The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-06-01


that afternoon. Mary was filled with
a new joy, so great and so wonderful
that she had no words. Whenever she
raised her llmpid eyes to Ormond's
face she saw such light of tenderness
and love In his that hers dropped with
the wealth of happiness that had come
to her. He loved her.
The next Sunday Mary remained at
home, and Minnie wore the hat. Mr..
Ferguson came home with her. Late
In the afternoon Ormond came to ask
If Mary were indisposed. He had not
seen her at church.
No; Mary was quite well, but women
know how to invent excuses that prove
one thing while being entirely the 9TH
er. He remained to tea. During the
afternoon mention was made of Me-
mortal day, which would be the follow
Ing week. Both the men proposed to-
gether that they should all go to see
the parade in landau and afterward
drive out to the cemetery to decorate
the graves Elverton had quantities
Of flowers growing in his yard which
he would have gathered, and they
could take them along. Mary had been
tenderly cultivating few ported
plants. Some of them were for the
few soldiers who lay in that graveyard
and the rest for the father who had
laid down his life for the Union. Mr.
Ferguson said he had some new silk
flags which they could place on the
soldiers graves. The two girls looked
ut each other with white faces. They
said neithey Eyes" nor mo" to the in
vitation, bun the men took it for grant
ed that they intended to go and ad-
mired them all the more at their evil
dent appreciation of the solemnity of
the occasion. Said Ferguson to Min
ME:
you'll wear your new hat, Miss
Minnie. You look fine in it. No girl
in Brockton has one as nice" They
stood by the little gate together, as she
had made q pretext to gather him a
bouquet. Mary and Ormond were still
in the little sitting room.
"You will wear that pretty hat with
the roses on, hope. 1t is the prettiest
hat l ever saw, and you become it,"
Mary put her hand to her throat,
suddenly choked by the awful thought.
To whom would fall the partnership
hat for the day? And as soon as the
two girls were alone Mary said to Min
ME, whose face shone with her happi-
ness:
What are we going to do?"
about the hat? Why, it Is my turn
next Sunday, so instead of Sunday III
wear it then" replied Minnie coolly.
Minnie" gasped Mary, "let me wear
it and I'll give you my new gloves"
mo, not for twenty pairs" replied
Minnie decidedly.
Mrs. Pierce was called. Mary was
desperate. Somehow this partnership
began to assume unexpected proper
tons, and she even thought that per-
haps 1t was against the law-such u
deception. What if she were to be
dragged into court and Ormond obliged
to hear the awful truth! The hat had
lost its luster, yet he thought it pretty,
and she knew it was becoming. Min
ME might wear it.
But Mrs. Pierce believed in the ulti
mate justice of heads and tails, and
Mary won. But when she saw Minnie
turn white and sway as if about to
faint she said:
minnie, won't wear it. You may"
But Minnie was generous, and Mary
must wear it, Then neither mentioned
it until the eventful day. Twice Min
ME tried it on, surreptitiously, with a
new arrangement of her hair, sighed
and put it away again. Mary said
nothing, but felt much like crying all
these days. She could not give up her
chance of happiness which might de-
pend upon the allurement of this hat,
and yet the settled despair of Mlnne's
set face hurt. Minnie had renowned
1t and was suffering the pain attendant
upon that heroic act.
The girls were at breakfast on that
sacred morning, but neither had any
appetite. Suddenly Mary sprang up,
upsetting her coffee in her hurry, and
disappeared in their joint bedroom.
Minnie knew that she was coming
forth resplendent in that beautiful hat
but instead Mary came out dressed in
the deep mourning gown, with the
close bonnet and long Grape veil, that
her mother had worn for so short q
time. In her hand she held the part
nership hat and gave it to Minnie.
ooh, Mary, you are saint" was oil
the surprised girl could say, and she
Rugged Mary out Of breath, to the i'm
minent danger of the hats destruction.
When the handsome landau arrived
before the gate the young men came In
to help with the flowers. Ferguson
looked admiration at Minnie, and as
they passed down the walk to put their
fragrant load in the carriage newell,
1t was all settled then.
Elverton had stood as though trans
fixed as he saw Mary. Her sweet and
gentle beauty had gained n new dig
nifty and something so touching that
1t appealed to all his tenderness. He
said with great respect and admiration
and sympathy:
81 scarcely knew you. Have you lost
opxz nnoov