Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-06-11
Her Geranium Hat

4
When Uncle Nat died he left the
si-ls nothing. Although they were
L.s nisces neither of them was men
toned in his will Their mother
was also ignored, and all the for
tune went to an unmarried sister.
This was not quite so bad as II
looked. 1t was understood that she
would leave the estate to the family
on her death. So the girls ought
to have realized that It was the part
Of wisdom to be polite to Aunt
Amelia.
The niece who was Aunt Ame-
las namesake was SO furious
over the mater that she refused 10
wear mourning after the funeral, ex-
cept when she called on Aunt
Amelia. Then she put on black that
had already done service in honor
Ing several elderly and rather re-
mote relatives.
Il can't see why in the world l
should go to the expense Of buying
new black" Amelia observed, when
he didn't leave me a cent.
Then I had already bought my
spring clothes. II had got my
share of the fortune-the share
thought was coming to me-I could
have Afforded new mourning. But
not now"
So Amelia elung to colored clothes
and was sombre only when she paid
her duty calls on her aunt. One day
she had dressed for a motor trip in
the park and wanted to look her
best This summer her idea of best
was the geranium hat with its red
plunies.
She put that hat on and started to
walk around to her friends house.
where the car was to meet them. She
went saunterlng toward Madison
avenue, buttoning her gloves and
feeling that she really was looking
we'll. Red was her color, and the
black and white striped gown con-
trasted well with the hat.
Suddenly she lifted her eyes.
There was Aunt Amelia approaching.
II seemed certain that she was going
to see Amelia in her gaudy fnery.
The sight of that geranium colored
hat might AFFECT Amelia's fortunes
seriously.
Before Aunt Amelia was half a
foot nearer her red hated niece
turned about and was facing in the
opposite direction. Aunt Amelia
plodded slowly behind.
81 must get this red hat or" was
the thought that obsessed the niece
as she fed. Il must get upstairs
and get rid Of 1t before she sees"
She was almost running now. That
safety lay in walking straight ahead
and not stopping at her home at all
never occurred TO her. Her plan had
been to run up to her room and she
thought only of-that.
She reached the steps and skipped
confidently up. She reached down
for her night key, but it was miss
ing. Hopeless of escape now, she
rang the bell,
THE servants must be asleep"
she thought as she pushed the but
ton. "Myl There are Aunt Amelia's
footsteps"
Fearing to look behind her. she
side-stepped In response to a sud
den Inspiration aud got behind one
OF the storm doors. 1t was a close
At and she held her breath as she
made herself as fat as possible
against the wall.
She heard the rustic of Aunt
Amelia's stiff crepe as she walked
up the steps. The astonished SER
want, as she opened the door, saw
the aunt when she was still three
steps from the top. although the
lady had already rung twice.
The servant was not analytical.
however. and admitted Aunt Amelia
without question. The prisoner be,
hind the door wondered II her
breathing had been heard. She slip
ped down the steps as soon as the
door was closed and darted doWe.
the street to keep her appoint
ment. So she was not able to hear
her aunt saying:
81 thought l saw Amelia on the
street a few minutes ago. But
was mistaken, for that girl had on a
red hat. 1t could not have been
Amelia"
"of course not." said the loyal
sister to whom thh observation was
made. "It could never have been
Amelia in a red hat."-New York
Sun.