The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-09
AMEL1A,s CHESTNUT BANG.
Mishap of an Admired Prophecy of Fashion
on a Bicycling Trip.

Mishap of an Admired Prophecy OF Fashion
... on a Bicycling Trip.
Amelia's chestnut bang was an admired
prophecy OF the coming fashions. 1t fell mod
estly from the brim Of her sailor hat and
showed itself becomingly under the brim Of
the cloth alpine with the pheasant's wing which
she wore on cloudy days when the first iptima-
tion OF autumn weather was felt. The men adj
mired its crispness silently or included it tacitly
in their co%mpliments. The other women envied
it or openly expressed their admirationof its I'M
usual curl and stiffness while they nursed limp
curls or c~ouraReously brushed back their hair
from their foreheads. For Amelia's bang never
varied. The heaviest fogs did not impair its
beauty. and she stepped from her bathhouse
after the morning plunge with its most at
~tractive qualities unimpaired. If it were ever
open to criticism. 1t was during the evening
hours. By gaslight it had a suspicious look at
it's ~juncture with her beautiful head. but those
who made remarks about it then were either
hypercritical or jealous.
When the party started to ride to a neigh
boring village one day. Amelia's' bang had
never looked mora charming. There was q
September chill in the air and she wore her
cloth hat. Tit bicycle path lay through the
woods. and the narrow strip Of smooth sand
was between low scrub oak trees with branches
that frequently overIapped. Amelia came
along in the middle of the line OF riders, who
had straightened themselves out into, single
e e,e T6en c 6ns Rleyc With Fan sum was ma FeeG ths rid T@s
warm. Even Amelia's face took on a deeper
hue than the customary rose color. tarnished
with the brown OF q summer tan: but her
chestnut bang had never looked more attrac-
tive. The beauty OF it was, heightened by the
contrast. as the other girls hair already looked
At a turn in the road Amelia's progress be-
anne slower and she dropped to the rear OF the
line For n while the riders wheeled along In
silence. Suddenly. there came a shrek from
the M list h member ky 6 Of the par party heard IN tones that
$$sspe astIsaI = tRsm n' AA ny hat IS IS f FHtSs d OH 5ff
The members Of the party were on familiar
terms and were in a hurry. ), AT.
voice. and the distance between the others and
the @H desRP s g M AT Reta q Wd 6 ", Increased tGnf csme from
There was so much feeling in the words that
the riders st,opped simuItaneously and turned
hind; She was standing beneath q small oak.
her hands rlasp;,d oyer her forehead. Her
SSm" q try HraM %heF of I the t"'t tr %ne@ a f iiifl e's sb0ve hsr.
hung her hat. II had been thrown there by
the rebound Of the brafch which knocked II
stared. at the rest Of the returning party. but
party. Its easy enough"
oh, don't please don't" answered Amelia
TO the astonishnent OF the party. Leave it
alone"
That aroused the women.
But we've got to go on" one OF them said
sharply. We've LOST ten minutes already. Do
little tree: Down fell the hat landing on its
Amelia stared with anxiety. Securely attached
to the front of the band was Amella's chestnut
bang. There was silence for a second. Then
was tardy in joining it. She looked at first as
if.she would rather weep. but thinking better
reached down for the hat before anybody could
hand it 70 her, and, turning her back. carefully
group again, her chestnut bang was as becom-
ing as ever.
Come along. girls she said, mounting her
wheel. There's one thing about il. II
another tree knocks off my hat. it won't make
a bit OF difference"