Gunnison news-champion., 1916-10-06
mlD mEEDs
sy CATHERINE cRAMMeR.

Aiadge would have chosen the sea
shore rather than the mountains. but
the doctor said IL must he the noun
tains for her mother. So that set
tied II. and her father engaged q
mountain furnished cottage.
Madge wanted tweed hat to
match her suit, but her tailor assured
her that not q scrap Of the material
could be had from across the wnter for
many u moon. II ever. 4 day or two
before her departure she made tour
Of the mems hat departments In the
big stores, and was delighted to find
In one Of them a number OF mems
tweed hats. They were scattered over
the counter. where they had been
placed for the inspection Of custom
er. q tall man who walked away as
Madge approached.
''Oh. have you got this In q small
sixe!" eagerly asked Aindge. as she
held up brown hat that would har-
monize beautifully with her suit.
Yes. miss, all sizes" The smiling
clerk produced q smaller size. Leaving
orders to have Il sent home, she
stepped over to the store lunch coun-
ter nearby and ordered coffee and
sandwiches. On her right. two girls
were talking shop busily and scatter
Ing personalities freely.
MY boss Is like somebody crazy to-
day." said one. between bits of her
cheese sandwich. First he telegrnphs
an order for n lot Of camping stuff.
then he cancels It with another tele-
gram. and Just rs I'm dropping the
confirming letter In the box he ups and
reinstntes the ORDER
"Must be In love-" suggested her
companion.
"John Marchmont in lover Not
much" said the other. assuredly.
''He's in rage cause up In the noun
tnins. where his cottage used to be
the only one for miles. some gink has
built some brand-new cottages and
rented them furnished. heard him
tell some fellow that he supposed each
fnmily would have so many children
or dogs or marriageable daughters TINT
his bachelor quiet would be lost in the
shufiie."
The first day at their cottage Madge
and her mother were content to sit
quietly on the porch, but the sec0nc
morning Madge eagerly announced heI
intention to take long tramp. A lit
tie later she came to her mother Will.
look Of intense disappointment.
''Oh, mother. just look!" she ex
claimed, holding at arms length q
brown tweed hat. They've sent me
4 hat big enough for old King Cole"
"But, dearie," said her mother
cheerfully, ''if you're sure you tried
on smaller one. send this back and
exchange 1t. II yourl hurry you can
get It In this mornings mall. for Sandy
says the rural carrier gets to our boz
about ten O'Clock"
Madge wrote a hurried note to the
department store, and made the hat
into q rather awkward bundle. Then
she hurried down the winding road to
ward the row Of mail boxes on the
main roadway. half q mile distant
When there remained at least one
fourth Of the distance to cover Madge
saw the little covered mail cart with
its two jogging sorrel ponies steadily
approaching the boxes. She started t6
run. and a moment later she heard
somebody else running behind her.
Looking over her shoulder, she saw
a tall man descending the road toward
her in long, easy strides. Evidently
he, too, was trying to catch the post
man. and Madge began to lag In the
hope that he would offer to act as re
lay for her. but. to her astonishment
he swung past the next instant with
out even look at her. Thinking only
Of her desire to get that troublesome
hat back to the store, and seeing how
impossible 1t was for her to keep pact
with this tall man, Madge called out tt
him. appealIngiy:
"won't you please take my pack
ager'
The man halted, though the look hi
threw at her over his shoulder shovel
plainly that he was confused and dis
pleased. With q barely noticeable
shrug, he came back few steps and
reached for her package.
Meanwhile. the sorrel ponies had
gained on him, and although he yelled
vigorously. he was neither seen moi
heard by the stolid driver inclosed In
the little covered cart.
'-Oh. I'm terribly sorry delayed
you." said Madge. a. she overlook
him and reached for the Offending
package and letter. I've half a motion
now to keep the old hat and wear II.
big or little. just for spite at its mis-
chiefmaking."
"Hntr' The man looked at Madge
in questioning surprise. "Why. WINS
sending back = hat, too. It's too
small
"Mine was too big" laughed Madge.
and further condolences ended In the
discovery that each had the hat In
tended for the other. The man pre-
scented his card to Madge and assured
hour ~ hga doaSpo En- ho nogU1s1.nplv