The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-05-02
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AFrancO-YdnkeeHat
By Elizabeth McCracken.

rainbow-tinted cups; the wfens, VINO
had a nest under the caves, were
chirping. George was softly whistling
for sheer ligbtness of heart, but Lila
was wrapped in silence. She gazed
medltatively and silently into space.
George began to take alarm. Silence,
especially at breakfast, was not Lilia's
normal state. Unless she went into
town to shop, she did not see George
from breakfast until evening. AS she
had been married but four months one
week and two days-to be as accurate
as she-she did not often go into town
to shop; and she always had so much
10 say to George!
"What are you thinking about, my
dear?" he asked, finally. He was fond
OF calling her my dear" it made them
both seem so much older.
Hats" was Lllia's reply. IL must
get one" she continued, land ! was
wondering what kind. What would
you advise"
"Mep exclaimed George, in ingram.
matical dismay. II don't know any
thing about girls hats"'
"You are an artist" said Lila, "and
besides, you've always admired mine
YES" said George. why don't
you get another one like themY he
suggested eagerly.
Lila laughed merrily. what a
sight Il would be! They've all been
different. Imagine-a composite hat"
She laughed again, and then she said
soberly, But the fact remains that
j must get hat. | really must, and
i wish you would come with me and
help me select it,"
"By all means, my dear" George
cheerfully replied. "Any time you
like; but you see how little | really
know about even your hats"
well, you can tell me how | look
In the ones try on"
George laughed; and he laughed
again as Lila. before leaving him at
the front steps, said. "Then you will
meet me at noon to-day, and allow at
least an hour"
"At least an hour? Ny dear girl,
does Ii take you an hour to buy
hatT
1T takes me twow said Lila. i'm
pressively. "What are you laughing
atT
Hats" retorted George, mirthfully;
but he met Lilia punctually at noon.
Have you allowed an hour" she
asked, as they went together to what
she gravely told him was the only pos
sible place to buy n proper hat.
"An hour and a half" he replied. as
they went into the only possible place.
He wondered why il was the only pos
sible place; he had seen hats. pre-
sumably proper, exhibited in many
other windows. He followed Lila in
silence; he was suddenly curious as to
was rich. George knew that until her
marriage she had not been in the
habit of giving the cost of her hats, or,
indeed, the cost of anything, very SER
ious attention.
He was very far from rich, and as he
looked at Lila, accustomed all her life
to all the things that money Can buy.
fear seized him. He had told Lila
once that he was poor man, and she
had smiled slow, wise smile, and
said, "Oh, are you?' He had been so
happily sure that she had understood
him, and that she had been willing To
forego some Of the things that money
can buy for the sake of those things
that money cannot buy. He had been
into the only possible place 10 buy
proper hat.
She smiled at his grave face. Don't
look so solemn, my dear" she whs-
pefed. "The safety of the common
wealth isn't at stake"
She was so like her usual self now
that he could not be very solemn, and
her all too obvious lack OF logic in
the buying of hat interested him
deeply. Don't you know what you
want" he inquired, during the alb.
sence of the attendant, as Lila tried
on a black hat, and then a white one.
and then brown one.
"Oh, dear, yes" she said.
"Then why don't you ask for itY' he
said.
Lila laughed softly. IL can't; l
never know just what it is until l see
It,"
George stared at her in comic aston
ishment. "My dear girl"
ITS madness-but il has some
method" said the dear girl, with
laughing eyes. 1T is so delightfully."-
domestic-and funny-to have my hus-
band come with me TO buy hat"
she added in a whisper, as the attend.
ant returned with still a different hat
That is very pretty-and artistic
said George, judicially, as Lila gazed
in the glass at It's gray and black ef-
feet against her golden hair.
1T is a dreamw said Lila. couclus.
lively, as the attendant again left them
1T is exactly what / want. DO you
really like it," she added. with delight
ful anxiety and Difference.
Perfectly charming-and very sim
pie" said George. critically.
"Yes. IL is simple" Lila said. She
glanced again at the hat; then a queer.
half-tender. half-amused expression
crept into her laughing eyes, and she
locked closely at George. She suddenly
remembered how serious his face had
been as they entered the shop.
How hopelessly stupid OF me to
come here" she thought in dismay
IL actually forgot that can't just get
things now and send papa the bills.
still George doesn't know anything
about hats. / just won't get one now.
and the denr boy need never knn,v