The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-28
ON APPROVAL

AJs 10 OuO NCl AaOSSb olAoAaA LbSAAOu
in bonnets."
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"-.gnd gazed upon its
owner with an excla nation moro pro-
fame than appropriate.
1t must at once be confessed that she
was a charming Of ject to gaze at.
There was an exp ession Of wicked
amusement in her E.rge gray eyes, and
the black gown she st II wore in mourn
ing for her husband poor Jack Hender-
son, who was killed in the Soudan-set
off the lines of her slender young figure,
and threw her golden hair and fair skin
9rettily into relief.
Pull yourself together, my dear boy,
she continued, opening the door of an
old carved oak cabinet, ''and will show
you something that even your crude
male intellect will appreciate. If you
don't say it's lovely I'll never let you in
side the shop again. You may fatten
your nose against the window, or stroll
disconsolately up and down the street
in vainl No more chats, no more teas i'll
the back room"
So saying, she lifted gingerly from the
shelf a large hat, and planting it upon
her pretty head turned triumphantly to-
ward me. 1t was lovely-quite lovely
sort of arrangement in amethyst vel
vet and feathers tomatch. Being only a
miserable and ignorant male Of course
l can't describe it, but it was uncom-
monty becoming, and made Nina look
hike Gainsborough picture. told her
30 and gushed over it sufficiently to sat-
isfy her.
ats 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.
1t depends upon who buys it. How
wish you were a woman, Ronald!' she
sighed regretfully, ''and would make
you buy it for Ascot tomorrow
81 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 guardsinen have no more
;dea of business than a baby. No, /
can't go; but hope you'll have lucky
aay and a 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 for
yet to notice what hats and bonnets peo-
pie wore"
Ipromised to do my best, and took my
leave reluctantly as a large and portly
matron, gorgeously arrayed, and whose
features Enthusiastically betrayed her Sc
mite origin, sailed in and demanded a
mall flower bonnet"
That woman in flower bonnet!
hope, poor soul, that Nina saved her
from herself.
What are you going to do this after
noon, Ronald2" asked my mother, three
days later. Il wish you to come and
call with me ON the Nanderdeckens."
Cant. my dear mother. Promised
to go and see Nina"
Visions of Miss Vanderdecken, rich as
Crosus, but oh! so deadly dull, fastened
my movements, and was half way to
Oxford street before my mother could
call me back | found Mime. Destrier,
rs my cousin calls herself, just parting
with customer. The hat was in her
hand.
GIVE sold it." she cried gleefully; lust
sold it to that nice girl for five guineas."
lawfully glad, I'm sure. But, my
dear girl, I've shock in store for you.
/ saw the very model and marrow of
that hat at Ascot the day before yester-
day."
'You couldn't, you couldn't! Who
was wearing it" she cried sharply.
lone Of our reigning professional beau
ties-Lady Loddington.
Lady Loddington" gasped Nina,
catching hold of the chair behind her.
Ronald, are you sure you aren't max
ing any mistake:
Il swear I'm not. She had on frock
the color of the hat, and she looked SIM
ply ripping. paid her all the compi-
ments / could think Of in the five min
utes / 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 some idea as you"
Nina was past taking any notice Of the
insulting suggestion. She seemed thor
Dughly upset by til coincidence, and
looked as if she were going TO cry.
"Why did l ever go into business
she cried miserably; its simply awful
TO get behind the sosneS like this and
find out how mean women-well bred
women who ought 70 know better-can
be. We were all brought up with the
old fashioned noblesse oblige ideas. Ron
you were toO-an it seems TO me
now that there is h.rily any one in So
ciety who has a MOTTO I of honor and dig
nifty, as we used L. understand the
terms. Society! After all I'm thankful
I'm more or less out of it. It's Just
herd of people. pushing, struggling. sell
ing everything for notoriety and money"
Hear, hear! Your sentiments. mad
am, are mine. But l don't think they
should be wasted on the mere fact that
some other woman has made hat hike
yours"
''She HASN'T" cried Nina Indignantly.
Lady Loddington was wearing this very
hat Listen. I'll tell you the whole story.