The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27

wiles of the milliners in persuading her to
take something different from the hat she
had made up her mind she wanted lone
lorn woman has little chance against those
accomplished beings who can talk her into
taking any kind of a hat they fancy with
out regard for her own predictions.
Seems like they hypnotic you when they
put hat on your head" said Sophronia.
"And unless you've got somebody to take
your part, it's all off"
When they entered the first shop So
phonia beamed with delight. There were
lovely ones. There would be no trouble at
all in selection and then there would be
the rest of the afternoon to go through the
shops. The willowy saleslady who came to
greet them was sweetly sympathetic.
"A black street hat; l don't mind if ii has
a touch of white or of color. but it must be
mostly black-and very small-and not
three-cornered. 1 want il to wear with a
nice black frock frst-but it must be suit
able for shirtwaist wear, too" AS Julietta
made her explanation she removed her own
hat and gave her hair little pats. "Oh, dear
l haven't any business at all to try on hats
to-day. L just washed my hair last night
fectly dreadful"
No girl ever tried on a hat when her hair
looked any other way, and. of course. So
phronia isn't any different from other girls
The willowy one was sympathetic about
the hair and confident about the hat I'm
sure we can suit you, dearie," she said in
honeyed tones You're just exactly the
style for the seasons hats" She turned to
a case and selected a hat about the size of
small sun umbrella and covered with
rows of narrow lace edging, knots OF rib
bon and clusters of forget-me-nots. She
dropped il down upon SophrOnia's head
then retreated a bit TO get the effect. It's
perfectly elegant you, honey" she de-
clared with enthusiasm. Perfectly sweet
Such styler'
Sophronia's eyes viewed her from be-
meath the Hopping lace-trimmed brim. but
l want street hat" she protested. "One
to wear with a black frock and shirtwaists.
This is pretty-oh, yes. it's lovely" she
added hastily as she saw hauteur gather
ing on the willowy ones brow. But L want
street hat, you know
well, these hats is going to be just the
thing for street wear this season. asserted
the saleslady. I'm sure you couldn't get
anything more suitable"
Then Julietta came to the rescue "But
| she wants a black hat she said. ''She
| doesn't want such a dressy affair, you
know. Haven't you any black hats?"
| as there is in town." said the saleslady
| loftily." She swept an immense picture af-
| fair, with lace and plumeS dropping down
| the back, from the case TO Sophronia s
| head, and Julietta interposed again. "She
| wants little hat-a very small one.
They amt wearing small hats at all
| this year. said the salesady, with clip
ping of her syllables. Then she lifted an
| other hat from its standard and dropped il
on Sophronia's raven locks. There" she
| said, triumphantly. that's as swell a street
| hat you could find anywheres."
The hat was a mass of soft silk and
chiffon in all possible shades of yellow and
top and down the back. Sophronia found
| her naturally dark skin turned 10 saffron
by the fierce green and yellow, but she
faltered beneath the saleslcdy's confident
| air. Entreaty was in her eyes as she looked
| at Juietta.
1--WE asked TO look at small black hats. q"
said Julietta, bravely. Have you any?'
| The willowy saleslady removed the hat
| from Sophronia's head with emphasis
| that betokened that, to her mind, the show
| ing of hats 10 some people was like casting
pearls before swine. mo, We haven't got
| any," she said. indifferently. II suppose
| maybe you can find something like you
| want somewheres in town, but we don't
| carry none but swell styles
| Then she turned away to beam upon a
| stout, reG-faced lady who announced her
| desire TO purchase lone of chem Bebe
| hats" and Sophronia and Julietta made
| good their escape.
| The next shop was quiet, elegant estab-
! lshment and Sophronia removed her hat
| with hope for the future. Il declare my
| hair Is simply awful to-day. she said. anx-
| iously Nothing will be becoming TO me.
/ OF course. Something small and black and
| not three-cornered please"
The slim. dignified. elegant young woman