The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-04-03

Harrison blue?"
"No-o."
'Terra cotta?"
Mr.. Kesterson wiped his forehead. He
feared his friend was laughing 1T him
and he was becoming desperate.
YES" he murmured, II think that's
it-terra-cotta."
lob, then this must be it," and she
brought from the showcase . trim little
bonnet.
HAS it tips? She said the one she
preferred had tips"
Dear me, yes" replied the saleslady,
as she smilingly revolved the bonnet
before his ignorant eyes.
''All right then. Give me q couple of
cards" On one he wrote the address
and on the other, with my dear love.
Philemon"
GLOW much?" he asked.
twenty-five dollars"
Kesterson gasped, but he went he
roically down in his pocket and counted
out the sum.
Think I'll take that one for Dora, "
said Kent, indicating an esthetic hat in
the window. And when he had paid for
it and given the address he and Kester.
son walked out and over to Kinsley's,
where on the strength of their good
deeds they treated themselves to very
choice luncheon. Meanwhile the in
telligent and discriminating saleslady
boxed and forwarded Mrs. Philemon
Kesterson's terra-cotta bonnet to that
lady, but Enclosed Mrs. Philemon Kes-
terson's card with Mrs. Charley Kent's
green velvet hat
''Not at homer"
mo, ma'am, bet she will be soon.
Won't you step in and waite"
Mrs. Kesterson besitated. She was
fatigued. The parlor beyond with it's
ruby portieres, its sparkling little fire,
its general air Of comfort and coziness,
was most inviting. So she went in.
Mrs. Kent said she would be back by
four" said the servant, and then she
drew: the portieres and went away: Mrs.
Kesterson, seated by the piano, pretty
as picture, in her moire street suit,
looked critically around the room, a
women have trick of doing when alone.
Her glance fell ON peculiar-shaped
parcel on the sofa. "A new bonnet!"
She got up and walked toward it. "From
Palmer's. How should love to SEQ it!
I believe shall take peep. Dora and
I are 80 intimate she won't mind" So,
accordingly, two small, gloved hands
snapped the cord, removed the paper,
took off the cover, and unswathed from
its tissue-paper wrappings green vel
vet hat all trimmed with surah and
curly tips.
'Oh!" she cried, ''my hat!' For in i'm
agination it had already been hers. She
stopped to pick up the card which had
fallen on the rug. In blank astonish-
ment she read the line thereon. In
wild suspicion she reread it. In IN
agony of doubt bewilderment, misery,
she perused it again. Her husband had
sent Dora the very hat she had de-
scribed to him! Hadn't she heard ru-
mors of his having been attentive to
Dora long ago? But now! that was his
writing-and his name! with his dear
love-oh! But Dora would be return
ing soon! In feverish hurry Mrs Kes.
terson restored the hat and card to their
places in tho box and tied up the latter.
Then she drew down her vail, let her
self softly out Of the house and hurried
home. There she found awaiting her
the terra-cotta bonnet. He didn't in.
close any card to mel" she commented,
bitterly. 'Oh, no! Just sent me this
ugly old thing"
When Philemon, radiant at the pros
pect of his reception, entered his home
that night he was confronted by q red
eyed, irresponsible and resentful little
lady.
'.W-what is it, dearest? Didn't you
get the-the hat?"
mo, I didn't get the hat" retorted
his wife, with singing emphasis on
the pronoun which was quite lost on