The Brinkley argus., 1907-10-04
LOUISE'S TEMPTATION
tCopyright. by Joseph B. Bowles)
By EDITH ROBINSON

"Just the thing said Mime. Lear, adjusting the hat on Louise's head. and with a few delft touches rear ranging her hair, so that it fell more softly about her temples and forehead. "So distinguished! she murmured, stepp,ng aside to allow Louise full view of her reflection in the mirror.
 Louises heart sank.
 "Of course l should have known that a simple thing like that would have cost a fortune, while those elab- crate affairs of yesterday could be bought for ten cents," she thought. "Of course it is not quite impossible, built would be reckless extrava- gance."
 But even as she turned away, the last word aroused some definite echo in her mind, and the thought Of the check that Uncle Robert had given her at parting Extravaganza money, he had called it. The journey to Bos ton had been delightfully."- beguiled in making a list of the things that won derful check would buy. It was the largest sum of money that Louise had ever had of her very own, and by the time she reached the city, not only the dear home people, but her friends in the village. Her father. too, had given her five dollars for pocket money, and that sum, also, was intact. Out of the very lavishness of the dis play in the show windows and on the shop counters had come the indiffer- ence of satiety, and the brown hat was the first real temptation that had presented itself Tonight Louise was to dine with Mrs Blake and Isabel and go with them afterwards, under the escort of MT. Richard Blake, to see the new morality play, of which everyone was talking. Louise had first met MT. Blake last June, when she and Isabel, after a 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 a little Vermont town to take her place as eldest daughter in a doctors household; the other to come out in Boston society. The long-promised visit to Mrs Randolph, an old friend of Louises 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. Randolph's ad- dress. One can sometimes judge bet ter in ones own familiar mirror" suggested Mime. Lear, noting the young girls hesitation.
 Tt is not that" began Louise, and was about to add, frankly, that the hat was beyond her means; but as she turned for one last look at the distinguished reflection in the mir TOT, the words were stayed upon her lips. The next instant another GUS toner entered, and Mme Lear, ap- parenEsf regarding the interview with Louise at an end, turned her atten- tion 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 Mime. Lear's house and retraced her home ward way.
 T hope you found something that suited you at Mme. Lear's," said Mrs. Randolph at luncheon, when, as it chanced, another guest was present. With all her kindness and tact. she did not quite grasp the fact that the choice of new hat was so momen- tous an occasion to her young friend.
 By-and-by her hostess retired to Ter own room, preparatory to a round of afternoon teas. It had been ar ranged that the maid should escort Louise, later, to Mrs. Blake's. It was still early to begin dressing for the evening, but Louise was not loath to prolong the preparations Ere long there was a tap at the door and the maid appeared bearing a bandbox of portentious size inscribed with the name, in modest gilt letters, of Mime, Lear. It was too late to send the Dox back by the same messenger, as she had intended doing after all. such course would have seemed unneces. sarily decided. It could do no DOS sible harm to let the bandbox remain where it was till the morrow, when she, Louise. would have time to write 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 1t back as she proposed on the morrow? Surely, there could be no harm in that. Had not Mime. 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- guarded moment 1t slipped from its prec.rious position on her lap. Sey eral times Mir. Blake had saved 1t from falling to the floor only by a des- perate lunge. The seat on her other