The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-10-23
ON APPROX AL.

IN M$s MA lpoklnS with my
aFs-, w 1stick at a bunch Of
FINK @sS grapes poised airily
fM AA w N upon a brass stand.
E,ssNas''<sssss.saSsGs$> ''That thing" re-
piled my cousin, proudly, lis the
very latest Partisan fashion in bon
nets"
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 it's owner with an
exclamation more protane than ap-
propriate.
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 Soudan-set off the lines
of her slender young figure, and
threw hpr 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,
':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 inside the
shop again. You may fatten your
nose against the window, or stroll
disconsolately up and down the
street in vain! No more chats, no
more teas in the back room!"
So saying, she lifted gingerly from
the shelfalarge hat, and, planting it
upon her pretty head, turned tri-
umphantly toward me- It was love-
ly-quite lovely-a sort of arrange
ment 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 a
Gainsborough picture. l told her SO,
and gushed over it sufficiently to
satisfy her.
cts 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. regret
fully, land | would make you buy it
for Ascot tomorrow"
Il wish 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 Gifts
existence? You guardsmen have no
more idea of business than baby.
No, can't go; but hope you'll have
a lucky day and a good time; and.
Ronald, dear, ii you were nice you'd
just look in one day soon and tell
me whatsort of q day you had. Oh,
and be sure you don't forget to no
tice what hats and bonnets people
wore.'
promised to do my best, and
took my leave reluctantly as a large
and portly matron, gorgeously ar
rayed, and whose features unmistak-
ably betrayed her Semitic origin,
sailed in and demanded a small
"fower-bonnet,''
That woman in flower bonnet! I
hope, poor soul, that Nina saved her
from herself.
"What are you going to do this
afternoon, Ronald?" asked my moth
er three days later. II wish you to
come and call with me on the Van
derdeckens.
Cant, my dear mother. Prom
Used to go and see Nina"
Visions OF Miss Vanderdecken, rich
as CrGsus, but, oh, so deadly dull,
FASTENED my movements, and / was
halfway to Oxford street before my
mother could call me back. | found
Nine. Destrier, as my cousin calls
herself, just parting with q customer.
The hat was in her hand.
Eve sold it!'' she cried, gleefully;
'.just sold it to that nice girl for
guineas."
"Awlully glad, I'm sure. But, my
dear girl, I've shock in store for
you. | saw the very model and mar
row of that hat at Ascot the day be-
fore yesterday"
''You couldn't, you couldn't! Who
was wearing it?' she cried, sharply.
Zone Of our reigning professional
beauties-Lndy Loddington."
lady Loddington!" gasped Nina,
catching hold ofthe chair behind her.
Ronald. are you sure you aren't
making any mistaken?
y swear I'm not. She had on a
".