Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-03
II HEN late in the afternoon hel

VIZ HEN late in the afternoon he
Wv aunt felt one of her neuralgia
headaches coming on and de
cided that she could not attempt the
dinner, Nancy was in despair. She
tragically surveyed her aunt, whose
head was rapidly becoming indistin.
guishable in turban extemporized ou
of her flannel petticoat, a sure sigr
that the occupant had spoken her last
word until she emerged next morning
Nancy tiptoed away.
Poor aunt" she thought, "but what
a bother! I can't send them word al
this hour that we cannot come. 1t will
upset everything. They do not know
us well enough for me to say that aunty
is dreadfully Ill. They would feel that
1t was taking a liberty. Besides, there
is nothing for me to do. She must not
be disturbed, and in three or four hours
her headache will pass away and then
she will fall asleep. That is the way
she always does. think shall go to
the dinner myself and upset arrange
ments as little as possible. Aunt would
be scandalized, but that is certainly
the commonsense plan, and think I
shall go rather early and give them
time to fill aunty's place If possible"
Nancy always made up her mind
quickly, but only after a survey of the
whole field. She decided, therefore, to
wear a noncommital gown. She chose
the blue one with the ribboned lace and
sighed as her second judgment sup
ported the choice. "I shall look over
dressed for a call and underdressed
for dinner. but it can't be helped"
she thought regretfully, as she selected
her black hat with the four stiff white
feathers.
She went out softly. ION no account
whatever" she ordered the clerk, dis
turb Mrs. Peyton. She has a very bad
matter what comes"
The wind was blowing a small gale
as Nancy got to Broadway. 1t poured
between the skyscrapers like a tide
rushing between the rocks. AS she
waited for the car she felt tug at her
hat, and, with her skirts grabbed in
one hand. she clutched frantically with
the other. The wind, however, had al
ready lifted her hat and was Tapping
1t vertically in the air. 1t pulled like
a boat at it's moorings. Nancy lost her
sense of its geography through its un-
expected location, and as she bent with
her head to the breeze she felt ruefully
that she had clutched it in it's most ten
der spot. She staggered to the nearest
doorway and proceeded to examine.
There was no need of removing her hat.
Three white cock feathers were crum-
pied in her hand. The fourth was drift
ing slowly downward when the unap-
peasable wind whisked it away with a
series Of somersaults high into the air.
Nancy stood in utter disgust. The
three feathers were crumpled past
smoothing and one was broken out
right. AS her hat depended for it's ef-
feet solely upon it's torturing shape and
its four standing feathers, to wear it as
1t was seemed out of the question. She
looked round in vexation. She had
taken refuge in the vestibule of a large
department store. She would go in
and see If they had anything fit to
wear.
II was already five. as she saw by the
clock in the street, and with growing
annoyance she made her way to the
elevator.
In the hat department she finally Sc
1ected charming hat. 1t was shy and
at the same time saucy, a combination
which, as Nancy very we'll knew, is
universally attractive. Furthermore, it
seemed to have been created for the
blue gown with the ribboned lace. She
was glad that she had been compelled
to get 1t, she felt as she cooked her
head rapturously.
II will take it," she said. "I wish to
wear it. AS you see. an accident hap
pened to this one
Certainly" said the woman in at