The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-10-23

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tI A34 a. III HI "pon a brass stand.
Ess;Na9'sss s@.~ - "That thing" re-
piled my cousin, proudly, 'is the
very latest Partisan fashion in bon
nets"
| 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 profane 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 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,
"and will show you something that
even your crude male intellect will
appreciate. If you don't say its
lovely I'll never let you inside the
shop again. You may flatten 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 SS6saa5y=iiifgs, saas5y ing, she lifted ggiihgerfy from
the shelfa large hat, and, planting it
upon her pretty head, turned tri-
umphantIy toward me. It was love
ly-quite lovely-a sort of arrange
ment in amethyst velvet and feathers
to match. Being only q miserable
and ignorant male, of course | can't
describe it, but it was uncommonly
becoming, and made Nina look like a
Gainsborough picture. | told her so,
and gushed over it sufficiently to
satisfy her.
Its 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 l 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 yOursclf?'
"Gracious and leave the shop for
whoIe dayat this early stage of its
existence? You guardsmen have no
more idea of business than a baby.
No, Ican't go; but | hope you'll have
lucky day and a good time; and.
Ronald, dear, if you were nice you'd
just look in one day soon and tell
me whatsor of 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 large
and portly matron, g0rgeously ar
rayed, and whose features unmistak-
ably betrayed her Semitic origin,
sailed in and demanded a small
"fower-bonnet,"
That woman in q flower er-bonnet! |
hope, poor soul, that Nina saved her
from herself.
What are you going to do this
afternoon, Ronald?" asked nv moth
er three days later. II wish you to
come and call with me on the Van
derdeckens."
Cant, my dear mother Prom
ised to go and see Nina"
Visions of Miss Vanderdecken, rich
as Cresus, but, oh, so deadly dull,
hastened my movements, and l 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.
1--WE sold it!'' she cried, gleefully;
'just sold it to that nice girl for 5
guineas.
"AwGully 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'tl Who
was wearing it?' she cried, sharply.
'One of our reigning professional
beauties-Lady Loddington.
Lady Loddington!" gasped Nina,
catching hold of the chair behind her.
"Ronald, are you sure you aren't
making any mistaken"
II swear I'm not. She had on O
frock the color of the hat, and she
looked simply ripping. | paid her
all the compliments could think of
in the five minutes | was talking to
her"
"The cheat, the eswindle ofitl" cried
my cousin, white with anger.
MY dear girl calm yourself Pm
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.