The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-12-27
FATE'S WEB
BY AGNES G. BROGAN.

Fate has a mysterious way of weav-
ing her web and enmeshing within it
the most unsuspecting. Thus, Polly
Wintergreen, planning in her village
home q trip to the city to buy 8 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 If 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 hon.
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
y
they both were, with Fate preparing
to fling her net.
In Polly's sheltered life, the buying
of q hat was an adventure. So, her
cheeks flushed with excitement and
her eyes sparkled in pleasure as she
T, wandered from table to table, select
ing those to be tried on.
Yoh~ DIV
| 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 a velvet turban from
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 WON
en-efficient, 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
| a matter of business; his Impotence
| led him In the chase to the millinery
! department, where it was said that
! worthy could be found.
His impotence vanished as he
| leaned back. watching Polly as she sur
veyed her own reflected face.
81 like this shape very much,' she
said.
"It is great, :" the Westerner genial
| ly commented.
Polly wheeled about, flushing rOsf]y;
| she had fancied herself speaking to
the saleswoman, who was not now
near.
"I've got a picture Of my mother"
| he went on, with a little velvet thing
| like that on her head 1t was taken
wears 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.
ct would like to have this same
shape covered in blue" Polly said. 81
| made the trip in town today because
| 1t is necessary to have the hat for
special occasion. Could you promise
| 1t surely for the day after tomorrow?
Impossible the woman answered.
YEARLY. "We are swamped with
work Twelve hats promised for
| big society wedding tomorrow; more
| the day after. 1t Is an unusually busy
season. Could you not take this pur-
| pie shapes"
"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 tie blue suit
and hat she would wear; simple they
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 oil her old and faded felt.
IT suppose" the saleswoman sug-
gested presently, shat I could per-
suade one of the trimmers to take the
hat home and make it up for you af
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.
ooh, I would not think Of adding
to the girls work." said Polly. 81 will
come in again at later time"
Around the Westerner's heart crept
q comforting glow. It was as though
after long search he had come upon
that which he most desired.
And as Polly came around the mir
ror he was talking to the manager,
who listened with Difference.