The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-01-10
THEIR MARRIED LIFE
Warren Buys Helen an Eighty Dollar
Hat for Fraction of its Price.

1t was small millinery shop in the
Hue Daunou. There were only three
hats in the window. In Paris the few
er the hats displayed in the window,
the higher the price of the hats.
Helen had paused to look at one Of
the three hats. 1t was small, extremely
simple, and the same shade of blue as
her travelling suit. Another minute OF
waiting and she entered the awning
shaded door
Inside there was just one hat on a
tall, slender brass stem. Except for
this solitary evidence of millinery the
place might have been an undertaking
establishment. so extremely plain and
austere We're it's dark green velvet
hangings and polished brass rods.
Helen was beginning to fear that the
simple hat in the window might not be
SO inexpensive after all. From behind
velvet screen which shielded many
shelves of hatboxes, swept an i'm
pressive French woman in clinging,
trailing black satin gown.
She gave Helen one swift glance, and
then asked in English:
Good afternoon, madame, is there
anything l can show your"
Il should like to see the small blue
hat in the window" answered Helen,
somewhat disconnected at being so in
stantly recognized as an American, but
relieved at not having TO depend on
the sign language and her half dozen
words Of French.
with pleasure, madame" sweeping
over to the y. ildorv the ii ailing point
OF ner skirt wTiggling snake-like over
the green velvet of the carpet
Its a smart little model is OF not?"
! as she took it out and held it up for
Helen's inspection. Won't you try it
on?"
Drawing out her hat pins Helen sat
down before the long mirror.
| The French woman stood back OF
| her with the hat carefully poised. Then
watching the effect in the mirror. with
the air of performing some difficult
! and delicate operation. she slowly To-
wered the hat on Helen's head
| VOLTA. madam lasping into French
with an expressive gesture.
| Helen liked the hat. 1t suited her,
| and it fitted her head without the need
! of an annoying bando.
| The side view is perfect" purred
the French woman, giving her hand
| mirror.
! A Big Price.
! The hat was covered with lustrous
| blue MORE silk. and the only trim
ming was a single uncurled feather
| beneath the rim at the side. When
| Helen first glanced at it in the win
dow she had thought seventy-ve
! francs-f1fteen dollars. When she en-
! tered, that estimate rose to twenty
dollars. Now she feared it might be
nearer twenty five.
And the price," she tried to ask it
| carelessly.
/
see," glancing at the little ticket inside
the hat -Four hundred francs, mr.
dam. That is about eighty dollars in
your money, is it not? ?"
| After the first minute OF blank am
azement. Helen was furiously indig-
nant. Did this woman think all Amer
| leans were either fools or millionaires?
| Without comment she took off the hat
and reached for her own.
Her silence was far more discon-
certing to this supercilious French wo-
man than would have been any criti-
cism Of the price.
some very smart models tEst are not
quite so expensive hurriediy as Hell
en- started to leage the shop.
| mo, thank YOU" coldly, Il don't
care to look at anything else.
!, Outside, the indignant color still
| famed in Helens cheeks
| Eighty dollars for hat for which
even the most expensive New York
shops would not ask over thrtyl 1t
was almost an insult to her intelli
gence
insult still ranking
Suddenly she stopped. For a mo-
ment she stood transflxed as she gazed
across the street at a familiar figure
with a familiar swinging stride. 1t was
WarrenI
Needless Of cabs and motors she
started to rush across the street. He
had now paused on The corner as
though to take bus. Fearlessly Hell
en- darted through the maze of traffic,
the drivers shouting at her.
Il Warren had raised his cane at an ap-
preaching bus and was just about to
jump on when she rushed up and
caught his arm with a painting:
"Oh, Warren WARREN
''Hellol Where did you come from p
unemptionaly.
"Oh, / was so afraid I wouldn't
catch you. Oh. dear, isn't it wonder
full to meet this way on the street
It's the first time we ever have" in-
coherently.
She Tells Warren
well, that's no reason for your get
ting run over" as a cab wheel brush
ed her dreae, and he drew her back to
the sidewalk What do you want? It's
almost O'clock now. I've got to send
a cable and then I'm through. Want
to go with me?''
"Oh, yes, yes" eagerly.
"Where've you been. anywayT'
When Helen caught her breath she
told him about the millinery shop she
had Just come from. about the hat and
tho eyorhitant price