The Republican journal., 1907-08-01
Mrs. Blooms EvaneSCen1
Bonnet.

lllle DdCk lIpu Guc HAIL otlcCI Ill
Dorset. 1t held itself aloof, as it were,
from the tinsmith's on one side and the
Vienna bakery on the other, both of
which stood vulgarly close to the walk
and to the curious eyes of the passers-
by. But this only lent additional charm,
a certain mystery, to the trim shop be-
ing demurely from the windows.
There was certain delicious French
mess about the place that went to the
the La before the little milliner's name
to the inimitable twist she could give
a bow the spirit OF France breathed
forth. As Mrs. Bloom said, Its like
hevin' foreign native livin' right long
with u.s. But truth must out. There
was nothing French about Miss La
Field; in fact, it was we'll known that
her father came from a small island
west of England, whose inhabitants do
not love the English, and her mothers
maiden name was O'Connor; the apos-
trophe being added when she came to
the ''shtates." How the La came was
no mystery. 1t was decided upon after
due deliberation on the part Of the mil
liner and her mother, and approved by
the ladies of Dorset.
There's certain longing after French
when it comes to millinery" said Miss
Field, when she decided to open her
shop some fifteen years before. eff it
wouldn't seem like giving blow to
fathers memory I'd change my name
during business hours. IT only | could
twist it il some way it would help
trade"
la. La" said the old lady, clasping
her fat hands together. ''Shure, tbs
yer father we'd have no objection to
tn same"
Miss Fields eyes frightened sudden
ly. Il have it now" she exclaimed.
You said it to T, mother. What's
better than La Field?" So that day the
sign was begun.
The ladies of Dorset were conserva-
tive. New fashions were looked at ask
ance, and old ones chung to tenaciously.
AS Mrs. Bloom remarked, wisely, Gwen
new fashions must change, an will take
ole down a peg sooner or later. So if
one jest sticks to the old things, there'll
be no humiliatin' bout it," So Miss
La Fields bonnets Of yesterday were
her bonnets of today, and certain
gray velvet of four year before was as
tempting to Mrs. Bloom as the first day
it appeared.
Privately every woman in Dorset
thought of it as Mrs. Blooms bonnet.
Mrs. Bloom thought of it so herself,
and so did Miss La Field. The first
time it appeared-a certain fresh day in
April four years before-Mrs. Bloom
clasped her hands in mute admiration.
Il never saw the beat. she said,
solemnly.
q No Il h bof
Miss La Field placed it on her patrons
head, and then stood back and survey
ed her with delight.
Three an half" said Mrs. Bloom,
slowly. "Three an half" A look of
covetousness shone from her honest
eyes, then she closed her lips tightly,
and turned her head away from the
small mirror. Take it off O me, Miss
La Field" she said, quickly. cts a
tempter. If it want for Tilda gradu-
uatln' this June I'd hev tibet bonnet
sure as my name is Mary Bloom"
'Inerhaps next year." said Miss La
Field, insinuatingly.
Mrs. Blooms face frightened. eff
you'd do thet," she said, happily, I'D
be glad to get it then. Land. d year is
nothing to wait, I waited for Bloom
for ten years, an if l could do tibet |
can wait one for bonnet. 'TWouldn't
spoil, would it,"
Not bit, said Miss La Field, kind
ly at will be as fresh as ever. | will
put it away in band-box to keep it
from fading"
Mrs. Bloom looked her gratitude
Il couldn't hev stood it." she said to
Tilda, afterward, eff she he'd put it in
the window. 'TwouId hev ben calm
out to me every time passed."
From that day Mrs. Bloom started a
new savings bank. Every spare penny
was dropped into it. And yet with all
her care the pennies had to be taken out
almost as soon as they were dropped in.
Christmas made a great hole i'll her col
lection, so at New Years she began
again. With the coming of spring her
hopes rose high; she had the required
amount in the bank. BY Easter the
bonnet would be hers. Easter came
late that year, and it was on certain
clustering evening in the latter part of
March that Mrs. Bloom broke her bank.
''Three dollars an, ifty-fve cents,
Tilda," she said jubilantly. "The nickel
will jest come in handy to give the
missionary speaker at prayer meetin'
this evenin' Here is only Wednesday,
UuU L ueCldlS IL Will NC lldlu hceplu
from wearin' the bonnet till Sunday.
We'd better go to the meetin' first, an
step round to Miss La Fields after
ward. Land, to think the years gone
tibet quick"
The two set out briskly, but before
they reached the church Mrs. Bloom
stopped suddenly.
Gracious, MAJ said Tilda, what is
Ia inv
II was jest wonderful" said Mrs.
Bloom, slowly. whether or not I'm
sure O myself. They do say this mis-
slonary is a powerful speaker, an like
as not he'll be gettin' my bunnet for
the heathens instead O the nickel. 1t
might be wiser jest to step round to
Miss La Fields first
Nonsense said Tilda, as she start
ed for the church. "What use would a
grey velvet bonnet be to the heather?
Give me your pocketbook, and I'll see
that you don't give more than nickel.'
But Mrs. Bloom held onto her purse,
and the two entered the church TO-
gether.
Never had Dorset heard such SER
mon. Even hard hearted little Tilda
was in tears. AS for Mrs. Bloom, at
first sight of the preacher she took the
nickel out of her purse and put it i'll her
glove; then tucking her pocketbook in
the farthest corner under the cushion,
she sat upon it. Blessed if | give up