The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-12
I I TALE OF A HATE,
She had sat down ON his hat.

4 .
thing that had lately been 50 faultless
SO imposing.
People who are wholly grown up
don't need to be told that Lillian was
very young and painfully self con-
scious. Most Of them have memories.
But other very young persons may like
to be told. They need all the comfort
they can get out of life.
After awhile Lillian sat up, wiped
her eyes and thought some more. What
could she do to redeem herself. she
wondered. Was there anything?
She could send him a new hat. But
no; that might offend him.
Write him motto and tell him of her
contrition? That possibility was
cheering.
But after all 1t is not Lillian's letters,
but the replies they ELECTED that count
in this story Here is the first:
Dear Ms. Stewart have so very,
very many things to say to you that I
really am at loss to know Just where
to begin. But capital things should ey-
er have precedence, and so will begin,
not ex ovo, but ct capite.
You no doubt remember that after
noon when my proud and lofty helm
was resting calmly and peacefully on a
chair in Miss Beekman's drawing
room. You can imagine my horror
when saw you sit down on 1t. 1t was
not for my hat at all! Oh, no! But
/ knew there was an enormous cubic
capacity within it. and l was terrified
lest the fall from crown to brim should
hurt you. And when saw you quite
unframed I was happy. And now
comes the most curious part of my sto-
ry. took my hat with me to college
the following Monday. 1t had & BASIN
like hollow of considerable depth on
the crown and looked very swagger.
My heart swelled with pride when l
observed the attention people were CIV
ing me-young women especially. One
Of my friends accosted me enviously, I
thought you didn't go in for style, and
here you have one Of the most stylish
hats in the college!'
Then it dawned upon me why
smashed hats were so fashionable. 1t
was because some sweet and lovely girl
had left the stamp of personality upon
each A new study began for me. l
commenced to divine the characters of
the young women from the impress up
on the various hats that perambulate
the college yard. And l assure you
there is no study so deeply interesting.
All things lose themselves in this. You
realize at glance a mans mission on
earth. 1t is to wear a hat that has
been crushed by-well, have told you,
AS ever, JACK FIELDING"
Now, to an ordinary mind that would
seem most reasonable and soothing
letter-just whimsical enough to be
pleasing. Nothing short of genius in
self reproach could have discovered re-
buke in it. But Lillian found it.
Result-more remorse, and after an
interval note No. 2. Its expression of
depression brought the following:
Dear Miss Joking aside
you have taken the hat episode in a
very serious light. l now have only
the faintest recollection of that even
ing, and it is only after an effort that l
have succeeded in bringing theincident
to mind. l remember looking at my
hat the other day and noticing that it
was not quite CONNIE il faut, but for
the life Of me could not have told to
which of its numerous misfortunes its
dropping, fainting appearance was due.
So / was amused to hear that the mat
ter has been an occasion of self casti-
cation to you.
Il can only believe that you have tried
to look at yourself, not through my
eyes, as you express it, but through
The eyes of certain somebody you i'm
agine me to be. That somebody Is a
very priggish, sedate, serious and pc
1antic sort Of fellow, doubtless. But,
between you and me, he and l have
nothing in common. In truth, my
chief delight is to be amused and moth
ng amuses me SO much as the serious
hess with which people take me. Be-
ieve me, there is nothing serious in
ne except that desire not to be serious
" serious.
Il have already had more than its
worth of amusement out of my
nat, and | must express my gratitude
to you, who have been the cause of it
all. Sincerely yours,
JACK FIELDING"
Amused. He dared to be amused at
his tragedy-this unutterable disgrace |
hat had come upon her. Lillian again !
'ound consolation in her divan cush-
ons and again lifted her head bravely |
TO stem the current of her woe. He
must, he should understand her posi-
ion. How could she meet him at the
Nasons' Tomorrow and the Loomises'
he day after, knowing his contempt? |
How could she see in his eye only
amusement where she had before-or
lid she only imagine it-found tender
less? Shed try again.
Forth went the third silly little note,
unintelligible, except to one
Who knew hearts and so held the key.
To his intense surprise, the man to
whom it was addressed found that he
Understood it. Then, with every nook
md corner Of his mind illumined by a
great light, he read its two predeces-
ors, marveling at his obtuseness.
And this is the missive a messenger
10Y bore to Lillian:
My Dear-Forgive me, but you are
more. suppose we might
;eep on all our lives writing crisscross
totes about that hat, each only half
understanding the other But l know
better way. You cant give me hat.
know. couldn't accept it and retain
ny self-respect. But you can give me
ourself. In other words, since You
nay not crown my worthless head,
rown my life, worthless unless you
viii. JACK"
"P. SIN this I am serious. If in
othing else. And I'll lot you buy all
~ hats-afterward."
At the Masons' dinner two people
ound each others hands under the ia
lie. At the Loomises' tea the engage
lent was announced.
So ends the tale of a hat.-Gertrude
!, keeley in ChicagO Tribune