side of
the street
There is MAY Carson. | will 60
down town with her. You may go
with Claire. Harry; she'll fix up 20 suit
you. Ncttic said. and darted ont OF
the room.
Tt-~e was silence for few mo-
mcuts. during which time Harry's
eyes rested with troubled IMPRESSION
on his cousin
Claire. he said, nj length. Il am
going 10 take a cousins or rather
brothers privilege, and ask you a
question. You have always been as
dear 10 me as Nejtic. Now. tell me
what came between you and Warren
FORESTER, ] ann sure he loved you.
Where is Inc nOw2'
Clairc's face flushed painfully. as she
answered.
~ do not know absent from W.
You are mistaken, Harry. am sure
lie never loved me. or Inc could never
have doubted me.
Il can not believe otherwise. Claire.
] have his own words Tor it. He told
me 50 "a few nights before he went
North. 10 nit. nd the lectures
Il Will ..cIuowledCs. Harry. !
thought 50. But he never told me 50,
although he took a sort of quiet pos
session az me. never went with any
ono but him: in fact. no one else ever
invited me. There seemed a quiet un-
d,-ztandinc ali around. After he went
away. ! received letters constantly,
twice a week.
Excuse me. dear Claire. And those
letters-what was the lone2"
Not so loving as yours, Harry!
"Oh. welI Claire. his is q different
nature. You know the old saying:
still water runs deep.' | suppose
Warren did not wish TO bind you BY
any engagement until the time was
near when he could claim you. Inever
heard Of his ever paying any attention
TO any other girl, or even calling on
any.
You forget Julia Cameron"
..Well, she is a cousin.
a very distant one
Perhaps she would not mind oc-
cupying a nearer relationship. never
liked her. But tell me more Of him.
when he returned home, he came
here Immediately. welcomed him as
cordially rs could Tn, parior was
full OF friends, William Barclay among
them. / accompanied him to the door
when he left. and ! am sure he must
have known hOE much re!oiced in his
retuFnl