Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-01-28

Upstairs in her room, sir. She'll
be down directly"
He placed hat and papers on the hat
stand. Never had he entered his house
with such a peculiar feeling before. 1t
was as though ne had no right there,
and the next moment would see him
violently elected into the street.
He passed into the dining-room and
was fishing under the sofa for his slip
pers when his wife entered. He
screwed up courage to look her in the
face. Its expression confirmed his
worst fears.
YOU'RE hoEee," she laconically re-
marked.
eyes. Things all gone well, Nary"
mot at all! Are you ready for din
ner?"
when I've found my other slipper"
You're late," continued Mrs. Pei
grove. Dinners been kept back a
quarter of an hour, and you know how
cross it makes cook. l have something
serious to say to you after it."
Personally, Matthew would have
preferred having the matter out before
the meal; it would act like a night
mare on his digestion. But he sat
obediently up to the table and feigned
interest in the viands, maintaining for
appearance sake when the servant was
present a flow of small talk, to which
his wife shortly replied.
The meal ended and, folding up her
serviette, Mrs. P~elgrove planted her
elbows on the table. Her husband
recognized the omen and trembled.
Had a successful little trip, Mat
thew?'
Eyes, very-thaak you'll"
you don't seem up to the mark to-
night"
"a trifing headache. Travelling, you
know, does shake one up a bit. That
reminds me. I've left my portmanteau
at the Office"
She made no comment. Matthew
played with a salt-spoon. He could
not possibly meet her gaze.
1--WE been dreadfully put out, Mat
thew. l discovered on Saturday-oh,
it's too awful to speak about"
The blow was coming, and Pelgrove
turned hot all over. Mary was clearly
holding herself in. In a moment the
storm would break in all it's violence,
and a poor nan who had done wrong
1n1 lnnuy II would no lau,,,N IoF0,,a Al
blast.
81 raj sitting at this window quiet
ly sewing on Saturday morning, when
an open fly drove by. Mr.. and Mrs.
Needham Smith were in it, and the
coachman had a pile of luggage beside
him. But what do you think Mrs.
Smith had on her head?"
I'm sure l don't know" replied
Matthew, puzzled, yet relieved. Some
thing absurd, I suppose. A yachting
cap?"
mo, Matthew; worse than that!
Just think of the horror of it! A hat
the precise image of my new one.
Wasn't it a shock for me?"
Pelgrove saw daylight struggling
through.
Really" he exclaimed, excitedly.
where were they going?"
81 didn't know at the time, but the
grocer's man told me afterwards.
They were off to spend a week at
Hastings. Why, Matthew, what is the
matter with you?"
Notwithstanding. I was just think
ing what a burning shame about that
hat. Mrs. Needham Smith has copied
it, I suppose. Now I remember, she
had hair much the same color as
yours, and thought perhaps it might
suit her."
1T doesn't, Matthew. She looks abb
solutely hideous in ii. Oh, it's a scan
dial! I've not stirred from the house
since; I was sc upset. l shall never
speak to that woman again. You are
net laughing?"
Rather not! I'm just as put out as
you, Mary. When I've bought you a
nice thing, it's too bad to find it imi-
tated. What a pity for you women
there isn't a law of copyright in hats!''
He felt like a school-boy again. So
1t was Mrs. Needham Smith who had
given him the fright at Hastings,
and she and her husband had
been his visitors at the hotel. Now,
fortunately, relations between their
wives, never cordial ones, would en-
tirely cease.
I'm SO glad you did well by going
to Bradford, Mat. The fact is-well,
l must get another hat now"
"Of course! You shall have one i'm
mediately. Go to a good Regent street
shop! Mrs. Smith can't very well copy
what you get there"
"Oh, Matthew, how good of you!
We mustn't let the Needham' Smiths
cut us out. Could you afford to take
me by-and-by down to Hastings for a
little?"
She looked at him a trife doubtfuIly.
but his response was ready and eager.
WEI go, Mary, in about a weeks
time, directly the Needham Smiths get
home. Why, it must be seven or eight
years since we went to Hastings-to-
gether!"-London Tit Bits.
DAM A MfNE TINT cUHyyDA