The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-06-27

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I'D be too glad to-" said Clara,
eagerly. as she thought how Jim
would approve of the quiet elegance
of the black hat.
Acting on the impulse of the mo-.
ment, the two women exchanged hats
then and there. They accomplished
1t so quietly that only one or two
people, besides few amused walters,
observed the act.
Delighted at her bargain, Mrs.
Hastings returned to her table just
In time to greet her husband. He
looked amazed at her new hat. then
glancing at Clara in the black pic.
ture hat, declared they had both ben.
Gifted by the exchange.
Now it happened that Jim Stanton
was unable to see his Milwaukee mag.
nate, who had left note deferring
the interview until the next day.
Delighted at this incident, Stanton
hurried back to Sherry's intending to
lunch with his fiancee and her friend,
Mrs. Babcock.
He entered the dining-room, which
had now become well-filled with PEG.
pie. and saw sight that decidedly
upset his equanimity.
Right opposite the door, at a table
by a Fifth avenue window, he saw
Clara's burnt orange hat! The lady's
back was toward him, but there was
no mistaking those conspicuous or.
ange-colored plumes as they trailed
down on her gray gown. He knew
there was no other such hat in New
York city. And opposite the lady
was a man. A handsome fellow with
Vandyke beard. and a most irritat.
ing air of lover-like attention. Stan
tons blood boiled to think of a man
daring to look at his Clara with that
effect of proprietorship.
And as one of Jim's greatest defects
was a fiery and ungovernable temper,
he was tempted for a moment to make
scene in the restaurant, and fore.
IDLY. If need be. drag his fiancee away.
But though his innate good breed.
ing forbade such an exhibition of his
feelings, he turned away from the
door with an insatiate desire for re-
venge in his heart.
Too furious to think nationally, he
walked toward the outside door and
in the vestibule met George Liddell.
who was apparently waiting for some
one. Childish in his wrath, Stanton
blurted out the tale Of his grievance
to his friend.
"Ho, ho!" laughed Mr.. Liddell, "I'll
tell you what. Pay her of in her
own coin. My cousin from Chicago
is here with me, she's taking off her
wraps in the dressing room now. m
send her to you for luncheon. She
won't mind. She's seeing New York,
and she's fearfully swagger.looking.
You march her in the dining.room.
and lunch in full sight of your tickle
lady love-"
This plan was carried out and in
five minutes Jim Stanton was haugh-
tily entering the dining-room, with a
rather pronounced-looking western
| SAAA eSo Ai0 SO1Ap0ukOu.
Stanton chose table which gave
the orange-hatted lady full view of
himself and his luncheon guest, though
he himself had his back to the SUP.
posed Clara.
The western girl proved amusingly
vivacious, and as she gazed, unabash.
ed. at the various types of New York
ladies around her, she suddenly said:
who is that beautiful girl, with
the big black hat. who is so persist.
emily staring at you?"
Stanton, with his aggrieved thoughts
still on the orange-colored hat, re-.
piled, indifferently: Il don't know:
where is she?"
"Over that way" said Miss Liddell.
indicating Clara's direction.
| Jim Stanton looked across the room.
and saw CLARA very naughty and
serene-looking Clara-her proudly-held
head crowned with an enormous black
Gainsborough hat!
Bewildered, he turned back toward
the lady with the orange plumes, and
discovered that she was not his Clara.
but total stranger, though undoubt.
eddy wearing the Paris hat that had
accompanied him up Fifth avenue
that morning. Stanton turned white.
The situation was surely serious
one. Through his own error, he had
deliberately offered the girl he loved
an amazing insult
His straightforwardness saw but
one mode of procedure. Begging the
astonished Miss Liddel to excuse him
for a moment, he strobe across the
room to the table where Clara sat.
She refused to answer his greeting, or
to speak to him at all.
Stanton was not surprised at this.
but proved himself equal to the occa.
sion. Turning to Mrs. Babcock, he
told her the whole truth, which Clara.
of course, could not help hearing.
You are not bit to blame" de.
clared Mrs. Babcock, as the recital
was finished. Go and bring Miss
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