Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-06-22


Let's do it," cried merry Mrs.
Hastings. "rll change FOR keeps, as
the boys say, if you will"
I'D be too glad to- said Clara,
eagerly, as she thought how Jim
would approve of the quiet elegance
of the black hat
Acting on the impulse of the mo-
men+, the two women exchanged hats
then and there. They accomplished
It so quietly that only one or two
people, besides a few amused walters,
observed the act.
Delighted at her bargain, Mrs.
Hastings returned to her table just
in time to greet her husband. He
looked amazed at her new hat, then
glanciRg at Clara in the black pic
ture hat, declared they had both ben
Gifted by the exchange.
Now it happened that Jim Stanton
was unable to see his Milwaukee mag
nate, who had left a note deferring
the interview until the next day.
Delighted at this incident, Stanton
hurried back to Sherry's intending to
lunch with his fiancee and her friend,
Mrs. Babcock.
He entered the dining-room, which
had now become well-flled with peo-
pie, and saw a sight that decidedly
upset his equanimity.
Right opposite the door, at a table
by a Fifth avenue window, he saw
Clara's burnt orange hat! The ladys
| back was toward him, bat there was
ne mistaking those conspicuous or
ange-colored plumes as they trailed
| down on her gray gown. He knew
there was no other such hat in New
York city. And opposite the lady
was a man. A handsome fellow with
a Vandyke beard and a most irritat-
! ing air of lover-like attention. STAN
/ tons blood boiled to think of a man
| daring to look at his Clara with that
effect of proprietorship.
! And as one of Jim's greatest defects
was a fiery and ungovernable temper,
! he was tempted for moment to make
| a scene in the restaurant, and fore
/ IDLY, if need be, drag his fiancee away.
! But though bis innate good breed
! ing forbade such an exhibition of his
feelings, he turned away from the
door with an insatiate desire for re-
venge in his heart
Too furious to think nationally, he
walked toward the outside door and
| in the vestibule met George Liddell,
who was apparently waiting for some
one Childish in his wrath, Stanton
blurted out the tale of his grievance
| to his friend
"Ho, no." laughed Mr. Liddell, "Tll
| tell you what. Pay her off in her
own coin. My cousin from Chicago
is here with me, she's taking off her
wraps in the dressing room now. I'll
send her to you for luncheon. She
| won't mind. She's seeing New York,
and she's fearfully swagger-looking.
You march her in the dining-room,
| and lunch in full sight of your tickle
lady love-"
This plan was carried out, and in
! five minutes Jim Stanton was haugh-
| tily entering the dining-room, with a
/ rather pronounced-looking western
girl as MS companion.
| Stanton chose a table which gave
| the orange-hatted lady full view Of
himself and his luncheon guest, though
he himself had his back to the sup
| posed Clara.
| The western girl proved amusingly
! vivacious, and as she gazed, unabash-
ed, at the various types of New York
| ladies around her, she suddenly said:
! WHO is that beautiful girl, with
| the big black hat, who is so persist
emily staring at your"
Stanton, with his aggrieved thoughts
| still on the orange-cOlored hat, re-
Piled indifferently: 81 don't know;
where is she?"
''Oyer that way" said Miss Liddell,
| indicating Clara's direction.
Jim Stanton looked across the room,
and saw Clara very naughty and
serene-looking Clara-her proudly-held
head crowned with an enormous black
GainsbOrough hat!
Bewildered, he turned back toward
the lady with the orange plumes, and
discovered that she was not his Clara,
but total stranger, though undoubt-
eddy wearing the Paris hat that had
| accompanied him UP Fifth avenue
that morning. Stanton turned white
The situation was surely a serious
one. Through his own error, he had
deliberately offered the girl he loved
an amazing insult
His Straightforwardness saw but
one mode of procedure. Begging the
astonished Miss Liddel to excuse him
for a moment he strobe across the
room to the table where Clara sat-
She refused to answer his greeting. or
to speak to him at all.
Stanton was not surprised at this,
but proved himself equal to the occa-
sion. Burning to Mrs. Babcock, he
told her the whole truth, which Clara,
of course. could not help hearing.