The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-02-25
ON APPROVAL.
Why Lady Loddington Is Civil to q
Common Man.

WILL Id ~ w u
Common Man.
What on earth dye cali that thing??"
| asked, poking with nv stick ut a
bunch of grapes poised airily upon a
brass stand.
That thing" replied my cousin,
proudly, IS the very latest Partisan
fashion in bonuets."
saEk 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 lis her large gray eyes,
and the black gown she still wore in
mourning for her lusband-poor Jack
Henderson, who was killed in the
Soudan-sct off the lines of her slender
young figure and threw her golden
hair and fair skin prettily into reief.
Pull yourself together, my dear
boy she continued, opening the door
OF an old carved oak cabinet, ''and l
will show you something that even
your crude male intellect will appre-
ciate. If you don't say it's lovely I'll
never let you inside the shop again.
You may tiatten your nose against the
window or stroll d~isconsolately up and
down the street in vain! No more
chats, no more teas in the back room,
Ronald"
So saying, she lifted gingerly from
the shelf a 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 |
can't describe it; but it was uncom-
monty becoming and made Nina look
like a Gainsborough picture. l told
her SO and pushed over it sufficiently
to satisfy her.
Its my idea, shape and all, and
there isn't another like it il the world.
l may possibly copy it, but Pm not
sure. 1t depends upon who buys it.
How | wish you were a woman, Ro-
nald!" she sighed, regretfully. Il would
make you buy it for Ascot to-morrow."
Il wish l were, my dear. But why
don't you go and wear it y%ourself?'
Gracious! and leave the shop for a
day at this early stage Of it's ex-
lstence You gEardsmen have no more
idea OF business than a baby. No, l
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 what sort of day
you had. Oh, and be sure you don't
forget to notice. what hats and bonnets
people wear"
L promised to do my best and took
leave reluctantly as a large and
portly matros- g~orgeously arrayed,
and whose features Enthusiastically be-
:rayed her Semitic origin, sailed in and
demanded a snail flower bonnet"
That woman in a flower bonnet! /
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 come and
SO w hS ia lit dtlU0EUcCkenS.
Cant, my dear mother. Promised
to go and see Nina"
Visions of Miss Vanderdeckeu. rich
as Cr9sus, but oh, SO deadly dull! has
my movements, and | was half
way to Oxford street before my mother
could call me back. l found Nine.
Destrler, as my cousin calls herself, |
just parting with q customer. The
hat was in her hand.
I've sold it, she cried. g~leefully:
Just sold it TO that nice girl for five
.guineas."
awful GLAD. I'm sure. But, nv
lear girl, I've g shock in store for YOU. |
saw the very model and marrow of
hat at Ascot the day before yes
terday.'
"fou couldn't, you couldn't. Who
was wearing it?" she cried. sharply.
Zone of our reigning professional
beauties-Lady Loddington.'
Lady L~oddington!" gasped Nina
catching hold of the chair behind her.
Ronald, are you sure you ar.n't maxi
Ing any mistaken"
~ swear I'm not. She had ~. a trock
color Of the hat.s and SIZE looked
simply ripping. paid her ala The COM
oliments / could think of in the five.
| was talking to her."