The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-02-13

there was no other such hat in New
York city. And opposite the lady
was man. A handsome fellow with
Vandyke beard. and a 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 proprietorship.
And as one of Jim's greatest defects
was fiery and ulgovernable temper,
he was tempted for moment to make
a scene in the restaurant, and fore
IDLY, 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 nationally, 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
'Ho, ho!" laughed Mr. Liddell, "I'n
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,
and lunch in full sight of your tickle
lady love-"
This plan was carried out, and 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 a 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
emily staring at you?"
Stanton, with his aggrieved thoughts
still on the orange-colored hat. re.
piled, indifferently: Il don't know;
where is she?"
"Over that way" said Miss Liddell.
indicating Clara's direction.
Jim Stanton looked across the room,
and saw Clara 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 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 serious
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 moment, he strobe 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,
Claras cordial welcome to the
stranger was supplemented by low
ing if roguish glance at her quick
tempered suitOr.