Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-03-26
THE BONNET.

death year in and year out for Bob Rig
GERS and his children"
"Graeious, Gerildy! Put s12 in bon
metz Why, I'd feel as if I was stealing
from my own family And people would
say was putting on airs-trying to look
like grip
"Well, is there any harm in trying to
look youngi As to not being able to buy
the bonnet, Partly, you ought to do as
do when want thing"
"How's that, Gerildy?"
"Wht, I Just, look Hector Jones in the
eyes and tell him it's got to come, and
that settles It, He knows l won't stand
any foolishness from him."
"But suppose he can't afford it,"
"Afford 1t, flddlesticksl Men can afford
a great many things when they find they
have to-"
"No, Gerildy, you can't persuade me to
be extravagant. I am trying to help my
husband, for he works hard, and l feel
that we ought to do something for the
poor and needy this winter"
Goodness gracious, Partly Riggers
never saw such woman. You'll be sail-
ing off to heaven the first thing you know
you re getting SO good! But suppose we
go and look at the bonnet tomorrow.
That'll not cost your husband or the poor
anything, will its"
Partly consented, though she had no
idea of buying the bonnet and was sorry
she had mentioned the subject to Mrs.
Jones, for that lady would be sure to de-
nounce the prudence and economy of her
neighbor as penuriousness.
Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Riggers entered the
little milliner's together to see the bonnet
with pink roses. To oblige Mrs. Jones
Partly Riggers put it on her head. Mrs.
Jones at once exclaimed: "Don't buy it.,
Parthyl It doesn't become you at all. !"
Mrs. Partly was much relieved.
''Let me try it on" said Mrs. Jones as
she proceeded to find fault with the bon
net, saying she was much disappointed in
it. She stood before the mirror, however,
and eyed herself admiringly on every side.
II might be induced to take it," she said
to the milliner, 'sif you'll come down in
the price. ! don't need 1t, but the pink
roses are becoming to me.'
"But you've bought your winter bon
net, haven't you, Gerildy?' said Mrs. Rig
gers, with surprise.
eyes, but I look SO well in this" she
said in a low tone, 81 don't think ought
to lose the chance"
The milliner fell in her price from 81
to SO. Mrs. Jones walked away with the
bonnet, and it was charged on an account
already overdue. On their way home the
two ladies stopped in a store where Mrs
Ringers wished to make small necessa
~ purchase. Here Mrs. Jones spied del
icately embroidered pink scarf, which wal
perfect match to the roses on her new
bonnet. "Wouldn't they go sweet togeth
err" she said. "Just the thing for thu
MONDAY wedding I'm going to next week. ,
"But don't you think it's good dea
to pay for scarf, Gerildyf* said Partly
Mrs. Jones looked down at her littl
neighbor with smile Of contempt, order
ed the scarf charged to Mr.. Jones ant
walked out.
Passing another store, she remembered
that the gloves bought for her first bonnie
would not go with the new one, SO u pal
of gloves was added to the morning pur
chases.
The next day Mrs. Jones displayed he
| investments to neighbor as dressy ant
| silly as herself. As Mrs, Jones stood will
| the pink roses on her head and the pin1
scarf wound about her neck, exclaiming
"Ain't they lovely" Mrs. Lighthead rails
ed her eyes and hands In holy horror
"Goodness gracious, Gerildy Jones, ar
you going to wear them lovely things witt
your old green silkp Why don't you get
green satin waist for thu old skirt? Thel
| you will make people stare and lay every
body in the shade, sure enoughW
| That was sufficient. The satin waist wa
bought. Trimmed and finished it cost SIG
bonnet, $40; scarf, 81; gloves, $685.
quite a little sum out OF 81, 500 year
and poor Jones already tearing his hal
and tossing restlessly at night on accoun
of money troubles and fear Of losing hi
position.
But he never told bis troubles at home
He found no sympathy there. The onl.
check he ever gave Mrs. Jones was to ex
claim now and then, For Gods sake, Ger
Idly, have some pity on n mani"
"If you can't support me, Mr.. Jones
what did you marry me for9 Don't for
get how you pleaded with me and wha
you promised"
Mr.. Jones could only subside into 81
lence, unable, as men always are, to argu
with extravaganza and selfishness.
The crash came the evening after tn
MONDAY wedding, where the lady in PIN
and green cut her last splurge.
Mr.. Jones had lost his place, was heel
over head in debt, had been notified by hi
landlord to vacate his house Immediately
the shopkeepers were after him, and he wa
/ in despair. There was no loving heart t
whom he could pour out his trials, not
tender hand to stroke his forehead and bi
him be cheerful, promising to help hir
over the dark places.
The poor fellow left town and fell bac
on his old father, who had a little farm i
an adjoining county. The old man too
the son in, but affirmed stoutly: "Gerild
mustn't put on airs here, my boy! 70
know we are honest workin folks. Every
body on my place has to work. II the
4 don't, neither shall they eat"
/ Gerildy is now gracefully performin
4 over the churn and cook stove. The onl
pink roses she wears are in her cheeks, an
the only triumph she wins is the healthfr
sleep which honest toll awards her. Th
only reproach shee heaps Is on her ow
past life and its sad mistakes.
4 Mr.. Ringers, too, encountered adversely
His salary was cut down, but when b
4 announced it in his home he met an eal
nest, loyal little face, which said to hin
HNow, come, old fellow, don't give up an
20 to looking blue about this house! We
oct on all right, and I've got little sa'
ings bank up stairs that'll turn out MOI
help for this trouble than you will belle,
till you see 1t opened. "
Nisn't marriage a lottery ~ Bob Rigge
said to his friend. "Some men draw priz,
and some draw blanks. Thank God, II
one OF the lucky ones. STERLING Kane
Cincinnati Post.
China's Great Bridge.
One Of the sights Of China u the antiqs
bridge Of Suen-t chen-fow, $500 feet lor
and 60 feet wide. It has on each side
i piers, upon which huge stones are lat
u .~~.>>All on fcnk 1onn, Manv Nhnu n