The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-07-10
and ttcn asked her whittier she was


chance we may have to walk down to.
Sunny Oaks unless you expect some
| one to meet you said. Doris.
II always walk over from the station
It's only mile, and it limbers me up
after the ride down. responded Owen.
perhaps Madge will expect you to
come along about this time and send
the motor down"
''Never mind if she doesn't / can
| walk that distance easily, and she can
send up for my trunk. My-box is
such an awkward one to carry"-hesi-
tated Doris, glancing up at an i'm
mense hat box that was Wedged In the
rack overhead.
Ovens eyes followed hers, and dis
gust took possession of him. Another
merry widoW?'" he almost sneered
"You don't like them." asserted Doris
quickly.
GLOW do you known" he fenced.
| ooh, because. Everybody wears
| these huge hats" Doris looked at him
| through the screen of her thick lashes.
.'They don't become every body" said
| Owen disagreeably.
| Doris stiffened. eff it offends your
taste, Mr.. Fuller, will relieve you
! from looking at it any longer"
So Doris turned her face away, and
lately at the big black hat trimmed
with foams Of black chiffon and bill,
| lows of curling feathers, while the pink
| rose blushed at him for being so churl
| ish
! Just then the train drew to stand
| still "Grasmeadr' yelled the brake
| man
/ Owen reached up long arm and
tugged down the big hat box from the
! rack in front.
i 1t was curiously heavy, and he mar
yeled at delicate little thing like
Doris stanly attempting to lug around
such a'weighty article, much less hope
/ to wear it on her head.
/ Doris sailed out of the car ahead of
/ him, while he meekly followed bearing
/ the hat box.
/ Down the station platform the last
| Of the smart traps was driving away
i with its burden of arrivals, and there
/ was no one left save Doris and Owen. .
II don't see anything Of the car re
marked Owen to his companion. I'll
go over and ask the agent if they've
been down today
There was a car down from Sunny
! Oaks to meet the 11:30 train, and It
came down to the 3:02. didn't notice
any this time. sir said the man.
stage gomez inquired Owen.
ut doesn't meet this train
1--WE will have to walk it, Miss Stan
~" said Owen, approaching the girl.
who stood with her back to him look
ing wistfnlly down the track.
very WE'LL" she said quietly. 81 am
sorry about the box; 1t must be very
heavy, but don't dare to trust It to
any one else to carry. 1t must be held
Just so"
Owen held the box out awkwardly.
carrying it by the heavy cord which
secured it.
I AS they stepped down the frosty
road between the wild rose hedges.
now ruddy with the scarlet hips. the
brim Of her great hat brushed his
shoulder.
In the past her lightest touch had
thrilled him or the merest contact
with her dainty garments had set his
heart to beating dangerously.
Now he moved q little that her hat
brim might not remind him that she
i bod 40 ~; ao+rrrd 1,arco1f +hrnuph van.
lty.
Altogether he worked himself up
into most disa greeable temper which
might have found its beginning that
day when Blake Ellis had recommend
ed the picture hat. st.s$5s
In short, Owen Fuller was jealous,
6ercely jealous. and lie was Wrecking
his vengeance on picture hats. large
and small, and especially the ones in
tended for Doris sunny head.
Silently they trod the road. these two
who never found the hours long enough
for the exchange Of condolences.
Owens arm grew tired, and he shift
ed the box to the other hand. He could
feel the hat slide heavily around in
side.
Cant carry that for aWh1leY' ask
ed Doris hesitatingly. .'It must be
frightfully heavy, and it Is such an
awkward box Il
Dear me, no. said Owen, holding
the box out gingerly from one aching
wrist. I'VE will soon be at Sunny
Oaks. Then suppose you will shift
the responsibility OF this hat to your
head Sort Of a heavy weight affair,
/ isn't it?'' He glared inadvertently at
The Powered box.
Doris lips twitched. That was all he
i could see Beneath the curve Of her hat
hrim
/ She was laughing at him. Great
Joke. indeed, for her to cater to Blake
Ellis taste In cartWheels and then ex-
pect Owen to carry her hideous hats
home!
You don't care for large hats p
asked Doris sWeetly.
II bate EN-" responded Owen. With