The Cairo bulletin., 1907-08-15

AUNT AMELIA AND
THE RED HAT

When Uncle Nat died he left the
girls nothing. Although they were
his nieces neither OF them was men
toned In his will. Their mother was
| also ignored, and all the fortune went
TO an unmarried sister.
This was not quite SO bad as II
looked. Ii was understood that she
would leave the estate to the family
on her death. So the girls ought to
have realized that II was the part OF
wisdom to be polite to Aunt Amelia
The niece who was Aunt Ameias
namesake was so furious over the
matter that she refused to wear
mourning after the funeral, except
when she called on Aunt Amelia.
Then she put on black that had al
ready done service in honoring sew
eral elderly and rather remote rela.
lives.
II can't see why In the world |
should go to the expense Of buying
new black Amelia observed, when
he didn't leave me cent.
Then had already bought my
spring clothes. If had got my
share OF the fortune--the share l
thought was coming to mel could
have afforded new mourning. But
not now
So Amelia chung to eolored clothes
and was somber only when she paid
her duty calls on her aunt. One day
she had dressed for a motor trip in
the park and wanted to look her best.
This summer her idea of best was the
geranium hat with its red plumes.
She put that hat on and started to
walk around to her friends house.
where the car was TO meet them She
went sauntering along. buttoning her
gloves and feeling that she really was
looking Well Red was her color, and
the black and white striped gown con-
trasted well with the hat
Suddenly she lifted her eyes. There
was Aunt Amelia approaching. II
seemed certain that she was going
to see Amelia in her gaudy finery.
The sight OF that geraniumcolored
hat might affect Amelias fortunes
seriously.
Before Aunt Amelia was half a
foot nearer her red-hatted niece
turned about and was facing in the
opposite direction,
Il must get this red hat off" was
the thought that possessed the niece
as she fed Il must get upstairs and
get rid of II before she sees. l."
She was almost running now. That
safety lay in walking straight ahead
and not stopping at the home at all
never occurred to her. Her plan had
been to run up to her hoom and she
thought only of that.
She reached the steps and skipped
up. She reached down for
her night key, but it was missing
Hopeless of escape now, she rang the
bell
THE servants must be asleep" she
thought as she pushed the button
again. my! There are Aunt Amelia's
footsteps"
Fearing to look behind her. she
In response TO sudden
Inspiration and got behind one of the
storm doors. Ii was q close fit and
the held her breath as she made her |
self as fiat as possible against the |
vail.
She heard the rustic of Aunt |
smelia's stiff crepe as she walked |
Up the steps. The astonished servant,
IS she opened the door, saw the aunt |
when she was still three steps from |
lie top. although the lady had al |
eady rung twice
The servant was not analytical, |
however. and admitted .Sunt Amelia |
Without question. The prisoner be-
lind the door wondered If her |
had been heard. She |
dipped down the steps as soon as
he door closed and darted down the
treet to keep her appointment So
he was not able to hear her aunt
aging:
II thought | saw Amelia on the
treet few minutes ago But | was
for that girl had on a red
lat. II could not have been Amelia"
"Of course not" said Inc loyal sis.
er TO whom This observation was
made. 1T could never have been
Amelia in a red hat"