The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-09-20
Her PARIS HAT
Sho Didn't Want II Until II Was
Sold.

ana tdWny CnlHOn lOunu on HeI manu-,
and Leslie gazed at it admiringly,
thinking how pretty it would be with
her aunts auburn hair.
I'm so glad you like it, Leslie, for
I'm going to give 1t to you"
ITO mel"
Mrs. Blanchard was now bending
over her trunk, and she did not see
the dismay in her niece's frank face
when she learned that this rather
pronounced hat was to be hers. Les
lie heartily wished she had not been
so enthusiastic over It,
Its quite a symphony in color, isn't
it?" said Mrs. Blanchard.
Eyes, it's very artistic murmured
Leslie; and then, like a little girl sud
denly remembering her manners, lit
was very good of you to bring it to
me, aunty. Thank you so much!"
20, l was very glad to bring it to
you You know I believe in making
useful gifts"
Useful gifts!" groaned Leslie, in
wardly. Could a hat that would quar-
rel with every piece of wearing APP
parel that she owned be called useful?
She imagined how glaring it would
be with her new Alice-blue suit, and
growing suddenly determined, she be-
gan bravely: "Aunty, it's beautiful
hat, but ] really think you ought"
Nov, dear, you are not to say
word about my extravaganza,
laughed the young aunt. IF | wish
to buy my favorite niece pretty hat.
l think may be allowed the pleasure.
I'm not such a spendthrift as all the
family seem to think, and there is no
one to whom I'd rather bring a nice
present than you"
Instead of saying, as she had in
tended, that she thought her aunt
ought to keep the hat, which would be
so becoming to her, Leslie kissed
Mrs. Blanchard and called her
generous old dear"
IT'S no use" she said to herself,
mournfully, later in the day, after
she had tried the hat with her new
Alice-hlue suit and her last winters
red gown. II simply can't wear that
dreadful thing with any of my
clothes, and ! must wear it or aunty
will think it queer" She wrapped it
in tissue paper and sadly put it back
in the box. I suppose most girls
would be proud Of a Paris hat, but it's
going to be a pretty expensive luxury
for me"
When, a week later with the help
of a sewing woman, Leslie had com
pleted a pretty brown and gold dress.
she became reconcled TO the offend
ing headgear, which certainly was ex-
tremely effective with the soft tones
of her new frock Indeed, she was so
pleased with the outfit that she took
the first opportunity Of appearing in
il. She was asked to drop in at
rummage sale that a young ladies'
guild was holding in the parlors Of
a church near her home, and al
though she knew that "dress-up"
clothes were scarcely appropriate she
could not resist wearing her new
gown and Paris hat There was quite
a rush of customers at the time that
she arrived, and the amateur sales
women found their hands full in wait
ing upon them.
do take off your hat and pitch
right in said one of Leslie's friends.
I'VE need all the help we can get"
In a moment Leslie was behind the
counter, showing goods When the
last articles were sold, she turned
with a tired sigh to put on her hat
and go home. But where was it? She
looked where she had left it, but it
was not there.
Have you seen my hat?" she
asked one of the girls. 81 took it off
here"
"No, but probably some one put it
in the cloakroom with ours was the
answer; but Leslie did not find it
there
What are you looking for?" asked
16-year-old boy, who had volun-
teered to help his sister at the sale
MY hat It's sort of yellowish
brown"
'Yellowish brown" he repeated
as it kind of squshy, with little bits
of rosebuds on it?"
yes" answered Leslie eagerly. 81
suppose you would call that chiffon
'squshy,'" she smiled. where is it?"
81 don't know" replied the boy,
hesitatingly THAT is, | don't know
where it is now, for II sold it,"
sold it," exclaimed the girls, in
chorus.
Eyes. | noticed Il didn't have a
mark on it. but we were doing such
a rushing business that | didn't want
to bother anybody, so when an old
lady said it looked pretty mussed, but
she'd take it for the gold braid on IL
if she could get it cheap, | let her
have il for quarter"
"A quarter!" the girl exclaimed
again, and Leslie, sinking into a
chair, said, laughing rather hysteric.
ally:
IT wonder what sum you could get
for this dress that goes with it,
Youths Companion.