The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-17
TALE OF A HAT.
she had ID down on hls Lac.

Plainly it was his fauIt-leaving it in
the chair that way. Anybody might have
sat on It, But he would never think Of
that. In all his mental visions she would
figure as the most awkward and careless
of women. And she was so anxious for
his good opinion too. He was SO much
older than she, and he knew so much
more Wasn't he an instructor at Harvard?
And she-she was such a fool. Everybody
knew that. She didn't need to sit on hats
to convince doubling public Of her hope
less idiocy.
People who are wholly grown up don't
need to be told that Lillian was very young
and painfully self conscious. 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 anythingP
She could send him new hat. But no:
that might offend him.
Write him a note and tell him of her
contrition? That possibility was cheering.
She ran to her desk and devoted three
pages of her dainty note paper to abieet
apology. Possibly there have been siIlier
epistles written for similar causes. But it
is not probable. Nevertheless Lillian sealed
it with her approval, addressed it with
eagerness and stamped it with hope
But after all it is not Lillian's letters,
but the replies they ELECTED that count in
this story. Here is the first:
DEAR Miss SrRWART-I have SO very, very
many things to say to you that really am at
a loss to know just where to begin. But cap
ital things should ever have precedence, and
SO will begin, not ex ovo, but ct capite.
You no doubt remember that afternoon when
my proud and lofty helm was resting calmly
and peacefully chair in Miss Beekman's
drawing room. You can imagine my horror
when / saw you sit down it. 1t was not
for my hat at ALL Oh, mol But knew there
was enormous cubic capacity within it. and
I was terrified lest the fall from crown to brim
should hurt you. And when I saw you quite
unframed was happy. And now comes the
most curious part of my story. took my hat
with me to college the following Monday. 1t
had basinlilke hollow Of considerable depth
on the crown and looked very swagger. My
heart syEelled with pride when / observed the
attention people were giving me-young WON
en- especially. One of my friends accosted me
obviously, 81 thought you didn't go in for
style, and here you have one Of the most
stylish hats in the collegel"
Then it dawned upon me why smashed hats
were so fashionable. 1t was because some
sweet and lovely girl had left the stamp of her
personality upon each. new study began
for me. 1 commenced to divine the characters
of the young women from the impress upon
the various hats that perambulate the college
yard. And I assure you there is no study SO
in this. You realize at glance man mission
earth. 1t is to wear a hat that has been
crushed by-weu' have told you As ever,
JACK FIELDING.
Now, to an ordinary mind that would
seem most reasonable and soothing let
ter-just whimsical enough to be pleasing.
Nothing short of a genius in self reproach
could have discovered rebuke in it. But
Lillian found it.
Result-more remorse, and after an in.
terval note No. 9. Its expression of depres-
sion brought the following:
DEAR Miss STEWART Joking aside, - you
have taken the hat episode in very serious
Light. I now have only the faintest recollec>
tion of that evening, and it is only after an
effort that have succeeded in bringing the
incident to mind. I remember looking at my
hat the other day and noticing that it was not
quite CONNIE il fault, but for the life of me
could not have told to which of its numerous
1nisfortunes its dropping, fainting appearance
was due So was amused to hear that the
matter has been an occasion of self castigation
to you
can only believe that you have tried to
look at yourself not through my eyes, as you
express 1t, but through the eyes of a certain
somebody you imagine me to be. That some
body is very priggish, sedate, serious and
pedantic sort of a fellow, doubtless But, be-
tween you and me, he and I have nothing in
common. In truth my chief delight is to be
amused, and nothing amuses me much as
the seriousness with which people take me.
Believe me, there is nothing serious in me ex-
cept that desire not to be seriously serious.
I have already had more than it's money 8
worth of amusement out of my hat. 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
this tragedy-this unutterable disgrace
that had come upon her. Lillian again
found consolation in her divan cushions
and again lifted her head bRavely to stem
he of Ia hn
should, understand her position. How
could she meet him at the Masons' tomor-
row and the Loomises the day after,
knowing his contempt? How could she
see in his eyes only amusement where she
had before-or did she only imagine it
found tenderness2 She'd try again.
Forth went the third silly little note, in
coherent, unintelIigible, 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 I'M
derstood it, Then, with every nook and
corner of his mind illumined by great
light, he read its two predecessors, mar
Yelling at his obtuseness.
And this is the missive messenger boy
bore to Lillian:
MY DEAR-Forgive me, but you are that
and more. I suppose we might keep all
our lives writing crisscross notes about that
hat, each only half understanding the other.
But know better way. You can't give me
a hat, you know. couldn't accept it and re-
tain my self respect. But you give me
yourself In other words since you may not
crown my worthless head, crown my life,
worthless unless you will JACK.
P. SIN this I am serious, if in nothing
else. And I'll let you buy all my hats-after-
ward.
At the Masons' dinner two people found
each others hands under the table AT
the Loomises tea the engagement was an
nounced.
So ends the tale of hat.-Gertrude Il.
Kelley in Chicago Tribune
Infnitesinaal Shears.