The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1907-07-03
AN OLD hat and 4
I. WEDDING DINNER

An, father. you know well that's no
decent hat for man to wear to his
daughters wedding!" exclaimed Mar.
garet Collins.
"'Tis.a foine hat! Wasn't It the
pride av your mothers heart-rist her
sowl!-from the very day we were
wed, back in the Ould Dart? What
ails We, castin shame an what was
good enough for her that's In para.
dise?" and both father and daughter
crossed themselves. he as he thought
OF the gray.eyed colleen who had
rhghtcd troth to him so many years
aso, she OF the sweet old mother who
had blessed her as she died.
But in a moment the daughter re-
turned to the fray, a new fire In her
eye.
Now, father dear. It's we'll you
know mother always wanted you to
have the best. The hats like no ones
In the town now. Shed never have
you shame Margaret"
The old man turned away, sort Of
obsti. tie sorrow expressed in every
line Q. his STOPPING figure, and Mar.
garet must needs keep silence for q
while
Old Johns hat was sore subject in
the Collins family. The two daughters
at home, handsome, well-dressed girls,
tried every Sunday Of their lives to ad.
Just their minds to the trial Of going
through the streets to mass with their
father and the hat
II was an ancient beaver Of the bell.
crowned variety, and had graced the
marriage of its owner many years ago.
When the young couple crossed the
ocean to the new home which prom.
Used so much, the hat box was their
most valued bit Of luggage. When
they settled in "the west" and the lad
got work on "the ditch" where so
many strapping young Irishmen laid
the foundation Of their fortunes all
down the Des PLANES valley. the hat
was the talisman Of their respectable.
ity. It proved that its owner was no
common "greenhorn," but a married
man Of substance. and the young wife
adored It and its wearer
John wore the headgear In sublime
unconsciousness of the changing fash.
ions of this frisky land, and after the
little wife died he cherished 1t as
memento Of his wedding day. Now he
wore 1t not only to church but to the
To he nft
minute of the day besides. except
when he sat at the head Of bis table.
Sunday visitors noted 1t, the older
ones with a shake Of the head and a
whispered well. It's that himself do
be keepin' her in moind SO well-but
l dunno would she be wantin' him
to wear that ould thing av she could
be let see."
And now Margaret was to be mar.
ried, and she shuddered as she thought
of that hat In the second carriage.
She approached her father once, but
recoiled In dismay as he turned upon
her with something like a snarl.
"Av Parnell Cloonan don't like me
hat he'll do well widout me daughter"
was what he said.
Then Johns handsome gray-haired
sister-in-law tried. John" she insinu.
ated. John, don't we think yen be
needin' a new suit soon? You know
Margarets to be marri'd this day two
weeks"
1.-THE order Is with Casey these three
months back. It'll be ready in tonne"
he replied with a wary glance.
That's foine, John" she answered.
"Now, where did you say you bought
tn hat to go wild them?"
1--WE a hat that's good enough for
amy wedding. I'd have We to know.
Maggie" he replied warmly, and his
old eyes lighted and his lips set.
The suit came home from Casey's,
and the heart of the bride-to-be sank
within her. There was no hat box.
Rendered desperate by the near ap.
proach of the event. she tried again.
but
"'Tis a grand month, Jane, for a
wedding" said the old man, his eyes
looking far away. Yer mother and
me was marri'r In June. Tn haw.
thorne was in bloom be the chapel
dure. But that's long ago."
The morning Of the wedding old
John Collins left the house without
q word TO any one, He Aore his
new clothes and the battered beaver,
which had reflected the sun of many
summers. The ceremony was set for
ten o'clock, and 1t was $3.50 when
they called him, but he had not re-
turned. They waited and worried un-
til 1t seemed as If they would be
Obliged to telephone the police for
help. and the priest to postpone the
wedding, when in walked Collins.
He carried himself with savage dig.
nifty, and wore shining silk hat of
the very newest style.
The ceremony was over and the
bride, still dazed. with the hat glim.
mering before her eyes, headed the
nrocacciOp frnm tho carriapea into m a