The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-23
On APPROVAL
Why Lady Loddington Is Owl to a
Common Man.

what on earth dye call that thing
I asked, pozing with nay stick at =
bunch Of grapes poised airily upon =
brass stand.
THAT thing" replied my cousin,
proudly, lis the very latest Partisan
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
more profane than appropriate.
1t must at once be confessed that she
was a 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 pretsily into relief.
Pull yourself together, my dear
boy" she continued, opening the door
of an old carved oak cabinet land I
will show you something that even
your crude male intellect will appre-
ciate II you don't say it's lovely III
never let you inside the shop again.
You may f1atten your nose against the
window or stroll disconsolately up and
down the street in vainl No moro
chats, no more teas in the back room,
Ronaldr
So saying. she lifted gingerly from
the shelf large hat, and, placing it
upon her pretty head, turned triumph
.antly toward me.
1t was lovely-quite lovely-a sort of
arrangement in amethyst velvet and
feathers to match. Being only a mis-
cradle and ignorant male, of course 1
can't describe it; but it was uncon-
monty becoming and made Nina look
like a Gainsborough picture. / told
her so and gushed over It sufficiently
to satisfy her.
''It's my own idea, shape and all. and
there isn't another like 1t in the world.
l may possibly copy it, but Pm not
sure. 1t depends upon who buys 1t.
How l wish you were a woman, Ro-
naldl' she sighed. regretfully. -Iwould
make you buy 1t for Ascot tomorrow"
81 wish l were, my dear. But why
don't you 60 and wear it yourself?''
"Graciousl and leave the shop for a
whole day at this early stage of its ex-
istencei You guardsmen have no more
idea of business than a baby. No.
can't 60; but ! hope you'n have lucky
day and good time, and Ronald, dear,
If you were nice you'd just look in one
day soon and tell mo what sort OF day
you had Oh, and be sure you don't
forget to notice what hats and bonnets
people wear"
promised to do my best and took
portly m atron, gorgeously arrayed-
and whose features Enthusiastically be-
trayed her Semitic origin, sailed in and
small Flower bonnet"
That voman in q flower bennett I
hope, poor soul. that Nina saved her
from herself.
What are you going to do this after
noon, Ronald?' asked my mother three
days later. II wish you to como and
call with me on the Vanderdeckens."
Cant, my dear mother. Promised
to go and see Nina"
Visions of Miss Vanderdecken, rich
as Crosus, but oh, so deadly dulll has
tened my movements, and I was half
way to Oxford street before my mother
could call me back. l found Nine.
Destrier, as my cousin calls herself,
just parting with q customer. The.
hat was in her hand.
I've sold it," she cried, gleefully,
Just sold it to that nice girl for five
guineas."
Awful glad, I'm sure But, my
dear girl, I've shock in store for you.
l saw the very model and marrow of
that hat at Ascot the day before yes
terday"
You couldn't you couldn'u Who
was wearing ftp" she cried sharply.
"One of our reigning professional
beauties-Lady Loddington!''
Lady Loddington% gesped Nina,
hold OF the CHAIR behind her.
Ronald, are you sure you aren't max
ing any mistaken"
- swear I'm not She had on frock
the color of the hat, and she looked
simply ripping paid her all the COM
pliments | could think of in the five.
minutes was talking 10 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
wo man has had the same idea as you
Your sentiments. madam, are mine
But I don't think theyshould be vast
ed on the mere fact that some other
woman has made hat like yours"
She hasn't" cried Nina. indignant
". But Lady Loddington was wear
ing this very hat Listen, III tell you
the whole story. The same afternoon
you called lady came IN beautifully
dressed and asked TO see some hats
saw who she was, though I've never
met her. / don't want to meet her"
savaCeIy; "One sees quite enough OF
her IN all the shop windows"
'Dne does" | remarked, soto voce.
She wanted hat the color Of this
one, so l brought il out and showed II
10 her and told her the price and ex-
planned why it was so expensive. Oh
i don't mind giving that FOR the has
she said; 1t is well worth i. / am
quite in love with II. Mime Destrier,
bat dare not bur L without iessinG