Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-12-06
THE PICTURE HAT
100 Young" for Her, But She
Found a Way to Remedy That.
BY MAUD IsIDoRE DOUGLAS.


the half wondering, half scornful lit
tie laugh which accompanied them
that remained in Alice Vernon's
memory, and was responsible for all
that came after.
She had brought home new hat
from the tempting sales, one which
had taken her fancy greatly, and
which the shop assistant who sold it
had assured her earnestly:
"Must have been made for you,
madam-it is 80 singularfy becom-
ing" and she had thought so herself,
until she showed it to her cousin FL
sic Cher junior by ten years., who
had commented with the frank bru-
tality of premiere jeunesse:
"Candidly speaking, my dear
Alice, it's too young looking for you ;
as a rule you dress 50 very suitably"
adding, as she tried it on her own
flaxen head, ''but it's exactly what /
want, for Miles Gregory is coming
up to town this week, and l haven't
hat worth putting on. This is just
ripping, and suits me perfectly"
looking at her own reflection in the
mirror as she spoke, waiting for her
older and richer cousin to say, with
her usual good nature:
"You can have it if you like"
But this time the words did not
come, and presently Elsie took it
from her head and flung it careless
ly into its box, saying with a slight
ly malicious laugh:
81 can't admire you to wear it
yourself, Alice, l really can't dear.
It's quite unsuitable-it wants lots of
hair and few curls, and more color
than you have. l must go now"
After the door had closed behind
her, Alice took the hat again and
tried it on.
1t suited her very wei, she
thought, but mechanically she
looeened her hair a little, and in
stantly noticed a visible improve
ment in her appearance.
1t was strange how Elsie's careless
words had hurt her, for although
she no longer tried or pretended to
be "a girl" no one had ever put the
hard fact of her age before her until
then.
She had been very kind and gen
erous to Elsie, and the girl had grad
ually set herself up as a judge of
what was, and was not, suitable for
her cousin to wear, and the things
she disapproved of for Alice she had
generally secured for herself. This
time she had not done SO, and felt
extremely irritated as she went home.
Selfish old thing" she muttered,
"she'd look perfect fright in hat
like that, and do want it so badly.
Never mind! I'll pop in again to-
morrow, and if don't get it, why, |
my name isn't what it is"
Alice took out her new hat and
put it on with determination, then
set out for a walk down Mode street,
where she had a few purchases to |
make.
She had purpOsely refrained from |
looking at herself before leaving
home, but came suddenly face to face |
with a full-length mirror in shop
and sustained the shock which 50 |
often comes to one ON such occasions. |
The hat had tilted slightly to one
side and her hair was disarranged-l
and to finish her discontinue she |
saw her Cousin Elsie turn into the
street, in the peculiarly sauntering |
manner which suggests the hope or
expectation of meeting some special
friend.
1.-The last person / want to see at |
this moment" muttered Alice to her
self, hurriedly entering the shop
where the mirror was hanging and |
being instantly confronted by al
handsome, stately lady, who asked
her graciously:
(which department does madam
desire?"
Alice glanced hurriedly round, but
the atmosphere of the place was un-
familiar and she found herself at
loss what to ask for, so she said hest
tatingly;