The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-08-01

| she and Isabel, after long, happy
| season together as classmates, had
| said good-by to the school and to the
school life, and returned, the one to
| her home in little Vermont town to
take her place as eldest daughter in
| a doctors household; the other to
come out" in Boston society The
| Compromised visit to Mrs. Randolph,
| an old friend of Louise's mother, af
| forded the girls many opportunities
for renewed companionship
you do not wish to decide at pres
ent? Perhaps you would like me to
send the hat to Mrs. Randolphs ad-
dress. One can sometimes Judge bet
ter in ones own familiar mirror"
| suggested Nine. Lear, noting the
young girls hesitation.
1T is not that" began Louise, and
was about to ado. frankly that the
hat was beyond ner means: but as
she turned for one last look at the
distinguished" reflection in the mir
ror, the words were stayed upon her
lips. The next instant another Gus
toner entered. and Nine. Lear, ap-
parently regarding the interview with
Louise at an end, turned her atten-
ton to the new arrival, and Louise
had no further opportunity for speech
at least, so she told herself as she
went slowly down the steps of Nine
pnr'S hnnSn nd
ward way.
Il hope you found something that
suited you at Nine. Lear's," said Mrs
Randolph at luncheon, when, as 1t
CHANGED, another guest was present
With all her kindness and tact, she
did not quite grasp the fact that the
choice of new hat was 50 momen.
tous a. occasion to her young friend
By-and-by her hostess retired to
her own room, preparatory to round
of afternoon teas. 1t had been ar
ranged that the maid should escort
Louise, later. to Mrs. Blake's 1t was
still early to begin dressing for the
evening, but Louise was not loath to
p"olong the preparations. Ere long
there was tap at the door and the
maid appeared bearing a bandbox Of
portentious size inscribed with the
| name, in modest gilt letters, of Nine
Lear 1t was too late to send the
box back by the same messenger, as
she had intended doing; after all, such
course would have seemed unneces-
Tia. Il
sible harm to let the bandbox remain
where it was till the morrow, when
she, Louise, would have time to write
a polite little note of refusal
The last pin was in place, and it
still lacked half hour of the appoint
ed time. Louise glanced longingly to-
ward the bandbox. After all. what
harm would it do to try it on once
more. Swift upon the thought follow
ed the act.
Why not wear the hat this evening
sending it back as she proposed on
the morrow? Surely, there could be
no harm in that. Had not Nine Lear
expressly said that the hat was to be
sent on approval?' The proposed
test was not to be a mere cursory
"trying-on" in her own room, but only
by the flare of many lights, by con
tact with other hats.
Between her emotions and her hat
Louise had strenuous time. The hat
was large and wobbly, and at any un.
UnlrIaI S1 ttg
prec. rious position on her lap. Sew
era1 times Mr. Blake had saved it from
falling to the floor only by des,
perate lunge. The seat on her other
side had been vacant throughout the
performance. 1t was unlikely that It
would be occupied now when the cur.
tain was going up on the last act.
Louise hastily placed the hat on the
empty chair. out of the need of Mr..
8lake's watchful care.
Even seasoned theatergoers were
not proof against the emotional strain
OF the final act-that she neither heard
nor saw that some one had fumbled
his way in through the darkness and
sat down by her side.
The lights were turned on. There
was sigh and a rustic of relief
throughout the hall. Louise was star
Ing In Mortified dumbfoundedness at
her unexpected neighbor-a fat man
OF stolid composure
Incapable of speech she could only
gaze at him with tear-fled eyes. Her
neighbor, however, displayed no con-
Germ for her agitation, nor any APP
parent intention of moving, but con
tinued hopping his eyes, winding up
with dolorous blast on his nose.
Please, please" said Louise. faint.
ly, IF you don't mind you're sitting
on my hat"
Slowly the fat man arose. There
was the brown hat, crushed to the
thinness Of sheet of paper, the feath.
er fiat as though passed through the
mangle.
Dear me, who would have thought
that 1t would have squashed SO cas-
ily!" pulled the fat man, embarrassed
at the situation.
"" arriving al NIB. hdHuoipH INA,
night, Louise went directly to her
own room, where she put the un.
fortunate hat into her deepest bureau
drawer--alas, Ii would have gone with
out difficulty into the shallowest-and
went to bed as speedily as possible
intending to lie awake all night, cry.
Ing.
| The next thing she knew Y was