The daily tribune., 1907-09-09
her PARIS HAT
She Didn't Want u Until Il wac
Sold.


cd with foreign hotel "stickers." Mrs.
Blanchard twirled the Paris confec-
tion of yellow rosebuds, gold braid
and tawny chiffon round on her hand,
and Leslie gazed at 1t admiringly,
thinking how pretty 1t would be with
her aunts auburn hair.
I'm 30 glad you like 1t, 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 niecei frank face
when she learned that this rather
pronounced hat was to be hers. Les.
lie heartily wished she had not been
30 enthusiastic over 1t.
'It's quite symphony In color, isn't
III" said Mrs. Blanchard
Yes, it's very artistic" murmured
Leslie; and then. like a little girl sud
denly remembering her manners. ut
was very good Of you to bring 1t to
me, aunty. Thank you 80 much!''
20, was very glad to bring 1t to
you. You know / believe in making
useful gifts"
useful gifts!" groaned Leslie, in
wardly. Could hat that would quar-
rel with every piece of wearing ap-
parel that she owned be called useful?
She imagined how glaring 1t 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"
Now, dear, you are not to say a
word about my extravaganza"
laughed the young aunt. III I wish
to buy my favorite niece q pretty hat.
I think i may be allowed the pleasure
I'm not such spendthrift as ali 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
80 becoming to her, Leslie kissed
Mrs. Blanchard and called her a
generous old dear"
Its no USE" she said to herself,
mournfully. later in the day. after
Alice-blue suit and her last winters
red gown. II simply can't wear that
dreadful thing with any OF my
clothes, and / must wear II or aunty
will think II queer" She wrapped II
In tissue paper and sadly put 1t back
In the box. l suppose most girls
would be proud of Paris hat, but it's
going to oe pretty expensive luxury
for me-"
When. a week later. with the help
of a sewing woman, Leslie had COM
pleted pretty brown and gold dress,
she became reconciled 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
II. She was asked to drop In at a
rummage sale that young ladies'
guild was holding in the parlors Of
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
rush OF customers at the time that
she arrived. and the amateur sales
women found their hands full In walt
ing upon them.
DO take of 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 Il? She
looked where she had left II, but 1t
was not there.
Have you seen my hat?" she
asked one Of the girls. Il took It on
here"
mo. but probably some one put It
In the cloakroom with ours" was the
answer; but Leslie did not find 1t
there.
What are you looking for7" asked
16year-old boy. who had vo!un-
teered to help his sister at the sale
my hat. It's sort of yellowish
brown"
"Yellowish brown?" he repeated
rs It kind Of squshy. with little bits
Of rosebuds on III"
Yes" answered Leslie. eagerly. II
suppose you would call that chiffon
'sQushy.'" she smiled. Where is IT."
Il don't know" replied the boy.
hesitatingly. That Is, ! don't know
where II Is now, for IL sold IT,"
Sold III" exclaimed the girls. In
chorus.
Yes. ! noticed II didn't have a
mark on II. but we we're doing such
a rushing business that I didn't want
to bother anybody. so when an old
lady said Il looked pretty mussed. but
she'd take II for the gold braid on II
II she could get II cheap. I let her
have II for quarter"
"A quarter!" the girl exclaimed
again. and Leslie. sinking into T.
chair. said, laughing rather hysteric-