Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-28
table and cried softly, all alone by her

table and cried softly, all alone by her
self
But not for long, for soon she was
bustling around, tidying up the shabby
little sitting room. She crammed the
one-sided bonnet into it's box and put it
away out of sight in the closet, and TAX
ing her Bible she read one of the sweet
old chapters, and somehow she felt
strangely comforted.
Light footsteps upon the walk and a
tap at the door reused her from her rev.
erie; she opened the door and there stood
Roxy Brown, Mrs. Bartlett's little ap-
prentice, with a bandbox, which she hur-
riedly thrust into Miss Priscilla's hand
saying:
Here's your new bonnet, Miss Pris-
ella. Mrs. Bartlett couldn't possibly fin
ish it sooner, and she told me to tell you
she hoped you'd like it." and before Miss
Priscilla had recovered from her aston
ishment the girl and her companion were
Fastening off down the street, we'll out
of reach of her voice.
She carried the box over to the little
table and removed the cover with trem-
bling hands, and then lifted out lovely
little bonnet of black lace and jet, with
two soft, silky black plumes and a big
bunch of purple pansies and lovely lace
ties.
'Oh, OH she breathed, that dear Mis-
Bartlett, may the good L ord bless her.
And to think was mean enough to call
her near. | really don't deserve this
beautiful bonnet" Then a tear splashed
down upon the shining jet lace, and she
lo,, I'D I,~tS
how much l wanted a new bonnet till
got it." she said comically.
A happier hearted little woman than
Miss Priscilla Peck, with the little lace
and jet bonnet perched on her wavy
| brown hair, did not enter the little,
| flower decked church on that beautiful
| Easter morning.
Mrs. Bartlett came in late, and nearly
| all the congregation were in their places.
She settled herself in her pew and then,
as was her wont, began surreptitiously
scanning the headgear of the feminine
| portion of the congregation, taking note
of the hats and bonnets that were her
own handiwork and those that had come
! from the rival shop across the way. More
than two-thirds of them came from my
store" she was thinking, exultingly, when
suddenly she gave start and turned hot
and cold all in an instant.
There, sitting we'll up in front. where
she could enjoy the flowers. with the light
from the stained glass window falling like
an aureole around her, was Miss Priscilla
Peck, with little black lace and jet bon
net perched airily upon her head.
Mrs Presley'S bonnet The very one
she had finished late last evening and
, sent home to her wealthy customer by
Roxy Brown.
Then, regardless of what people might
| think, she turned deliberately around and
| looked at the Presley pew. Yes. there
sat Mrs Presley, stiff and stately as ever,
with her winter bonnet on her head, and
look of cold diSpleasure in her eyes as
! they met her own.
! Then for FIVE minutes she sat perfectly
still and thought. and the whole thing
became plain to her.
1T is all the fault of that careless,
trifling Roxy Brown" she thought an
grily: she was standing before the glass
trying on her own hat when l asked her
to take home Mrs. Presley's bonnet, and
she promised as glib as you please. with
| out III an "LoLI bue
belonged to, and she's gone and given
Mrs. Presley's bonnet to Miss Priscilla
But | should desire to know what Pris-
ella Peck means by going and keeping a
bonnet that she knows doesn't belong to
her. An eight-dollar bonnet. too. and the
handsomest one l have made this season,
but I'll settle the matter in short order
after church is out" and then, with a
heart that was not at all in harmony with
the day. she turned her attention to the
| beautiful Easter service, that had so far
passed UNDECIDED.
| But what was this anthem the children