Connecticut western news., 1891-04-29
ON APPROVAL


 ON APPROVAL.
 "What on earth dye call that thingY' I asked. pohng with my stick at bunch of grapes poised airily upon 8 brass stand.
 ''That thing, replied my cousin proud ly, "is the very latest Parisian fashion 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"-and gazed upon its owner with an exclamation moro pro- fane than appropriate.
 It 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 mourn ing for her husband-poor Jack Tender son, who was killed in the Soudan-set of the lines of her slender young figure, and threw her golden hair and fair skin prettily into relief.
 "Pun yourself together, my dear boy" !" she continued, opening the door of an old carved oak cabinet, "and I 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 hatten your nose against the window, or stroll disconsolately up and down the street in vainl No more chats, no more teas in the back 9bomr' --.
 So saying, she lifted gingerly from the shelf large hat, and planting it upon her pretty head turned triumphantly to- ward me. It was lovely-quite lovely 8 sort of arrangement in amethyst vel vet and feathers tomatch. Being only 8 miserable and ignorant male of course I can't describe it, but it was uncom- monly becoming, and made Nina look like Gainsborough picture. I told her so and gushed over it sufficiently to sat- isfy her.
 "It's my own idea, shape and all, and there isn't another like it in the world. I may possibly copy it, but I'm not sure. It depends upon who buys it. How I wish you were a woman, Ronald!" she 6ASAC0 1CSICt4tu1y, aAo WOu1u IudhO you buy it for Ascot to-morrow?"
 ''I wish I were, my dear. But why don't you go and wear it yourselfT'
 "Gracious! and leave the shop for a whole day at this early stage of its ex- istence? You guardsmen have .no more idea of business than baby. No, can't go; but hope you'll have a lucky day and 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 get to notice what hats and bonnets peo- pie wore."
 Ipromised to do my best, and took my leave reluctantly as large and portly matron, gorgeously arrayed, and whose features unmistakably betrayed her Se- mitic origin, sailed in and demanded a small ssfower bonnet"
 That woman in 8 flower bonnet! hope, poor soul, that Nina saved her from herself.
 "What are you going to do this after noon, RonaldY' asked my mother, three days later. 'I wish you to come and call with me on the Vanderdeckens."
 Cant. my dear mother. Promised to go and see Nina"
 Visions of Miss Vanderdecken, rich as Crusus, but ohl so deadly dull, hastened my movements, and was half way to Oxford street before my mother could call me back. I found Mime. Destrier, as my cousin calls herself, just parting with customer The hat was in her hand.
 five sold it" she cried gleefully; "just sold it to that nice girl for five guineas."
 "Awfully glad. I'm sure. But, my dear girl, I've shock in store for you. I saw the very model and marrow of that hat at Ascot the day before yester- day"
 'sYou couldn't, you couldn't! Who was wearing it?' she cried sharply.
 ."One of our reigning professional beau ties-Lady Loddington."
 ''Lady Loddingtonr' gasped Nina, catching hold of the chair behind her. Ronald, are you sure you aren't mak- ing any mistakeT
 .ssI swear I'm not. She had on frock the color of the hat, and she looked sim ply ripping. Ipaid her all the compi. ! 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 same idea as you"
 Nina was past taking any notice of the insulting suggestion. She seemed thor oughly upset by the coincidence, and looked as if she were going to cry.
 "Why did I ever go into business? she cried miserably; 'sit's simply awfu to get behind the scenes like this anl find out how mean women-weu bret women who ought to know better-ca1 be. We were all brought up with thu old fashioned noblesse obige ideas. Ro1 you were too-and it seems to m, now that there is hardly any one in so ciety who has notion of honor and dig nity, as we used to understand tn terms. Society! After all Pm than6u I'm moro 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 1 don't think the, should be wasted on the mere fact tha some other woman has made a hat hk yoars-"
 s'She hasn'tr' cried Nina indignantly "Lady Loddington was wearing this yer. hat! Listen, I'll tell you the whole story The same afternoon you called lad came in beautifully dressed and aske' to see some hats. saw who she was thoueh I've never met her, don't wan to meet her," savagely; "one sees quit saaaGA 8 hs iu all ths shop windnA