The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-10-09
FATE'S WEB
BY AGNES q. BRoGAN.


the o unSuSpectlng. lnus, run.
Wintergreen, planning In her villag'
home a trip to the city to buy a new
hat, and big John Brand, home 10
the first time in many years from tn
West, little knew in their hearts tina
Fate was slyly drawing them 10
gether.
Perhaps II Polly had known, sh'
might have remained in Fairville. Fol
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 ia an attitude of reverent HON
age. Foreknowledge Of John Brand's
confident manner of claiming his own
might therefore have deferred q
frightened Polly from visiting the city
John himself, fresh from the life oil
the great outdoors, would have SCORED
at being drawn under any circum-
stances into the scented atmosphere
of a ladies' millinery parlor-yet here
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
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 a velvet turban from
a stand at his side. and proceeded 10
draw IT down wei her fluffy hair. The
effect was charming. The Westerner,
who had been regarding half-con-
temptuousIy 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 seer before. Half shy
was the look, and wholly appealing.
John Brand had known many wom-
en-eficient, good and clever. But
their eyes had not shone with that
self-sacrifcing 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 1t was said that
worthy could be found.
His Impotence vanished as ne
leaned back, watching Polly as she sur
veyed her own reflected face.
"I like this shape very much" she
said.
ut is great" the Westerner genial
ly commented.
Polly wheeled about. flushing rosily;
she had fancied herself speaking to
the saleswoman, who was not now
lear.
'Tve got q picture of my mother"
he went on, with a little velvet thing
like that on her head it 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.
81 would like to have this same
shape covered in blue" Polly said. II
made the trip In town today because
II is necessary to have the hat for a
special occasion. Could you promise
1t surely for the day after tomorrow
Impossible I" the woman answered.
YEARLY. "We are swamped with
work. Twelve hats promised for a
big society wedding tomorrow; o
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
md hat she would wear; simple they
would have to be, but of a late fash
lon. 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.
IL suppose" the saleswoman sug-
gested presently, that / could per-
suade one of the trimmers to take the
hat home and make 1t up for you af-
ter hours. But they've been working
so hard they are pretty tired"
Now, though John Brand could moi
realize in his experience of the big
things Of life. how very real to Polly
was her disappointment in this in
stance. ne did realize the unselfsh.
ness Of her prompt response.
"Oh! I would not think of adding
to the girls work." said Polly. 81 will
come In again at a later time"
Around the Westerner's heart crept