The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-09-18
THE EVENING STORY
The Rose-CoIored Hat.
(By Jerome Sprague.)

81 simply can't CO." said Justine
despairingly. Il haven't any hat
Il think you are very silly" said
her best friend, Lucille Goodman.
well, like to look my best, said
Justine 81 don't want him to be
ashamed of me-"
LAS if Archie MacAllister would
ever be ashamed of you. You know
he loves the ground you walk on
wen, he hasn't told me-" Justine
said
HE will probably tell you tonight"
said Lucille.
ssWen. I'd have gone Justine said,
''if he hadn't told me that he was
going to take me to one of the big
hotels after the play. I'm as shabby
as l can be. l haven't bought any
new winter clothes and goodness only
knows when I'll have enough saved up
to buy any 1t takes every cent can
make to keep body and soul together"
Lucille nodded. 1T takes every cent
any girl can make she said, ito live
in big city like this"
Justine stabbed a needle into the
hat she was trimming, viciously. 1t
seems the irony of fate, she SAID,
that there are hats everywhere and
l haven't one to wear. If l had had
time I'd have trimmed up one OF my
old ones but they'll keep us here until
nearly theatre time"
L
and stopped. She was trimming a
rose-colored felt hat.
at is a dream" Lucille said, and
ran over and put it on Justine's head.
It came well down over the eyes,
showing only little tendrils OF curly
hair about her ears.
Look at yourself in the glass; Au-
cile continued.
Justine looked. "Why, Lucille Good
man. it makes me perfectly beautiful.
Lucille nodded. ''Why can't you?"
she tempted.
said. 1--WE stay here later than any
one else, and you could wear it and
bring it back in the morning.
Still Justine hesitated. Madame
would never forgive me- she said
81 don't see a bit of harm in it,
Lucille declared.
Justine wavered. The reflection in
the mirror showed her q radiant Wis
ion. "I could wear that little black
net dress of mine" she said, "and with
this hat it would be dream
''WeH, you take my advice and wear
# - Lucille was emphatic. You may
never have such another chance in
your life
That night as Justine sat beside her
lover at little table in corner of the
big dining room, all rosy with candle
light. she was a thing of beauty.
But Archie did not comment on the
hat Usually he had nice things to
saw about what she wore, and she mis-
sed his commentator. At last she
ventured to draw him out.
do you like it % shN asked.
He was studying the supper card
WHAT" he asked vaguely.
MY hat"
yes" he said, and hesitated.
Then he dropped the subject and
asked her if it should be birds or
lobster.
Justine felt a distinct sense of dis
She had violated her |
sense of right in wearing the hat. and
she felt unless it had made the i'm
oression she had wished to create that |
Ill of her worry had been useless. 1t |
seemed to her as they ate their sup |
per that Archie was not his usual |
genial self. He had nothing much to /
say and all of her chatter brought lit
lie response.
Then all at once Justine started and |
stared. At the other end of the room
/ group of four people had entered.
Justine felt a sense of panic as she
recognized madame, the milliner who
her.
Archie saw the CONSERVATION on her
ace What is it2" he demanded
TT is so warm in here Justine said
He looked at her in surprise Il
bought you'd like to stay and listen to
he music
Il would rather 60" she said hur-
.edlv and as they started out she /
vent ahead and led him through a
ide door. thus avoiding the main en-
rance When they were out in the
treet her confidence came back.
"Oh, it's lovely here she said. the
.ir is so fresh. Let's get on a bus and
ide up Riverside. Archie
He acquiesced. They had a front
eat, and, as the wind was blowing
trongIy, Justine took off her hat and
nut it in her lap
Archie looked down at it. 1T is
ustine," he said.
And becoming, don't you think?"
Justine asked, archly- I
yes" he said, slowly. "but-but
omehow I don't like to see you in it.
Justine" Z
ed famed into her cheeks. She won
cred if Archie knew that she was I
-earing borrowed plumes-
"Oh, I'm afraid you're too pretty in j
/" he parted. at seems as if the !
Id one fits in more with me. and the i
Kings 1 can do for you, Justine
She looked at him in wonder why !
should think you'd like to have me
1ok nice" she said.
ST do" he said.
AS they sped along, the fresh breeze =
rought rain with it, and suddenly
Justine uttered a little cry of terror l
Oh she said, cit is raining, and I'm
fraid my hat will be ruined: we must '
o inside. Archie S
But they could not go inside, for it
appened that the theatre crowds had i
He'd the omnibus. and there was no [
pom for them To get off meant to
and in the street, and in either in +
ance the hat would suffer. But JUS 2
ne made Archie stop the bus. and ] c