Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-01-14
DOING COUSIN A FAVOR
By MILLIE JEANETTE.

hat with a plume shaded from taupe
20 a vivid rose. At first liked it very
much but when the shaded plumes be-
gan to be common ] grew tired OF 1t
and wished | had chosen a more eX-
elusive style, l saw a hat in shop
window in our neighborhood that was
lust what desired. AS it was marked
down on account of the lateness of the
season, was strongly tempted to buy
it, but it seemed extravaganza when
my own hat was perfectly good Then
| thought saw chance to do Cousin
Fannie favor.
you really need new hat" said
to her. and I'll be glad'to let you have
this one, dear, at half what | paid for
it."
"If need a new one Cousin Fannie
said, laughing in an odd way, why
should buy your old one?'
"But this is just as good as new and
much handsomer than anything you
could find at the price" explained.
you know very well that for me 1t
would be quite out of character" she
declared. I'm really surprised, Lu.
cile that you should ask me to buy it
The annoyance in Cousin Fannie's
tone was distinctly unpleasant to me-
am always so sensitive, and | had
been merely trying to be obliging. |
think Cousin Fannie is growing more
and more difficult. 1t requires a great
deal of patience and tact on my part
to live with her, despite my unfailing
good temper
| had almost resigned myself to
wearing the taupe hat until it was time
to get spring one when Arthur
Knight and George ReQuier invited
Louise Erwin and me to a little social
affair at their club. Then felt that |
positively must dress in manner to
do them credit AS poor dear Louise
is such a dowdy, it seemed especially
necessary for me to look my best. l
went around to the little milliner's and
found that the hat | had admired was
still there. When ! tried it on | saw
at once that it suited my style exactly.
But | oughtn't to buy it, | sighed
Il really can't afford another hat when
this one of mine is 50 perfectly good
ITS wonderfully becoming said
the millner. you won't regret pick
ing up such bargain"
But | still hesitated. "lf | could
only sell this" | said as took off the
new hat and contemplated my old one
a moment before putting it on.
Leave it here and I'll do my best to
sell it for you" said the milliner.
"lIow good of you | exclaimed as
| opened my purse and paid for the
new hat | wore away my new pur-
chase with great pleasure.
Both Arthur and George managed
to convey their appreciation of my APP
pcarance on the day of the social af.
fair and felt repaid for my effort. |
was little sorry for Louise, for must
confess that the contrast between us
was rather painful. But Louise did
not appear to notice it. She seems to
be one of those unfortunate persons
who pay little attention to dress. |
sometimes marvel that she is invited
anywhere.
watched the milliners window with
interest and was disappointed to see
my hat still there every time | passed.
| began to think that | would have to
take it home and wear it for second
best.
Then one day | happened to meet
Carol Nodine stopping madly.
Il suppose | look like a back num-
ber," she said You know, | haven't
been in town this winter until today,
and need almost everything before l
can so anywhere"
IF you want hat you'd better go
to a splendid little mlliner up our
way" said. "She sells perfect beau
ties at about half what you'd pay
downtown. | bought this hat there"
Really? It's charming. I'll certain.
ly try her. What do you think | ought
to get?'
"Well | suppose you know that the
taupe hats with shaded plumes are
having great run this year, and they
are awfully pretty, but don't know
what you really need, Carol
Today Betty came to our house ap-
parcntly with the sole purpose of tell.
ing me that Carol had discovered that
the hat she bought was one that had
discarded and that Carol is deeply
offended. | am sure that Carol has
no cause for complaint against me. In
the first place, | purposely avoided
advising her in regard to hat, and it
is surely not my fault that she hap
pened to buy mine wish | knew
what busybody told her. | simply can
not understand how people can do
such illnatured things.