The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-05-29
Observation-Disclosures
"a PURPLE! HAT"
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BY FANNIE 3. LiNskY.

A'AOA SAA&NAA
was discouraged. More than that, she
was blue. And she had. so she told /
herself, the very best reason in the
world for being all three.
And that reason was, of course-a
A most exasperating, irritating,
fascinating, good-looking, likable
young man. In other words, 1t was
Bob Harwood, who had been coming
to see her so long and SO steadily that
all the other boys in town had dropped
off," r.. .-aa.a
II know he means to propose" she
said wrathfully, not addressing anyone
in particular, and she slammed her
book into the corner.
II thought last night that he was
just on the verge of saying something
but then-1ve thought that dozen
times before now and nothing ever
came of It'll"
She got out Of the hammock and
picked up the much.despised book. Il
suppose I might just as we'll finish my
story" she said half aloud, "it's good
one too-but every time think OF Bob
Harwood it makes me so angry can't
even read"
The afternoon wore on, and Anne
was aroused from her reading by the
CHEEKY whistle Of the gray-haired post
man as he came up the path on his
afternoon rounds.
Anything for me, Mr.. Hobbs?" she
called out gayly.
''Only one letter. Nannie," he called
back for the old man had known Anne
since her pinafore and pigtail days,
and they were great friends.
"Why, it pears to me like it's your
Aunt Martha's writing" said the old
man, scrutinizing the letter closely.
: "Wonder what she's got to be writing
about?" he observed, as he handed
over the missive, and he stood there
waiting to hear the news. For wasn't
he postman-and as such expected to
know who got letters-and where they
were from-and what they were
about? That was Mossville etiquette,
established of old, and far be 1t from
Silas Hobbs to neglect his duty in this
regard.
"You must be mind reader, Mr.
HOBBS said Anne, glancing through
her letter. ut is from Aunt Martha
and she wants me to come and spend
"a week with her.
'Now, you take my advice, Anne
and 90 right along" said the old man
wisely shaking his head. "You know
what you've told me bout certain
young maxwell, this'll be just the
thing. If I was you, I'd 60 right ur
and get ready now, and I wouldn't
say nothin' about it, neither. Take
my advice now, and run along ant
pack. You just stay up at the farm
for week or ten days, and dom
write him a word, and I guess that'l
bring him to his senses If anything
ever WILL" a..
"Why, 1 do think that you are right
Mr. Hobbs. It's the very thing" sait
the girl, getting quite excited at thu
thought of running away.
Mary, the maid, was just finishing
her work for the day.
I'm going away for week or so
Mary" said Anne, as she entered thu
>Scotless kitchen where Mary reignet
srnreme "but it's to be dead secret
and if you'll come up and help me pacl
before you 60 out, so that l can &c
away, I'll give you my purple hat tina
you liked so much.''
ooh, thank you, Miss Anne" sale
Mary, land indeed I'll help you"
So they packed, and when all wa
done, Mary went off to prepare for he1
evening out"
Down the street that evening saun
tered Mr.. Robert HARDWOOD. He had de
cided to call upon Anne. She did no
expect him, very true, but still he wa:
sure she would be glad to see him. Sht
always was.
Enjoying his after-dinner cigar HI
turned the corner of her street ant
gazed over at the house.
Just then the door opened and dowr
the steps lightly tripped young WON
an. He would have recognized Anne
anywhere by the purple hat that sht
wore. ..,-
"Good gracious, what's that" NUT
tered Bob HARDWOOD, as he stepped
back into the shadow.
"Anne-and man! Oh, what 6
fool I've been," he calculated, sud
denly brought to his senses. "Now
suppose some other lucky fellow has
stepped in and cut me out. Well, I,
serves me right for waiting so long
but by Jove! won't give her up sc
easily. I'll ask her to marry me to
might If have to sit up all night anG
wait for her to come home," and he
strobe across the street and gave the
bell a jerk that made 1t resound
through the whole house.
Footsteps strangely familiar came
running down the hall. The door open
ed and there stood-Anne.
'Why, camel mean I saw"
'And I conquered I suppose" fin
ished Anne sarcastically, but smiling
at his confusion.
Z