Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-12-11
IN HER BEST CLOTHES
BY JANE WATHY.

"Auntie Auntie! Come back and let
me kiss my booful auntie," pleaded
Angelica, hanging over the balustrade
at the top of the stairs.
Miss Creston, touched by this un.
wonted display of affection on the part
of her small niece, ran back up the
stairs to receive the embrace of two
small bare arms.
Now, can / give a little weeny
stroke to my booful auntie's booful
plume?" asked Angelica in saccharine
tones.
well, if you'll touch it very gently"
consented auntie, with misgivings, but
fearful Of chilling her young relatives
melting mood. There, there dear,
that will do" as she felt a none too
light touch on the top of her hat and
her mind was invaded by visions of
disaster to her cherished plume.
With a last hasty embrace Miss
Creston turned away and ran down the
stairs to her waiting escort.
Young Coleman regarded her with
the undisguised, if somewhat quizzical
admiration which is the accepted mas.
culine attitude toward the entirely up,
to-date woman in her best clothes.
I'm afraid that we'll have to hurry
little" he said. Angelica delayed
the game somewhat"
Eyes, | know it," said Miss Creston,
"but the poor child is SO perfectly imp
ish that we always try to encourage
anything like softness in her"
Miss Creston was aware of creating
mild sensation when they boarded
the crowded elevated train popular in-
terest appearing to center in her hat
1T certainly is the most becoming
hat have had for long time," she
thought, complacently sinking with
gracious bow into the seat which po-
lite young man yielded to her. And
the plume is beauty, if it did cost
small fortune"
Most of. the people were in their
seats when Miss Creston and her es.
cort arrived at the theater. A some-
what fustered young usher seized
their checks, bounded along the aisle
before them and slammed down two
seats.
They had just settled themselves
comfortably and Miss Creston was
raising her hands to remove her hat
when the usher reappeared, followed
by another couple.
kin l see your checks, please?" the
fustered usher asked.
Young Coleman fumbled through his
pockets and at length was able to ex.
hibit the checks.
They steered you down the wrong
aisle" the usher informed them cheer.
fully. your seats are over on the
other side''
Amid smiling apologies on both sides
they rose and yielded their places to
the other couple, then traversed the
long aisle to the back of the house,
crossed over and proceeded down the
opposite side.
Il am SO glad, thought Miss CrestonI
as they made their conspicuous prog
ress through the house, that my
clothes are all right-especially my
hat. People always notice hats So"
When young Coleman and the usher
had carefully verified the location Of
their places Miss Creston seated her
self and raised her hands to remove
her hat.
She extracted four hatpins and bel
gan to tumble for the fifth.
"Why-wheres my other hatpin?s
she murmured, cropping about the
crown on her hat with her fingers
well, what"
Her hand encountered an unfamiliar
object at one side of the crown, Q
clammy, yielding something which
caused her to give last frantic, and
this time successful, clutch at the
missing hatpin.
Angelica! What has that child been
doing to my hat?" was the thought
that flashed through her mind as sha
snatched off the headgear and laid II
upon her lap. g
Skillfully entangled In the filigreq
work of her hatpin was one mediums
sized, slightly damp bath sponge.
Obi" Miss Creston turned to her
escort with fire in her eye. why
didn't you tell me 1t was there, instead
of letting me parade all over creation
with that thing in my hat?" she de-
manded.
The young man turned an injured
countenance upon her. Don't You
suppose would have told you II ]
hadn't thought it belonged there" he
asked. 81 give you my word of hono1
that supposed it was some new kind
of pompon, or chou chou, or whateye1
you girls call them Anyway" .as the
lights were lowered and the hum q
voices about them died down, you'd
look prettier in hat trimmed all over
with bath sponges than any other
woman would with bird Of paradisa
on hers!"