The Democratic advocate., 1908-06-12
She shook her head. NO." she an.


took out her boarded store of money
With what she would add on her mex
pay day she would have $40, and sh'
could buy the hat with the white
feather.
She fingered the money for mo
ment, and then she dropped her heat
on her arm with a sob, for Bubble:
had wanted that hat to wear to churcl
on Sunday morning when she sang IL
the choir with Jimmie Bryan. 1t hat
been for Jimmie's admiration that she
had craved the pretty hat And, aftel
all. it was Alice that Jimmie caret
for.
Two days later Alice came to he
counter breathlessly.
"Oh, Bubbles,' she said, "such &
wonderful thing has happened!'
"What? asked Bubbles innocently.
And then Alice told her of the won
derful gown and the dainty accessories
that had come the night before in
big box.
81 can't imagine who sent them"
ut must have been fairy god
mother" said Bubbles demurely.
"And now I can be Miles brides
maid" caroled Alice when she ha6
exhausted all her conjectures as to the
giver. "You won't mind, will you
BubblesT'
mo" said Bubbles steadily.
And as she sold needles and pins and
hooks and eyes and whalebones and a
hundred and one other things that day
she told herself that she did not care
Why should she want to walk beside
Jimmie Bryan when he preferred to
have Alice?
She passed the window with the hat
with the white feather that night with
out a glance, and on Sunday she wore
q plain little black sailor with cheap
red rose, and she looked prettier thar
ever in it.
"Alice thinks you're fairy god
mother" she told Jimmie after serv'
| ice.
"Say, did she like it?' he demanded.
"Of course she did," said Bubbles.
"Who wouldn'tT'
But Jimmie did not answer 1mme-
diately. He stood looking down at her.
"Say, little girl" he said presently
"you look mighty nice in that hat"
1T cost Just $685." Bubbles inform
ed him glibly, marked down from 81. >
II don't care what it cost" Jimmie
stated. "You look mighty nice.'
Bubbles couldn't resist saying, "But
not half as nice as Alice will in that
pink robe"
Bubbles, 1 believe you're Jealous -
flashed Jimmie Unexpectedly.
Bubbles cheeks famed. "Why, jim
mie Bryanr' she faltered.
Look here" Jimmie demanded. did
you think I was in love with Alice?'
Under his keen scrutiny Bubbles was
forced to admit Il couldn't very well
help it, could I?'
Il was afraid you would" Jimmie
said, 'that day when planned to get
her the things, but I had promised.
oh, look here, Bubbles, you come out
to the park with me, and III tell you
about It."
And all the way to the park Bub-
bles' heart sang, and she seemed to
walk on air, and she was glad that
she hadn't bought the hat with the
white feather. She was glad she
hadn't been extravagant, for Jimmie
seemed to like her just as well in the
black sailor with the red rose.
In the park the beds were full of
jonquils and tulips and hyacinths and
crocuses, and under the Towering aim
ond tree Jimmie and Bubbles sat down
to talk.
"You see," Jimmie explained, there's
Bob Travers, and he's in the navy.
and he's away on three years cruise,
and he made me promise that I'd look
after Alice-they'ye been in love with
each other since they were kids-and
when Alice's father got sick I tried to
help, but they wouldn't let me, and it
seemed as if getting her the dress
would be what Bob would want me to
do, and now he's going to get home in
time for the wedding, and told Millie
she'd have to have him for best man."
"Ohr cried Bubbles, aglow with
uapplueSS.
"And then I told her how much |
thought of you, and she wants us to be
in the wedding party, and Oh, we'll.
look here, Bubbles" And in the shad-
ow Of the Towering almond he held
out his arms.
And Bubbles, having wept little
weep Of joy on his broad shoulder. sat
up and wiped her eyes. "Ain't glad |
didn't spend all my money for that
feather, Jimmie?" she said. '1'n get
the white net skirt and wear the rose
but ribbon
"And a diamond ring" interrupted
Jimmie.
"a diamond ring! What forT' de-
manded Bubbles.
Because we're engaged" said jim
mie rapturously.