The Forrest City times., 1893-02-24
ON APPROVAL.
Why Lady Loddington Is Civil to q
Common Man.

"What On earth d. We cali that thing?"
I asked, polsing with my stick at
bunch OF grapes poised airily upon a
brass stand.
That thing" replied nay cousin,
proudly. is 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 charming object to gaze at.
There was an expression of wicked
anuse ment in her large gray eyes,
and the black gown she still wore in
mourning for her :lusbaud-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 prcttily into relief.
Pull yourself together, my dear
boy" she continued, opening the door
of an old carved oak cabinet, land
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 fatten 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,
Ronald
So saying, she Fitted gingerly from
the shelf u 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 mis-
cradle and ignorant male. of course |
can't describe it; but it was uncom-
monty becoming and made Nina look
like 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 / wish you We're a woman, Ro-
nald." she sighed, regretfully. Il would
make you buy it for Ascot to- morrow. .
Il wish | we're. my dear. But why
don't you go and wear it YOURSELF
"Gracious. and leave the shop for a
whole day at this early stage of its ex-
istencc! You guardsmen have no more
idea of business than baby. No,
can't go; but hope you'll have lucky
day and Il 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
forget to notice what hats and bonnets
people wear"
/ promised to do my best and took
my leave reluctantly as large and
portly matron, gorgeously arraycd,
and whose features Enthusiastically be-
trayed her Semitic origin, sailed in and
demanded small ''fower 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 Il wish you to come and
call with me on the EanderdeclSens. !"
Cant, my dear mother. Promised
TO go and see Nina
Visions of Miss VanderdeclSen, rich
as Crusus. but oh, SO deadly dull. has
tened my movements. and l was half
way to Oxford street before my mother
could call me back. | found Nine.
Destrier. as my cousin calls herself.
Just parting with a customer. The
hat was in her hand.
I've sold il, she cried. gleefully;
"just sold il 70 that nice girl for i've
guineas.