Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-03

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 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 pie ture hat, declared they had both ben. efited 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 peo- pie. and saw sight that decidedly upset his equanimity.
 Right opposite the door. at a table by Fifth avenue window, he saw Claras 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 a Vandyke beard. and most irritat- ing air of lover-like attention. Stan. tons blood boiled to think of man daring to look at his Clara with that effect of prop-ietorship.
 And as one of Jims greatest defects was fiery and ungovernable temper, he was tempted for moment to make { scene in the restaurant, and fore ibly, 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 furoius to think rationally, 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.
 1 "Ho. ho!" laughed Mir Liddell, "Tll tell you what. Pay her off in her own coin. My cousin from Chicago is here with me, she's taking off her wraps in the dressing room now. I'll 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, aud lunch in full sight of your fickle lady love"
 ! This plan was carried out, ard in five minutes Jim Stanton was haugh- tily entering the dining-room, with a rather pronounced-looking western girl as his companion. ..-
 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 ently staring at you?"
 Stanton, with his aggrieved thoughts still on the orange-colored hat, re- piled, indifferently: T don't know; where is she?"
 lover that way" said Miss Liddell, indicating Clara's direction.
 Jim Stanton looked across the room, and saw Clara--a 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 a total stranger, though undoubt- edly wearing the Paris hat that had accompanied him up Fifth avenue that morning. Stanton turned white. The situation was surely a 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 strode 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 Liddell over here. and we will all continue our luncheon together"
 Not daring to look at Clara for ap. proval of this invitation, Stanton did as Mrs. Babcock bade him. but when he returned with the western girl. Clara's cordial welcome to the stranger was supplemented by low ing if roguish glance at her quick tempered suitor.