The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-06-09
THE BEST SHE
COULD DO

Young Mrs. Allison extracted five
hatpins and removed an enormous
straw hat from her carefully built-up
couture. She laid the hat beside her
on the sofa and regarded 1t with
look such as the proverbial hen might
have bestowed upon her mysterious
ducklings.
The other members of the sewing
circle gazed silently at the spectacle.
"If." said young Mrs. Allison, with
tragic gesture, IF any one had told
me week ago that within seven
short days should be the undoubted
possessor of a head covering of those
impossible dimensions l should have
recommended that his friends consult
reliable alienist in his behalf"
The timid young matron in mauve
broadcloth siggled by way of showing
her sympathy. My husband thinks
they're perfectly shocking" she con-
fided. Docs youls?"
Really" said young Mrs Allison,
coldly. II haven't consulted him.
My own opinion Of it has been almost
more than my naturally angelic dispo-
siiion could bear"
But, DEAR" said the tmid young
matTon in mauve broadcloth, why. if
you don't like it, did YOU"
She broke off in confusion IN the
face of young Mrs. Allison's scornfM
expression.
"The idea!' exclaimed the owner
of the hat disgustedly. you don't
suppose for moment that l bought
this incredible horror because / want
ed it, do you?"
Then why" began again the
timtd young matron in mauve, her
puzzled look becoming more and
more appealing.
WELL" said young Mrs. Allison, III
went to every hat shop in this large
and cosmopolitan city and found moth
ing, absolutely nothing, smaller than
that tea table" She indicated the
ineffensive piece of furniture sar.'
castically with one of her five hat
pins. Il tried on everything from a
cherry trimmed coal scuttle to f]ow-
er decked parachute, and finally,
bought this in self-defense, because
wanted to go to a tea yesterday aft
ernoon and every one seemed to think
q beaver toque was wholly out of the
question at this time of year."
"Of course it u.s." said the girl with
the new spring gown, positively.
Then" demanded young Mrs. A.
lison, with rising indignation, why
will people persist in having teas at
the exact season when your winter
clothes are draggled and horrid and
you haven't had time. 10 evolve new
spring attire:"
when you've put of entertaining
all winter" said the timid young ma.
tron in mauve broadcloth, there's
nothing else to do, is there? Nobody
will go to formal teas in hot weather,
and you've naturally got to give them
some time, They're a.. sort of duty,
you know"
Il suppose they are" agreed young
Mrs. Allison, with sigh. Anyway,
didn't have time to have head COW
ering made, and this one was the re-
oAAS VI a SAO4SC vi evils. III 81 heavy
that it gives me constant sensation
of sliding backward. and to avoid that
alarming tendency have to hold my
head down and my chin out and look
upward out of the corners of my eyes
like cat stealing the family beef
steak. And l bought it from a wom-
al who was hypocrite, she added,
peevishly
"oh!" said the timid young matron
IN mauve broadcloth, adding innocent.
ly, Did she tell you it was becom-
ing?"
No. said young Mrs. Allison, with
still deeper sigh, nothing as bad as
that! She had had moral bringing
up, think, and probably went into
the millinery business when she was
young and irresponsible. She merely
told me that this hat was bargain!"
The girl with the new spring gown
made critical inspection of the ex-
panse of chip and trimmings in ques-
ton. II don't see why it should be
a bargain she remarked, finally. as
1t OFF color, or something's"
ooh, think not" said young Mrs
Allison with an involuntary smile,
"but you see it was copied from an
$85 Partisan model, and the woman
for whom it was made refused to take
1t because she declared it was too
SMALL"
The Drysalter.