Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-06-29
LOUISE'S
TEMPTATION

By EDITH ROBINSON

anu Will a lew UCAI IOuOnCS rear
ranging her hair, so that it fell more
softly about her temples and forehead.
so distinguished" she Murmured,
stepping aside to allow Louise full
view of her reflection in the mirror.
Louise's heart sank.
''Of course 1 should have known
that a simple thing like that would
have cost fortune, while those elab-
crate affairs of yesterday could be
bought for ten cents she thought.
"Of course it is not quite impossible,
butt would be reckless extrava-
gance."
But even as she turned away, the
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 list of the things that won
derful check would buy. 1t 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 safety, 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 Mr.. Richard Blake, to
see the new morality play, of which
everyone was talking. Louise had
first met Mr.. 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 little Vermont town to
take her place as eldest daughter in
q doctors household; the other to
come OUT in Boston society. The
Compromised visit to Mrs. Randolph,
an old friend of Louise's 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
dress. One can sometimes Judge bet
ter in ones own familiar mirror,
suggested Nine. Lear, noting the
young girls hesitation.
1T 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
ror, the words were stayed upon her
lips. The next instant another GUS
toner entered, and Nine. Lear, APP
parently regarding the interview with
Louise at an end, turned her atten-
ton 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 Nine.
Lear's house and retraced her home
ward way.
Il hope you found something that
suited you at Nine. Lear's," said Mrs
IL
CHANGED, another guest was present.
With all her kindness and tact, she
did not quite grasp the fact that the
choice of a new hat was so momen-
tous an occasion to her young friend.
By-and-by her hostess retired to
her own room, preparatory to round
OF afternoon teas. 1t had been ar
ranged that the maid should escort
louise, later, to Mrs Blake's. 1t was
still early to begin dressing for the
evening, but Louise was not loath to
prolOng the preparations. Ere long
there was tap at the door and the
maid appeared bearing a bandbox of
portentious size inscribed with the
name, in modest gilt letters, of Nine.
Lear. 1t was too late to send the
box back by the same messenger, as
she had intended doing; after all, such
course would have seemed unneces-
sarily decided. 1t could do no pos
sible harm to let the bandbox remain
where it was till the morrow, when
she, Louise, would have time to write
a polite little note of refusal.
The last pin was in place, and it
still lacked half hour of the appoint
ed time. Louise glanced Iongingly 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 it back as she proposed on
the morrow? Surely, there could be
no harm in that. Had not Nine Lear
expressly said that the hat was to be
sent on approval?" The proposed
test was not to be 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 a strenuous time. The hat
was large and wObbly, and at any I'M
guarded moment it slipped from its
prec~ r1ous position on her lap. Sew