The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-01-29
MRS. PELCROVE'S HAT.
&&& * ~
by Herbert Jameson.
BY Herbert Jameson.

ATTHEW PEtGROVE strolled
M along the esplanade at Hastings,
chuckling to himself From a moral
standpoint he had done a most repre-
hensible thing, but the circumstances
were certainly mitigating. May not
much be forgiven to man whose wife
has a shrewish tongue, and ideas OF
expenditure that by no means square
with the possibilities of a limited in
come?
Three days previously, in the pri-
v2cy OF their home at Hornsey, Nat
thew had remarked to his wife:
My dear, | find | shall have TO go
TO Bradford on Friday
Mrs. Pelgrove lowered the coffee-pot
and glanced sharply across the table.
"Oh, Rather unexpected. isn't it?
sOn business ?"
Certainly. Must see some wool
people there before the next London
sales Most important clients.
Il understand Shall | come, too?'
Matthew endangered the life of his
cup by bringing it precipitately TO the
liable.
Impossible, Mary. Bradford's not
place for pleasure. Besides, shall
be fully engaged all the time"
That was what had passed between
them And this Saturday afternoon,
when his wife believed him TO be in the
north transacting business, Pelgrove.
the arch-deceiver. was bathing in beau
NJ ~ tho Hast
.ings promenade.
lie wore a blithe and iaunty air
How sweet it was 10 capture, even for
a weekend. the lost delights of bach
elorhood, Did he not bless the comic
paper that had first suggested TO him
this brilliant notion OF duplicity, and
resolve to subscribe 10 il for the fu-
cure? The very day was in fitting ac-
cord with his spirit Of hilarity
AT home Mrs. Pelgrove insisted on
her husband dressing in harmony with
the ideas OF their genteel suburb, but
here he had thrown (metaphoricaly)
conventional attire to the winds-in-
deed. il consisted of little but a white
flannel suit red and orange boating
Ul1EtI. anu Il sun AldA WI IA az a. aAiGAl
tilt. As Matthew stepped along. OBJ
serving the varied life of Hastings, lie
persuaded himself that he had not a
care in the world. lie could even smile
at his wifes desperate ambition to cut
a social figure, and her bitter discon-
tent that he was not making money
fast enough for the full attainment of
1.nt& 4
had an ugly sound Nothing should
be allowed 70 poison to-day his draught
of pleasure.
Now, Matthew Pelgrove was not
given TO much exercise, and he pres
entity became aware that. despite the
lightness of his raiment, his lower
limbs we're beginning to ache. He
would seek one of those inviting
shelters where. shielded from the suns
rays. he might watch the people and
indulge to the full his present sense
OF contentment
Proceeding a little farther he espied
a vacant place. That glass partition
dividing the seats on either side, would
pleasantly shelter him from all
draughts. and this corner seat looked
most luxurious. The authorities really
deserved
But M that moment Matthew got a
terrible shock. Sharply defined against
the glass on the other side Of the
shelter was a hat--a hat reposing or
woman's head Of golden hair
Matthew turned and literally ran from
the spot. No one could mistake thai
haiti was his wifes; he would pci
IT out amongst a thousand Others
How wildly he remembered the sick
-ening feeling with which three week;
ago he had regarded IL, perched fol
the first time on her proudly raise
headl Surely nothing so blatant. moth
ing so vulgar. had ever sprung TO ex
istence before in the millinery world
Through all the dark ages had femi
nine taste stopped to such an appall
Ing CONNECTION of color? And the prize
well, his bank balance suffered from
II yet.
So Mary had discovered his schem'
and followed him TO Hastings. Blu
how in the name Of worder--ah, n
had It'll He had stupidity mentioned hi
real destination to the manager OF hi
Office. Evidently suspicious OF some
thing, his wife had gone there an