The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-11-29
FATE'SWE
BY AGNES q. eRooAN.
s,lIIilIlIIlilIllIIIIlIiIiIIilIiIIIIiiilililIlIII


| ,Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union.'.
| Fate has mysterious way Of weav-
Ing her web and enmeshing within IL
the most unsuspecting. Thus, Polly
Wintergreen. planning in her village
home a trip to the city to buy new
hat. and big John Brand, home for
the first time in many years from the
West. little knew In their hearts that
Fate was slyly drawing them to-
gether.
| Perhaps II Polly had known. she
might have remained In Fairville. For
her knowledge of love and its ways
had been gained entirely from certain
books, first censored by Aunt Electa.
From these tales Polly learned that
ideal lovers approached their fair ones
always In an attitude of reverent hom-
age. Foreknowledge Of John Brands
confident manner of claiming his own
might therefore have deferred
frightened Polly from visiting the city.
John himself. fresh from the life Of
the great outdoors, would have scoffed
| at being drawn under any circum-
stances into the scented atmosphere
of ladies' millinery parlor-yet here
they both were, with Fate preparing
to fling her net.
In Polly's sheltered life. the buying
of hat was an adventure. So. her
cheeks flushed with excitement and
her eyes sparkled in pleasure as she
wandered from table to table, select
ing those to be tried on.
Big John. waiting frowningly on
! a satin-covered sofa. was overlooked.
! With the memory of those perfect he
roes stamped upon her mind, there
was nothing in the Westerner's appear
ance to arouse Polly's interest.
She selected velvet turban from
a stand at his side. and proceeded to
draw 1t down over her fluffy hair. The
effect was charming. The Westerner.
who had been regarding half-con-
temptuously the girls frail daintiness.
sat up suddenly with new attention.
There was an expression In the dewy
eyes beneath the turban's brim which
he had never seen before. Half shy
was the look, and wholly appealing.
John Brand had known many wom-
en-efiicient. good and clever. But
their eyes had not shone with that
self-sacrificing womanly light. or so
the Westerner thought, for fate. you
see. was holding the mirror.
He was obliged to see the manager
of. this great department store upon
matter Of business; his impatience
led him In the chase to the millinery
department, where 1t was said that
worthy could he found.
His impatience vanished as he
leaned back, watching Polly as she sur
yeyed her own reflected face.
81 like this shape very much she
said.
ut is greatw the Westerner genial
ly commented.
Polly wheeled about, flushing rosily;
she had fancied herself speaking to
the saleswoman, who was not now
near.
'rve got picture Of my mother"
he went on. "with little velvet thing
like that on her head; 1t was taken
years ago. She died before was old
enough to remember her. But you
make me think of that picture some
way-the hat, the look in your eyes,"
Polly stared.
The strange big man finished
musingly. as though he had forgotten
her presence.
"T would like to have this same
shane covered In blue" Polly said. II
made the trip in town today because
Il is necessary to have the hat for a
special occasion Could you promise
II surely for the day after tomorrow"
impossible! !" the woman answered,
YEARLY. "We are swamped with
work. Twelve hats promised for a
big society wedding tomorrow; more
the day after. 1t Is an unusually busy
season. Could you not take this pur-
pie shape?'
"The hat must match my blue suit"
Polly lamented.
John Brand, upon his own side Of
the mirror, could not know of the
| disappointment through which the
blue-eyed girl was passing.
Polly had dreamed of the blue suit
| ana nat she WOulu wear siiHIic thcy
would have to be, but Of late fash
ion. No other hat Of suitable price
| or appearance was available in her
limited search. The train for Fair
vile would leave soon.' She would
have to go back and wear again among
them all her old and faded felt.
IT suppose" the saleswoman sug-
gested presently, shat could per-
suade one of the trimmers. to take the
hat home and make 1t up for you nf-
ter hours. But they've been working
so hard they are pretty tired"
Now, though John Brand could not
realize in his experience of the big
things OF life, how very real to Polly
was her disappointment In this in
stance, he did realize the, unselfish-
ness Of her prompt response.
| "Oh! would not think Of adding
| to the girls work, :" said Polly. IT will
come In again at later time"
Around the westerner's heart crept
comforting glow. It was as though