The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-12-31
ON APPROVAL.

What on earth dye call that thingP"
1 asked, poking with my stick at a
bunch of grapes poised airily upon a
brass stand.
THAT thing" replied my cousin,
proudly, lis the very latest Partisan
fashion in bonnets."
l sank back into the little lounge
that ran along the side of the room
you couldn't insult anything so dainty
with the name of ''shop'-and gazed
upon its owner with an exclamation
more profane than appropriate.
1t must at once be confessed that she
was charming object to gaze at.
There was an expression of wicked
amusement in her large gray eyes,
and the black gown she still wore in
mourning for her husband-poor Jack
Henderson, who was killed in the Sou
dan-set off the lines of her slender
young figure, and threw her golden
hair and fair skin prettily into relief.
Pull yourself together, my dear
boy" she continued, opening the door
of an old carved oak cabinet, land I
will show you something that even
your crude male intellect will appre-
ciate. If you don't say its lovely I'll
never let you inside the shop again.
You may fiatten your nose against the
window, or stroll disconsolately up
and down the street in vain! No more
chats, no more teas in the back roomr'
So saying, she lifted gingerly from
the shelf large hat, and, planting it
upon her pretty head, turned trump
antly toward me. 1t was lovely
quite lovely-a sort of arrangement in
amethyst velvet and feathers to match.
Being only miserable and ignorant
male, of course can't describe it, but
it was uncommonly becoming. and
made Nina look like Gainsborough
picture. l told her so. and gushed
over it sufficiently to satisfy her.
'1t's my own idea, shape and all,
and there isn't another like it in the
world. may possibly copy it, but
I'm not sure. It depends upon who
buys it. How 1 wish you were a
woman, Ronald" she sighed. regret
fully, land l would make you buy it
for Ascot tomorrow
Il wish l were, my dear. But why
don't you go and wear it yourself?"
Gracious! and leave the shop for a
whole day at this early stage of its ex-
istence! You guardsmen have no
more idea of business than a baby.
No, 1 can't go; but I hope you'll have
a lucky day and good time; and.
Ronald, dear, if you were nice you'd
just look in one day soon and tell me
what sort of day you had. Oh, and be
sure you don't forget to notice what
hats and bonnets people wore"
Ipromised to do my best, and took
my leave reluctantly as a large and
portly matron, gorgeousiy arrayed,
and whose features Enthusiastically be-
trayed her Semitic origin, sailed in and
demanded a small 'fower-bonnet."
That woman in q fower-bonnet!
hope, poor soul, that Nina saved her
from herself.
What are you going to do this
afternoon, Ronald?" asked my mother
three days later. II wish you to come
and call with me on the Wander
DICKENS"
Cant, my dear mother. Promised
to go and see Nina"
Visions of Miss Vanderdecken, rich
as Cresus, but, oh, so deadly dull.
fastened my movements, and | was
half way to Oxford street before my
mother could call me back. l found
Nine. Destrier. as my cousin calls her
self, just parting with a customer.
The hat was in her hand.
''Ive sold itr' she cried, gleefully;
'just sold it to that nice girl for 5
guineas."
lawfully glad, I'm sure. But, my
dear girl, I've shock in store for you.
I saw the very model and marrow of
that hat at Ascot the day before yes
terday."
"You couldn't, you couldn't! Who
was wearing it?" she cried. sharply.
Zone of our reigning professional
beauties-Lady Loddington.n
Lady Loddingtonr' gasped Nina,
catching hold of the chair behind her.
"Ronald, are you sure you aren't max
ing any mistaken"
II swear I'm not. She had on
frock the color of the hat, and she
looked simply ripping. paid her all
the compliments l could think of in the
five minutes was talking to her."
THE cheat, the swindle of it!'' cried
my cousin. white with anger.
MY dear girl, calm yourself! I'm
sorry for you, but great minds, as you
know, will jump, and some other
clever woman has had the same idea
as you"
Nina was past taking any notice of
the insulting suggestion. She seemed
thoroughly upset by the coincidence,
and looked as if she were going to cry.
s'Why did 1 ever 90 into business?
she cried. miserably. '1ts simply
awful to get behind the scenes like this
and find out how mean women-well-
bred women, who ought to know bet
! ter-can be. We were all brought up
with the old-fashioned noblesse oblige
| ideas. Ron-you were too-and 1t
seems to me now that there is hardly
any one in society who has notion OF
honor and dignity, as we used to I'M
derstand the terms. Society! After
all, rm thankful Pm more or less out
of it. It's just herd of people. push
ing, struggling, selling everything for
notoriety and money"
Hear, hear! Your sentiments.
madame, are mine. But don't think
they should be wasted on the mere
| fact that some other woman has made
a hat like yours"
"She hasn't" cried Nina, indig
nantly. Lady Loddington was wear.
ing this very hat! Listen; I'll tell yor
the whole story. The same afternoon
YOU called a woman came in, beautl
fully dressed, and asked to see some
hats. l saw who she was, though
never met her. don't want to NEE
her." savagely; zone sees quite enough
of her in all the shop windows.
lone does,'' remarked, sotto voce
'She wanted hat the color of thi
one; so brought it out and showed i
to her, and told her the price. and ex
planned why it was so expensive. oh
! / don't mind giving that for the hat,