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

in the five minutes I was talking to
her." ri
"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 Co
incidence, and looked as if she were
going to cry.
why did ever so into business?''
she cried ,miserably. 'sIt's simplyaw-
full to get behind the scenes like this
and find out how mean women.
Well-bred women, who ought to know
better-can be. We we're all brought
up with the fashioned ncblesse
oblige ideas. Ron-you were too
and it seems to me now that there is
hardly any one in society who has a
notion OF honor and dignity, as we
used to understand the terms. So
ciety! After all, I'm thankful I'm
more or less out of it. It's just q
herd of people, pushing, struggling,
selling everything for notoriety and
money"
Hear, hear! Your sentiments
madame, are mine But l 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
wearing this very hat! Listen; I'll
tell you the whole story. The same
afternoon you called, a woman came
in, beautifully dressed, and asked to
see some hats. saw who she was,
though [ never met her. 1 don't
want to meet her." savagely; zone
sees quite enough of her in all the
shop windows
lone does" I remarked, soto
voice.
''She wanted a hat the color of
this one; so [ brought it out and
showed it to her, and told her the
price, and explained why it was so
expensive. 'Oh, [ don't mind giving
that for the hat she said; it is we'll
worth it. | am quite in love with it,
Nine. Destrier, but daren't buy it
without letting my husband see it.
He is SO very particular about what
I wear. Could l have it sent round
tonight for him to look at? I would
let you know some time tomorrow
whether | would take it or not OF
course, | said [ should be glad to
send it, and she gave me the address.
and the hat went round there that
evening. Last night she sent it back,
and said she was very sorry, but
Lord Loddington didn't think it
suited her. I thought it looked
little tumbled, but one has to run
those risks when one sends goods on
approval. She had determined to
have that hat just to wear for the
one day, and she was too mean to get
it honestly"
"Of course, you'll have it out with
her-you'll expose her?" | said.
/ was as angry and DISCUS ted as.
Nina, who stood opposite me, with
her pretty eyes and cheeks flaming
with honest Indignation.
"My dear boy, | would if dared,
but l can't afford to. It would
drive half my customers away from
me, and I must think of Hugo and
Giles. They don't cost much while
they are such TIMES. but want to
give them every advantage, the dar-
lings, and [ was left SO badly of, and
the business is just beginning to pay
SO WE'LL [ daren' t run the risk of ex-
posing Lady Loddington's mean
ness"
! 81 had forgotten your children.
No, | see it won't do. Trust me to
give her a mauvais quart d'heure',
| if get chance
Promise you'll be careful. Think
of the boys
II won't injure the dear little
chaps, you best OF mothers.
"Well, in that case, | only hope
/ fortune may favor YOU
| Fortune did favor me at last, but
she kept me waiting till the autumn,
like the tickle lady she always is. NV
chance came in this wise. NV uncle
asked me up to his place i'll Scotland
for shooting, and | went. The old
gentleman is very connoisseur Of
beauty and every pretty woman of
note is bound to be asked to D. soon
err or later. I got there in time TO
dress hurriedly, aad appear in the
draWing-room just as my uncle was
telling every one whom they were to
take in. l was introduced to.some
girl haven a notion who she was
but II gave hermy arm, and took her
down to dinner, murmuring common
places on the way. The truth is | was
half famished with my journey, and
my one idea was dinner 1t was not till
| was well on with the fish stage that
/ looked at my left-hand neighbor.
1t was Lady Loddington herself.
II haven't seen you since we met
at Ascot" she remarked pleasantly.
She certainly is a most lovely worn
an, by the way. started blankly,
and she went on, with an air Of we'll
acted reproacl:
/ Il believe you have forgotten we
ever met there"
l. Horo woe n, =, ~, q mo. r rr;,ool - sss