Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-05

{HAT AND BoNNETuTHE STALLS


net made Iowa proper sort OF bon
net from the point OF view OF the back
the other a more spread
ing sort of hat, which interfered Sc
with the enjoyment OF thu
back rows, seeing that both were sit
ting i'm front, close up to the orehes
tru.
This was at matinee, of course.
and there was no man with them.
1t was after the first active more
acts to come-that the little velvet
bonnet said to the wide hat, Il won
der who -" and then stopped
short.
"Yes?" said the wide hat.
"Eh?" said the velvet bonnet.
"What was it you began to say just
now?'
"0h, nothing-only. Did you notice
her? What's her name ON ohe Pro
gramme? Yes, Gladys Mortimer.
Absprd names they do take ON the
sage!"
YES" says the big hat, "ana with
such a little part too-just to come IN
and be hirted with by the valet
1T is absurd. ! WONDER
ooh, of course it isn't her right
name. | expect she's Jane Scrngsins
an die bosom of her family, don''
your
"lhat isn't what ! was thinking
said the bonnet, with a peAsive smile
l"Not Jane Scruggns. Isn't she like
someone you know"
"Impossible!"
"lhen you saw it too?'
You don't mean-?"
"Edith?"
at can't be-" said the hat. "Nhy
you know. she went West
"she might return East, though,
sad the velvet bonnet, thoughttul!y
Have some caramels."
"But-but | hope it isn't"
"Why?" said the bonnet, quickl.
and almost defantly.
"0h. of course know 1t wouldn'
make any difference to you. He
coming ito meet us after the matinee
isn't he? Especially if she's gone o.
the stage"
"a don't see why it should make an
difference to me- said the bonnie
with more defiance. "You needn
hope it isn't
Ard the hat maliciously said: "Ol
it's all right, dear. | expect Gladly
Mortimer is Jane Scruggins, nc
Edith---"
And somebody behind said, Hush
for the curtain was going up.
, During the second act the san
, Gladys Mortimer came on for thrt
minutes, and frisked about lttl
and said: Eyes, my lady," and gay
knowing look out of her left eye ;
the bad Iord who was doing so niue
harm in an underhand way to ii
hero. The hook was meant, i'm ii
play. to show that the lady's min
was fully alive to the bad lords vic
ed vaccinations, though she kne
her place too well to talk right o
about them. 1t was the one chan
GLADYS Mortimer had to make poir
AND Gladys Mortimer--or Jane Scru
gins. or Edith Wimston, as she mig.
Q be-made the most of 1T. But whit
{ she did that Bit she had to turn h
$ head a little as she made the exit, al
u as she did so the hat in the stal
i turned and looked at the bonnet, al
the bonnet, without turning, gave
furtive little glance at the hat--ju
: for a tiny part of a second-as If
see If the hat were looking ait her.
Then the hat smiled at the stag
although nothing was going on in Il
4 play at that moment that was Gale
lated to provoke a smie--indeed
a. was just coming to ITS serious china
And while the hat was smiling
!. the wrong place, when she shou
have been looking eager and serlor
|, " interested the bonnet was blus
q ing ard looking annoyed.
$ The hat presently looked roul
' again at the bonnet--a look as if t
{ no particular reason--or as il s.
d only wanted to make sure that 4
J bonnet was quite comfortable and e
u joying the performance.
At last that act came TO an end.
u This time 1T was the hat that spo
. first.
i isn't she good?'
" "Who?" said the velvet bonnet.
N what s-her-name-Jane Scru
gins"
4. "0h Yes, she does it very well
If What little she has to do. It's drea
ID fully hot in here, don't you think"
lt "0h, | don't know sand the h;
N You've got that heavy wrap on. W
8 don't you throw it back?'
n This? Why, 1T isn't heavy"
Don't you know
ie Whal?" said the bonnet 'lIa
ne some caramels."
= Thanks. They're awfully goC
u Where did you get them?'
u, What were You going to say j.
u now?
who? II"
it "You began something
ne "0h, nothing. Oh. yes. Did y
u notice how like poor Edith's way s
~ did that little turn OF her hea
% Don't you remember?"
!, "Who did?'
y, "Ghdys Scruggins--The maid "