The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-05-18
STORY OF 4 DOHHET

5lURI Ut 4 DU5aEl.
It goes without saying that the
ladies who make up the board of the
Old Ladies Home have IA large social
acquaintance. Indeed. a number of
them may be said to be society itself.
So quite naturally, on the day of the
annual reception at the home there
is a press of carriages in front, and
within the usually quiet drawing
room the frou frou of many silken
skirts and the insinuating perfume
that belongs to society-a perfume
compacted of violet, orris root, rice
powder and mere humanity.
The old ladies who are the benef-
Charles of the ladies who come in the
carriages are allowed-nay, expected
to be present on these occasions.
They are, in a way, the hostesses of
the occasion. And if their pride rises
at the affectionate patronage bestow-
ed upon them they must, with the po-
likeness of hostesses, conceal that
fact.
Caroline Hardin had the distinction
of being the oldest of this sheltered
and privileged community, where all
were old. 1t is not necessary to men,
ton the exact record of her years.
Let it suffice that, superannuated as
she was, she was not yet old enough
to be oblivious to custom and fashion.
In fact. she had a keen desire to be
in touch with the manners Of her
time. This fact might not have been
discovered but for an accident.
The day of the annual reception ar
rived The rhythmical thunder of
the carriages was heard on the street.
The odor of coffee permeated every
where. The old ladies were in a great
flutter, and, conscious of freshly
starched frills in their Sunday gowns,
assumed expressions of conventional
ity and hauteur suitable to the occa-
sion.
None was more pleasantly austere
and correct in her department than
Caroline Hardin. Her thin, gray
locks were plastered down upon each
side Of her wrinkled brow. Her neck
ruffie was so stiff that it chafed her
chin. She was propriety itself. But
no sooner had the ladies begun to ar
rive than a suspicion fell upon her
which soon became fearful certain
ty. At an afternoon reception it was
the custom to wear bonnet.
At first Caroline tried to hope that
the matter was arbitrary, and that
lady might, if she choose, retain her
head covering. But as the parlors
filled with bonneted guests the last
-
come with chagrin, she fed to her
room, where she sat crouching over
her steam radiator and wiping tears
of modification from her faded old
eyes.
Some one missed her after a time.
where's Mrs. Hardin gomez" was
asked. One of the old ladies under
took to find her, but Mrs. Nelson
Ward-one of the board-interposed
and went in search of her. She
knocked at her door and obeyed the
fearful invitation to enter.
The poor, old child sat feebly weep
ing, and after much urging she made
her confidence.
"All of the ladies was a'wearing
bonnets, saving excepting one" she
scbbed. 81 never wanted to look pc
coolar when | was young, and l don't
want to look pecoolar now"
"But you were a hostess" urged
Mrs. Ward. "This is your own home.
1t would not have been proper for you
to have worn q bonnet"
II looked pecoolar!" moaned the
old creature. "I'il not go back to be
laughed at. l caught some of the
ladies laughing, and I won't go back"
All endeavors to persuade her were
fruitless. She sat in her room, and
sighed the long afternoon away, while
the cheerful hum of conversation
arose to tantalize her loneliness.
The next day Mrs. Ward called,
bringing with her a bandboX. She
sought Carolire's room.
Caroline" said she, give brought
you q bonnet, and I hope it will be
becoming"
II was not plain and appropriate
bonnet. Mrs. Ward did not believe
In gratifying a hearts desire in a
plain and appropriate manner when
poverty was the thing to set the
standard. 1t was a glorious bonnet
with glittering black stuff on it, and
a fluff of white lace and two punches
Of purple violets. Any one might
have been glad to have worn it.
AS for Caroline Hardin, she looked
at 1t with incredulous eyes.
"Mine?" she gasped. THAT mine?"
LET me tie it on, Caroline. See,
you must tie the bow trifle at one
side. sol"
The old lady gazed at herself in the
glass.
II look as if had come in car
riage," she commented, fearful with
Joy. And she sat with it on her head
till bed time, and could with difficulty
be induced to seek her couch.
Now 1t was an unfortunate fact
that Caroline Hardin never went out
upon tho street She was quite toe
lamo and too bewildered and unfit
So tho bonnet stood no chance Of be
ing used till the day Of the annual re
eeption should come around again
And, indeed It was for that day only
that Caroline Hardin desired 1t. She
looked forward to that day with un
speakable anticipation. She got out
the bonnet, laid II on the table before
her, and regarded 1t with enrapturet
eyes, She put It on her head, ant
sat solemnly before the mirror, blink
ing and content.
At last the day for tho reception
drew near Once more the house Tin
derwent a cleaning extraordinary
and the frflls Of the best frooks wer,
starched.
But Caroline Hr~dir did not taxi