The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-16
1EGHoRN HAT.

Nine o'clock of a cloudleSS SUNNI er
D morning. The basket phaeton stood
at the door in the noisy street below,
but Mr.. White had already gone to his
office, Annie pleaded headache and the
children had their allotted task with
the gOverness to accomplish must
either remain indoors during the hot
hours of the day or go out alone
decided on the latter. 1 kissed my
good Annie and the children and de-
parted in the basket phaeton-
My destination was the bath. Again
the charm of novelty delighted me, as
it was my first summer with Annie s
household. I walked out on a pier
which terminated in a round space
shielded by a tent from the suns rays,
and thence the smiling old bathwo-
man, in a Tapping straw hat, conduct
ed me down a passage, bordered on
either side by tents with green doors,
to my destination. once consigned to
the baracca. / was free to remain In
the tiny house, with it's roof of mat
ting and walls of striped canvas, or to
part the curtains and issue boldly
forth as a swimmer. 1 decided to re-
main secluded in my crystal BATH as
was alone. like a mermaid in cave.
I was startled by the curtains being
separated from without and the APP
pearance of a mans head. The head
advanced with such evident intention
of a tall body's following that ut
tered a faint scream of alarm, when
the intruder retreated hastily with a
muttered Beg pardon"
y I received the apology with such
dignity as possible for a very small
lady in a flannel bathing suit, and with
her head done UP in an oilskin cap.
''Some stupid Englishman,' 1 said.
pettishly.
When 1 emerged from my bath 1
drew a chair near the railing to again
gaze out over the beautiful Mediter-
entered port the previous day. 1 en-
deavored to descry her, with the old
pain at my heart My brother Harry
young, brave and good, had died of
fever on board ship off Callao five
years ago. Since then every frigate
had become to me Harry's ship, and
every officer in uniform assuredly
must be my dead brothers friend. Five
years of mourning and silence had left
me a plain little old maid, my hair
turned gray. Then Annie, happy wife
and mother, schoolmate and friend of
many years, had written to me d long
letter from her home in Leghorn, where
her husband was engaged in business,
urging me to come abroad. I saw my
future clearly enough. In this genial
household should be companion,
friend, old-maid aunt to the children.
Another hour passed swiftly as l
gazed out over the sea from the tent,
then the heat of the sun warned me to
return Annie's phaetOn bore me back
to the city again. En- route L remem-
bered a trifling commission at the mill
liners Entering the shop, the first
tall officer with a sandy beard (whom
I at once recognized as the intruder of
my bath few hours previously. 1
gave little jump when 1 discovered
that he wore the uniform of an Ameri-
can naval officer. He was surrounded
by piles of Leghorn hats, and the poor
mans aspect was most bewildered and
helpless in that sea of straw. l exc
cuted my commission quietly and was
about to leave, when he accosted me.
would you have the kindness to
give me your adVice?" he said. L wish
to make a present of a leghorn hat to
lady in America, and it must be Of
the best quality"
Thus appealed to. I sifted out the
finest straw for his inspection. Leg
Thorn hats are all made in the Flor
He made no response. He was staring
at my hands with a very peculiar express
sion. I bluShed slightly and hid them in
the crown of my leghorn hat. They were
very small and well shaped. I had trou-
child's size. Brother Harry used to ad-
mire their tiny proportions and accuse me
OF vanity in the possession of such eX-
tremities, Here was this tall officer in a
foreign city actually pausing in the midst
lady-probably his fancee-to stare at my
little hands in evident establishment. 1
was more vexed than fiattered. What
right mad he to gaze at me so hxedly af-
ter having claimed my assistance? What
would Annie think of my adventure?
recalled him somewhat primly to a
sense of duty, I suppose, for he proceeded
70 pay for the hat, after 1 had warned
the shop people not to charge him more
than double the usual price. He thanked
me in subdued accents, and even limited
that as the ship was to be in port some
weeks. he hoped any residents would
come on board. relented sufficiently to
horn hat, and learned that it was to Be
intrusted to the capt~in of a brig bound
Perhaps 1 had best address the box
here he said again, consulting with his
Yes assented, gaining firmness and
decision of tone from the very irresolu-
The clerk brought him an immense ink
rtand and a very rusty and gritty pen at
tached. My companion dipped the pen in
10 the ink and stirred it thoughtfully, as
7 hope she will like it." said this ex-
with most she e 6nsHng me Of again g
1enance. Perhaps she owns ever many
No no alrGtq rsned N s0otbing alarm
1 pictured to myself this lady whom he
was so anxious to please How proud
straw which she could wear to churchi
H :.,T, enviogs would be her neighbors!
before me the written address
l gasIPed as I read: Miss Helen Wet
My own name was Helen wetmore and
berryElIle had been my home. The leg
horn hat which 1 had seIecte- with SO
much care was evidently intended for
You can not be DR.. Easton. who took
care OF my poor Harry and wrote me the
letters about him?'' I cried, between sob
bling and laughing. 7 am his sister
He told me his sister had the smallest
hands in the world" he replied with ex-
element
After that there were dinners at Annie's
anu moonlight rides along the shore, en-
tertdlnments on the man-of-war, with
ample leisure for explanations and conf
ushce- The surgeon who had taken care
OF Aarry had been his intimate friend
SuEng several long voyages, and had re-
FAMED the image of the sister at home all
theSe years In retiring on half nav he
had been tempted to seek her out.
~, ria q, nor assisted at the purchase of