Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-01-21
ADDRESSED
TO!A HAT 4.


= - - =" Z
Ssssssssssssssssssssesssss
.lTiME, the present day. Scene. tn,
Il | chateau Of Baroness de varjolis
, Just outside Of Paris
Baroness de varjolis entering and con
tinuIng to talk through the doors
Until later, then, have q good time
No. you cannot persuade me to 60, will
you. am rather tired. Good-by
Coming down to the middle Of thu
stage). There, they're gone at last!
Gone for whole hour; that means an
hours rest and quiet for me. But they
did seem dreadfully anxious that ! should
| go with them.
II should have had TO dance, to open
the ball, anyway; and M. de Ludre
would have been sure to ask me to
dance with him, And talking Of M. de
Ludre, where did put his letter? won
der II he thought i would read til am
perfectly furious with him. Did anyone
ever hear Of such insolence?"
Taking the letter from her pocket, she
starts to tear 1t up, then, changing her
mind, throws II on the table.
mo, won't--I would only want to
read 1t later-suppose save this sugar
plum until I'm hungry"
Getting up and walking about the
room.
Gracious, what a relief to get rid Of
ones guests! Friends are charming.
but in the country they think they are
In an enchanted land where the horses
are always ready to 60 anywhere, the
servants always on the watch to bring
them something good to eat, where the
fires never go out and (smelling the odor
Of lamp smoke, she turns down the wick)
where the lamps never smoke.
ITO be frank about 1t, I shall marry
again, If only for the comfort Of con-
iding to my husband, besides the care
If my own happiness, the direction OF
the house
"Marriage!, 1t is great problem,
very great problem!
-Four years of widowhood give you
q taste Of Independence and habits Of
Of mastery that would be hard to give
back into the hands of real master.
Goodness, this lamp smokes out
rageously."
She rings.
For PHYS sake, where are all the
servants? Oh! I remember now; l told
hem they might go to the celebration,
but / certainly told Joan to wait in the
ante room"
Opening the door.
Joan, Joaul Go and prepare the
rooms for my visitors"
She turns down the light even lower
ITO maryland marry M. de Ludre,
for he has asked me formally for my |
hand. He is such funny fellow! Didn't |
10 come just now, with deliberate air |
and, taking of his nativity, here It is,
now. He must have gone out with his |
straw hat.
well, he took of that famous head
covering, and, christening letter that
he had stuck in the hat band. presented
It to me, saying:
Madame, as | rode up to your
chateau just now met a miserable sort
II a fellow who asked me how he could
manage to give you the piece of paper
that he held in his hand. offered to
undertake the commission myself, and
since always carry In my portfolio
what I need for my correspondence
was able to put the aforesaid piece Of
paper into an envelope. and here It is.'
IT blushed angrily, and inquired with
In air Of affected compassion: +
Was II one Of. your own proteges?
IN, any case,' added. drily, you have
useless commission, for
shall not give him anything, and
put theletter In my pocket.
81 was completely provoked-I had
llready told him, once for all, that I |,
would never. never, never marry him.
Why can't he leave me alone?
To-day he makes use Of the strategy Il
I this poor man to make me accept his
etter. Who knows but what to-mor- ,
ow he will have recourse to violence?
N, well, II he doesn't go away soon /,
hall, 10 that's all there is about It."
She picks up the hat, playing Idly
With II.
"These little hats that men wear are
'erfectly fascinating. and so much more !
ecoming than those frightful stoyepipe .
ffairr. think shall get one for rid
ng. (she tries 1t on and runs to see
be effect in the mirror.) Truly It is
cry becoming. Initiating NJ de
.udre)
Madame, as rode up to your l
hatsau Just now, met miserable 1
boxing fellow 4,
"Ahi hal Poor fellow. l know who he !
]. Laughing. she losses the hat upon 4
be table. and letter falls from IT,
What. another letter. Why, now. It
lust belong to Robert Houdin." '
She picks up the letter without look (
" at 1t and lays II down upon the table :
eside the first one: then holding the hat
sfore her she addresses Il: