Evening star., 1913-11-01
THE EVENING STORY.
Miss Lonnie's Hat.
Copyright, 1915. by ". wcrner.)

Copyright, 1915. by W. Ncrnef.D
Miss Lonnie was lowering on the con-
fines of middle age and she was torn be-
tween the desire to look as young as she
could and the fear OF ridicple. Now,
every woman past eighteen knows that
when one of the sisterhood goes into
bonnets' that she forever renounces all
claims TO youth and if she be spinstef
il is the same as an ayowal that she has
laid her hopes of matrimony away with
the old hats.
So II was that Miss Lonnie had heavy
heart that spring morning when she oe-
cided that she must have something new
with which 10 cover her head before an
other Sunday. Even IN her own inlrlu
she was resolved not to name the ne"
head covering until she had come TO
decision. Her married sister, with whom
she lived had worn bonnets Tor ten
years. When Miss Lonnie appealed TO
her she rocked hard in the effort TO dc
eide the question. -,
better get d bonnet this time Tor tHsn ~
will do for two seasons. Taxes are hsi
this year. and they'll be higher next
year If they keep putting new cnpolas
and fandangoes on that courthouse. 1ou
can't stay out of bonnets nuch longer
anyhow. -
nitted but If | could have afforded IL
/ would have liked To have kept Out OF
them one more season. They are 50 soi.
of-well. so old womanish ,
well you aren't very young woman.
her sister replied, with the candor OF the
near relative.
minutes started down the street TOWARD
Mrs. carnegie's millinery efnporl"ui.
10, lot ~
was covering with white tulle ana went
forth to greet her customer. Miss Lon
ME barely had time TO announce that shc
had dropped in to see the spring stSles.
when somebody behind her said: i1eiio,
buying new bonnet.
Miss Lonnie wheeled around ana MIS-
Carnegie laughed, saying. what are You
doing in my shop, Mr.. Latham
Just saw Miss Lonnie cCm ng III ana
thought | would help her pick out bon
net the unblushing Latham responded
Miss Lonnie turned the color of the
roses in the showcase. Really. this Mr.
Latham was very forward. He had only
lived In Shrewsbury a scant year, ana
Miss Lonnie had not met him more than
three dozen times all told. yet here he
was assuming that he could help her In
this delicate matter. But she remem-
bered that he was u widower ana tnat
they are ever reputed to be forward with
women
That's a pretty bonnet over there,
Mr.. Latham said, advancing on black
hat on which the feathers were piled
high and where silver buckless cleaned
coquettishy in nests of lace. Try that
on, Miss Lonnie." And before either
she or Mrs Carnegie could stay his
hand he had pIucked IL from A black
walnut knob. He set it on Miss Lonnies s
little brown head and stood off to survey
the effect.
Mrs. Carnegie gave it ca twitch and
pull. That's the very thing for YOU
Mr.. Latham announced in his big voice.
You look as pretty as pink III 1t.
Doesn't she, Mrs. Carnegie?
Mrs. Carnegie admitted it.
In truth. Miss Lonnie was pretty al
ways In her gentle way. but she was not
used to having compliments fired at her
in this offhand way and she protested
Its too young for me. l came here
expecting TO buy a bonnet. ] think q
bonnet would be much more suitable