Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-03-27
table and cried softly. all alone by her.

But not for long, for soon she was
bustling around, tidying up the shabby
little sitting room. She crammed the
one-sided bonnet. into Its box and put 1t
away out of sight in the closet, and tax
ing her Bible she read one of the sweet
old chapters, and somehow she felt
strangely comforted.
Light footsteps upon the walk and a
tap ut the door reused her from her rev.
erie; she opened the door and there stood
Roxy Brown, Mrs. Bartlett's little APP
prentice, with bandbox, which she hur-
riedly thrust into Miss Priscilla's hand,
saying:
Here's your new bonnet, Miss Pris-
ella. Mrs. Bartlett couldn't possibly fin
ish 1t sooner, and she told me to tell you
she hoped you'd like it." and before Miss
Priscilla had recovered from her aston
ishment the girl and her companion were
Fastening off down the street, well out
of reach of her voice.
She carried the box over to the little
table and removed the cover with trem.
bling hands, and then lifted out lovely
little bonnet of black lace and Jet, with
two soft, silky black plumes and big
bunch of purple pansies and lovely lace
ties.
''oh, OH" she breathed, ..tllat dear Mis-
bartlett, may the good Lord bless her.
And to think was mean enough to call
her near. l really don't deserve this
beautiful bonnet" Then tear splashed
down upon the shining jet lace, and she
laughed softly. II really didn't know
how much l wanted new bonnet till 1
got it." she said comically.
:, A happier hearted little woman than
Miss Priscilla Peck, with the little lace
and jet bonnet perched on her wayy
brown hair, did not enter the little.
flower decked church on that beautiful
Easter morning.
Mrs. Bartlett came in late, and nearly
all the congregation were in their places.
She settled herself in her pew and then,
as was her wont, began surreptitiously
scanning the headgear of the feminine
portion of the congregation, taking note
of the hats and bonnets that were her
own handiwork and those that had come
from the rival shop across the WY. more
than two-thirds of them came from my
store" she was thinking, exultingly, when
suddenly she gave start and turned hot
and cold all in an instant.
There, sitting well up in front, where
she could enjoy the flowers, with the light
from the stained glass window falling like
an aureole around her, was Miss Priscilla
Peck, with little black lsce and Jet bon
net perched airily upon her head.
Mrs. Presley's bonnet The very one
she had finished late last evening and
sent home to her wealthy customer by
Roxy Brown.
Then, regardless of what people might
think, she turned deliberately around and
looked at the Presley pew. Yes, there
sat Mrs. Presley, stiff and stately as ever,
with her winter bonnet on her head, and
look of cold displeasure in her eyes as
they met her own.
Then for five minutes she sat perfectly
still and thought, and the whole thing
became plain to her.
ut is all the fault of that careless,
trifling Roxy Brown" she thought an,
grily she was standing before the glass
trying on her own hat when asked her
to take home Mrs. Presley's bonnet, and
she promised MS glib as you please, with
out at all understanding whom the bonnet
belonged to, and she's gone and given
Mrs. Presley's bonnet to Miss Priscilla.
But should desire to know what Pris-
ella Peck means by going and keeping a
bonnet that she knows doesn't belong to
her. An eight-dollar bonnet, too. and the
handsomest one | have made this season,
but III settle the matter in short order
after church is ont and then, with a
heart that was not Mt all in harmony with
the day, she turned her attention to the
beautiful Easter service. that had SO far
passed nnheeded.
Rut what vns this onthan, Tho oh;,1.