The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-16
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Cinderella Hat.
Hv IzOIA EOERESTER

trimming, and inextreme cases, sue
could change morning turban into
chic evening toque, with bend here
and there and a twist Of gold tissue
over the black crown and possibly
flying pennant OF uncurled ostrich at
the back.
But this hat belonged to Madeline
and 1t did not need the Paris label in
side the crown to tell Sue ii had cost
more than all Of hers for an entire
year.
1t was wide-brimmed OF rich crush
ed black velvet, with circle OF tiny
curled feathers outlining the crown,
and one ornament full old Venetian
Din set deeply with uncut rubies, real
ones. too, Sue knew. Madeline had
told her Of finding it at little shop
on the grand canal the day before they
sailed for home.
Just as the elevated train rounded
(. the curve at Sixth avenue and Fifty
third street gust of wind had caught
ii as 1t had gone sailing in midair and
blown it out OF sight.
She had left the train at the next
station and hurried back, bareheaded.
to search for it, but the street was
clear OF vihicles at this hour and the
hat had vanished. There remained
only one explanation.
eMantime speeding comfortably
up through the park in HIS gray under
siung roadster, Barry Reid was serene
ly Obvious of any Disturbing element
on his back seat. 1t was not until half
an hour later that he stopped at the
Briardale Inn, up near Riyerdale-on-
the Hudson, that his attention was call
ed to the compromising evidence.
"Where the devil did that come from
Barry wondered, holding the hat gin
erly and hunting for some mark OF
Identification. The pin caught his
eye and he knew it was genuine. Il
won't leave it in the car while l go
inside. And yet there's Annette and
Blair and Lord knows how many more
waiting for mel"
He stuck the pin in his pocket and
the hat underline seat and went in to
lunch. But after dinner at the club
that night he thought again of the hat
Certainly he was responsible for its
safe-keep.ng at least. Surely it would
be advertised for on account Of the
pin He tried to picture the type OF
girl who would look we'll in such hat
and found he preferred one rather dark
oy perhaps on the chestnut order, with
.srge, dark eyes,
At the end of the second day he put
an ad in the afternoon papers, but Sue
never read the ads, and the hat re-
manned white elephant on his hands.
e IT was toe large 10 conceal so Barry
had placed it for safe-keeping and a
constant reminder to his conscience
on bust of LIE Brum that stood in
the place of honor on his bookshelves.
Somehow il suited the piquant, arls-
tocratic face with its suggestion OF the
Trianon days.
The night of the Art League valen-
tine dance Sue dressed carefully, try
ing to hide from herself how she wish
ed to heaven she might have gone in
some dazzling costume instead of as
Good Luck. The costume was becom-
ing but ridiculously cheap, and she
wanted to be sensation. Madeline
was going as Melisande, with her own
lengthy blonde tresses as an excuse.
In green velvet, with gold girdle,
4 she would be picture. Sue took up
her necklace Of amulets and fastened
a wishbone and tiny horseshoe with
the rest.
"All I reed Is a rabbits foot now"
she told herself savagely as she push
ed her circlet of four leaf clovers down
about her brown curls. They had been
4 her own ioea, and she had made them
out Of green satin over cardboard.
s'They don't look so bad either" she
added, critically. before joining Made
line in the taxi below.
Barry was not intending to stay but
= he always managed to look in at the
dance each year, chatting at the door
with some of the men he knew. 1t
was always colorful and interesting,
end somehow tonight he found it more
than usually so. and had accepted the
loan Of monks domino for dance
or two. when he saw Good Luck pass
by on the arm of Filipino Moro chief
He asked Parker who she was, and
Parker, who knew everybody, told HIM
she was Sue Daniels, the girl who pos
ed for the angel heads in stained glass
y studios.
"Got Rosetti chin, hasn't she?" he
added.
"I'd marry her in three weeks IL she
looks as well with the mask off," Barry
remarked seriously. ~ want to meet
her"
They were dancing together when
Sue. a bit hreathless and happy chanc-
) ed to glance at the pin which fastened
3 the top fold of her partners domino.
1t was with difficulty that she kept
back q quick gasp. for there was no
mistake It was the Veneitna pin set
with rubies
IA beauty. isn't it?" he asked.
There's story goes with it, too. I'll
tell you wher you come up to my place.
rye got the rest Of it up there"
.The bat?" exclaimed Sue before
che could check herself. 'IsnE it
hurt a bit? oh you know. it's just
5too God to be true, your finding it,
for you did find 1t. didn't you? You
couldn't have the pin unless you had
the hat. too"
TT is your hat7" questioned Barry.
gazing down at her sternly. How do
I know It is becoming unless see you
lnmasked. and If It isn't you can't
have it. I shall keep 1t in the interest
of art"
But II y isn't my hat at all?" Sue
asked demurely Just supposing /
lost it, then what?"