The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-06
THE EVENING STORY
Under Her Bonnet.
nv Molly MONASTERY


John Muller entered the suburban
train bound cityward and took the sea-
nearest the rear door. His reason for
| taking that particular seat was speci-
fc. he believed he saw his sister-in-law
in fine seat lust ahead and Johns great
est delight was teasing. His brother S
wife had not seen him enter ana ne
slipped Quietly into his seat.
John Muller had supposed that the
feminine world kept it's new Easter
bonnet carefully wrapped in tissue - :
per until Easter Sunday morning EVl-
IDENTIFY his sister-in-law did not rms
was most certainly the new bonnet she
had brought out for his masculine ad-
miration not two days before John
had recognized the hat because there
was nothing else visible-nOt even one
shining black curl. But the long green
tweed coat he also recognized. Jean
had been sporting that since her honey
moon trip to Scotland.
John eyed the little gold tassel that
swayed with the movement of the train
close to where jeans ear must be. He
could not see the ear under the poke
bonnet.
Jeans brother-in-law started with
soft little jerks at the gold tassel.
No response.
He gave another tug, trif1e more
definite.
Still no response from beneath the
Easter bonnet.
John became annoyed at his own
futile efforts and pulled the golden tas-
sci with an imperious jerk, at the same
time leaning forward and crying, Ding
dingr'
He started back suddenly as the girl
turned and flashed wrathful glance at
him.
The face under the bonnet was not
that of his sister-in-law! He caught his
Il,
the indignant young woman had arisen
angrily from her seat and had taken
another.
Feeling very uncomfortable at his
own awful mistake, yet irritated that
the young woman had not been willing
to listen to his apology. John spent an
uncomfortable fifteen minutes while the
train pulled in at Jamaica.
Taking the bull by the horns, he at
tempted, when the passengers got off
the train, to make one more attempt to
right himself in the eyes of the girl
That he was suspected of being a COM
mon flirt was not pleasant.
When the train stopped, Muller went
ou9 just behind the girl and, raising
his hat, said politely, Il beg your par
don, but"
The girl in the Easter bonnet turned
in her cheeks. Sir, if you do not cease
to annoy me I will call an off1cerp' She
went hurriedly into the train for the
Pennsylvania station, and with many
muttered words of short, decided nature
Muller stamped into the FIatbush
avenue car.
The incident turned his whole day to
gloom. He was annoyed at his sister
in-law for buying a hat and cloak iden-
tically like that of any other woman
He resolved then and there that if he
ever had the privilege of writing checks
for feminine apparel he would stipulate
exclusive style in those garments Null
Ter smiled with a touch of malice
Jeans hat was far more becoming to
her than the same hat was to the
wrathful girl of the train.
John Muller tried to remember the
color of the girls eyes, but nothing
save the outraged expression of her
face had impressed itself on his mind
Storm; havoc and thunder were all that
he could see when he attempted to re-
call the girls face.
If Muller's day was filed with gloom
Wren Davis was not. Her day of shop
ping in the big city had scarcely been
marred by its unpleasant beginning If
the goodlooking face of her annoyer
had crossed her mind during the day
she did not let it trouble her
Happy with her many purchases she
was returning to the Long Island
suburb on the evening commuters
train. She was crowding in to the
II d1I1 d. JdIIldlcd Wnen Sn6 was star
tied by a mans voice in her ear and
at the same time a strong arm en-
cireled her waist under cover of the
many persons boarding the train.
Caught with the goodsi" the laugh
ing voice chided her.
Wren jerked angrily away and
turned to face the second man who
had thus insulted her. How dare
you2" she cried, beside herself with
rage. But the man, more stunned than
she was. drew back, while a crimson
stain flashed into the bronze of his
cheeks
st beg your pardon he managed
to stammer. ST thought you were my
wifei''
Thoroughly unstrung Wren got
quickly into the train and secured a
seat beside a comfortable motherly |
woman with a baby, and kept close
beside her until the car stopped at her
station.
She had several blocks to go before |
reaching the home at which she was
visiting. and during her swift walk she !