The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-25
A LONDON LOVE STORY.
by ,. NJ. BARRIE.
Author OF "A Window in Thrums, THE
Little Minister" &C..
Copyright, ,sSI, bv the luihor.
I.-HELEN's RAT.

I.-HELEN's Raj.
Helen and I had a bet OF a hat the other day
and she won. At that time I thought, from
looking at them, that the price Of ladies' hatf
could not run TO more than i've shillings; but
this is n complete mistake. The cost Of ladies
hats varies according TO what Is not on them
that is TO cay, half a sovereign extra Is charged
for taking out the feather, and a guinea extra
for taking out what a man would call a hat, and
leaving only the bow OF ribbon. As almost
nothing Is the fashion just now, hats are I'M
uJually dear this season.
To pay for n lady's hat, however. Is, after all,
= small matter. The difficulty is to go into a
shop in cold blood and buy one. That was what
/ had to do, according TO the conditions of the
bet, and | was allowed TO take no one with me.
Helen said that IL I could not pick out a hat
that would suit her IL was plain I did not really
love her; and she coldly stared when l asked
permission 10 take another man with me, not u
help to purchase. but to stand by while l said
sternly to the saleswoman, II want q lady's hat"
There Is n millincr's shop next my tobac-
consists. and I thought l could slip into it as II by
mistake. Just as | was about TO do so, however,
the tobacconist came 10 his door, and 30 I had
TO buy n box OF Cabanas instead. l was very
angry with the man. and have given him up
ever since then.
My original intention had been TO go into a
"llliIltT , snOp anu DTlDC tnem 10 Tell me WHICH
was their best hat for a pretty girl, brown hair,
dancing eyes, twenty inches round the waist;
but Ravenscroft, who pretended to know about
hats Though II is quite clear that he thinks the
bigger they are the dearerD said that would not
be safe. Ills advice was that 1 should do a
round of milliners' windows on wet days SO that
my umbrella might hide me-. Woodhousc. how
ever, who has sisters and hearkens TO them, said
this would be foolish. as they only exhibited a
variety of hats in the second-rate shops. IIo
urged me to walk boldly into n shop and insist
on their giving me a hat. Another friend. Hoop
err, said: The hat itself is OF little consequences;
the great thing is that 1t should be dear.
She will forgive you for buying an unbe-
coming hat, but never for buying n cheap one"
Then Trotter, who thinks himself clever. said
How can you buy her q hat when you don't
know her size ~ This philosopher is 30 years
old. and has not discovered yet that ladies' hats
are worked with pins.
Several days passed, and l had all but bought
the hat many times. 1t was strange and inter-
eeting to me to reflect at, say. 6 O'Clock, that IL l
had entered the shop at 4:3O the whole thing
would be over now. Once I did go into a milli-
ner's shop in Regent street, but l left without
having bought the hat. This was because my
courage failed me; and instead of asking for "a
hat l requested the boy who opened the door 10
direct me to Piccadilly Circus. IL he had been a
boy of average smartness he would have read
between the lines and insisted on my taking q
chair. / hurried into a side street after this
escape. and presently came to.
The place to buy ladies' hats, warranted dear.
Is Bond street; but in no thoroughfare In Lon
don nre there so many inquisitive people. Bond
street can never expect to do a great trade so
long as the jewellers ard fish sellers, and even
the sandwich-board me n. stare impertinently at
weyfarera. was aim nly driyen from n mflli-
ner's door by a fish seller, whokept looking after
me as IL lie thought i was afraid to face him.
Then there Il a dressnaker's window In which
a woman in black stood all day looking for me.
/ soon discovered that she knew / was honestly
DESTROYS OF buying IA lady's hat. but she would
not let me. IL was impossible to go into a hat
shop with that woman ready to triumph over
me. Agrocers boy. too, passed me twice within
ten minutes, lingering about in a most
impertinently suspicious manner, which
so incensed me that l followed him to his shop,
and complained to his master. There was a
curious look In the ~latter's eye. and ! could not
help feeling that lie knew / wanted to buy a
lady's hat. With another person dressed like n
gentleman, ] had quite a scene. was just
going into a shop to buy the hat, when he looked
hxedly at me. This confused me, and turned
me from my purpose; but half an hour after
ward | was back at the shop door. Again he
passed me, with a look that told me plainly l
was discovered. / lost my temper. and, grip
ping my umbrella by the midt,le. demanded to
know what he meant. He replied with af-
fected surprise, but l saw through him, and
said that l would stand thero until u police
man came To my aid. He answered that
as he wished TO consult my convenience
entirely he would not go away. So he
put his back TO one window. and I put mine to
another, and there we stood glaring at each
other until 4 O'Clock. when a mist came on in
which | walked softly away, When | was a
mile from the shop | saw that the mist was my
opportunity for buying the hat. and l At once
hailed a hanson. l got ont at the top of New
Bond street, however. as it had struck me that
there was n look OF enlightenment on this cabby's
face. To blind him I walked a little way down
Oxford street. and then turned back Soon
was at the shop / now knew so well from the
outside. and. though my throat felt dry. | de-
termined to buy that hat. | waited until
two ladies had left Il had se,n them
through the window, and then entered
my teeth set. II want a lsdy's
| said. and l had n face on me
that showed ! was resolved To stand no
The milliner had a twinkle in her
eye. but my fierceness put 1t out, and l saw her
hand shake rs she brought out some hats. l
the dearest one, gave the address to
which IL was TO be sent, and then relreated,
keeping my eyes on hers to the last moment.
That woman was afraid of me nearly Is much
as | was Of her.
Helen says it will do.
II.-HELEN's SECRET.
Dropping IN on "AcrOStic, London " such Is
frieINd's telegraphic address,, nearly amonth
agO. found him IN despair. He is the puzzle
editOr Of n weekly journal Tor g~entlewonen, and
his readers have become sO sharp that they can
solve anything by return of post.
Ask them " said cOmplRcently. why Helen
kept n secret - |
Helen really has kept a secret, for a reason
this is unreasonable makes me
love her more than ever. What the secret il / |
lon't know. and why she has kept IL | refused to
tell my friend; but he liked my suggestion, and
We drew up the puzzle thus:
Helen Is young. charming, and a very wo-
man. Claude is almost her lover. They see
much OF each other. Yet she has had a secret
revealing IL 70 him. Competitors are
invited 10 discover why Helen kept this secret"
During the first week over u hundred answers
were received, all incorrect. My friend was
.lated. yet nervous lest | should be trihing with
hin. Somewhat elRted myself land growing
proudeT of Helen with every post, then con-
TO him why Helen kept the secret, and the