The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-01-13
THE NEW BONNET.
BY STERLING KANE.

1Safel hAio" - ~ 49, - ~ "'--''s-f'
yourself to death year in and year out
for Bob Riggers and his children"
"Gracious, Gerildy! Put Sl2 in q
bonnet? Why, I'd feel as if was steal
ing from my own family! And people
would say was putting on airs-trying
TO look like a girl!
"Well. is there any harm in trying to
look young? AS 10 not being able to
buy the bonnet, Partly, you ought to
do as l do when 1 want a thing!
..iow's that, Gerlldy.2"
"Why, / just look Hector Jones in
the eyes and tell him it's got to come,
and that settles it. Ho knows ! won't
stand any ssfoolishness from him: -,
''But suppose he can't afford 1t Z?
"Afford 1T, fddlesticks Men can
afford n great many things when they
find they have to. Why, I Wouldn't
allow tho best man living to preach
economy to me. l don't believe IN
women marrying just to do without
things and turn herself into savlngs
bank. tell Heck Jones if he's SO fond
of economy he can practice It himself.
Go buy the bonnet, Partly, pink roses
and all, for you deserve 1t.
81 don't think ought to, Gerildy;
S12 means great deal to my husband,
just now especially"
"You can get it for less than that,
Partly! Run it down; pretend you
don't think it's pretty and becoming,
and the milliner III be glad enough to
knock off dollar or two
mo, Gerildy; you can't persuade me
to be extravagant. l am trying to help
nv husband, for he works hard, and
ieel that we ought to do something Tor
the poor and needy this winter"
Goodness gracious, Partly Riggers
[ never saw sucha woman. You'll be
sailing 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 hus-
band or the poor anything, will it?'
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
10 denounce the prudence and economy
OF her neighbor as penurlousness.
Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Riggers entered
the little milliner's together to see the
bonnet with pink roses. To obliSe Mrs
Jones Partly Riggers put it on her
head Mrs. Jones at once exclaimed,
Don't buy it, Partly! 1t doesn't be-
come you at ALL" Mrs. Partly was
| much relieved.
"Iet me try it on!' said Mrs. Jones,
| bonnet, saying she was much disap-
pointed in it. She stood before
the mirror, however, and eyed
herself admiringly on every side.
81 might be induced to take it" she
said to the milliner, 'if you'll come
down in the price. 1 don't need it, but
the pink roses are becoming to ME = -
.'But you've bought your winter bon
net, haven't you, Gerildy?" said Mrs.
Riggers, with surprise.
YES, but 1 look SO well in this. she
| said in low tone, II don't think l
ought to lose the chance"
The miliiner fell in her price from So
to $40. Mrs. Jones walked away with
the bonnet, and it was charged on an
account already overdue. On their way
homo the two ladies stopped in store
! where Mrs. Biggers wished to make a
small necessary purchase. Here Mrs.
Jones spied a delicately embroidered
! pink scarf, which was perfect match
10 the roses on her new bonnet.
"Wouldn't they go sweet together?"
she said. just the thing for the noon.
day wedding Pm going to next week"
| but don't you think it's good deal
| to pay for scarf, Gerildy ?" said Partly.
Mrs. Jones looked down at her little
neighbor with a smile OF contempt, or
dered the scarf charged to Mr.. Jones
and walked out.
Passing another store she remembered
that the gloves bought for her first bon
net would not go with the new one; SO
| a pair of gloves were added to the morn
| ing purchases.
Mrs. Parthy's heart just ached for
poor Mr.. Jones, and she said to her hus-
band that night at supper: What can
| a man do when he's made q mistake like
that at the altar? Ii were man, 1
| think I'd go off to club or O saloon,
| too, if l had wife that cared for moth
| ing but bedecking herself and making q
show, only that wouldn't change mat
| tiers or pay the bills.
stDon't worry yourself over the fool
| ishness of other women, PartnyW said
Mr.. Riggers. mistress Jones will come
! to the end OF the rope soon"
The next daycAIrs. Jones displayed
| her investments to q neiShbor as dressy
and rs silly as herself. AS Mrs. Jones
stood with the pink roses on her head
and tho pink scarf wound about her
neck, exclaiming: "Ain't they lovely"
Mrs. Lighthead raised her eyes and
hands in holy horror. Goodness
gracious. Gorildy Jones Arc YOU going
to wear them lovely things with your
old green silk? Why don't you get a
green satin waist for the old skirt, then
YOU will make people stare, and lay
! everybody IN the shade, sure enough ;.
That was. sufficient. The satin waist
was bought, Trimmed and finished it
cost SIC, bonnet $40, scarf 81, gloves 81
-SS5; quite little sum out of Sl,50G a
year, and poor Jones already tearing his
hair and tossing rcstlessly at night on
account OF money troubles and fearful
of losing his position.
But he never told his troubles at
homo. He found no sympathy there.
| The only check no ever gave Mrs.
Jones was to eXclaim now and then,
ssFor Gods sake, Gorildy, have some
! pity on q man T.
iii you can't support me. Mr.. Jonos,
what did you marry mo for? Don't for
get Ii ow you pleaded with me, and what
you promised.
Mr.. Jones could only subside into 81
! lence, unable. as men always are, to
argue with extravaganceands elfishness.
The crash came the evening after the