The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-26
Eoening Story
A Hat for Camilla.
BY H. LOUIS RAYBoLD.

L
| the tall young man with the happy
gray eyes was that SO often rode to
/ the fourteenth floor with her, no less
! the identity of the fair girl with the
roses of spring in her cheeks and the
summer sun in her hair.
FMS attention had first been drawn
| to her by catching a glimpse in the
| crowded elevator of a perfectly Won
line eyes was the acme of chicness,
| allure, and expenSiveness. Edging his
| way about a bit, he had been able to
see the face beneath the hat and was
| forced to admit that each did justice
/ to the other. Later he had been I'M
able to help noticing that the owners
; gloves were rather worn, that the neat
serge suit was obviously of a former
season, and that the sensible shoes
/ were being helped to hold their own
| by shines and new laces.
One morning, in very off-hard
way, Peter put the question to his law
partner. Say, Bob. do you know who
the young lady is who comes up to this
the CORRIDOR"
1'I do that" replied Bob, turning
around in his swivel chair the better to
give Peter critical survey. And
| she's some looker-as for her cha
peaux-oh. boyi Since I was married
one, and, believe me, she never gets
hers marked down at bargain sale!"
But who is she?' demanded Peter.
| "Oh, she's stenographer to Frappier
ct Gle, that French firm, you know"
Obliged Bob giving out the extent of
his knowledge. TOO expensive for
you, my lad
Just as Peter, for the sake of his
peace of mind, had decided to cast no
more glanceS in the direction of Ca
| AZ IA int n ~
the elevator to halt, suspended for a
few long minutes between the sixth
| and seventh floors.
Considering that Peter and Camilla
were the only passengers, and that for
some weeks now they had been riding
up and down together, it was not odd
for Peter to observe that they would
doubtless not be delayed long, and
for Camilla to reply, with a very slight
increase of color, that she trusted not.
After this their acquaintance pro-
crossed inevitably thru the various
stages of bowling when meeting, ex-
changing comments on the weather,
discussing tho newspaper headlines
until one-red iettered noon, when
Peter took his courage in both hands
and she accepted.
BY this time Peter was SO far gone
that, to satisfy his thrifty conscience,
he had invented perfectly satisfying
bit of fiction as to how Camilla was
able to wear such hats. He knew of
answer, of course. She was one of
those wonderfully clever persons that
| could copy one of the creations in the
shop windows with such accuracy
that, once placed on her well-poised
with the very essence of distinction of
! its model.
At last came the day when Peter
felt that there was sufficient likeli-
hood of a favorable reply for him to
chance a certain question.
Little girl, he said gently, will
you marry me? I haven't much to
offer now but If you are willing TO
start small 1 think some day 1 can
promise you"
"oh, Peter Peter" interrupted Ca
milla recklessly. What do / care II
you. I can cook and. altho 1 can new
err sewed a stitch in my life, 1 can
learnt"
Overwhelmed by his happiness, the
question of his beloved's hats was the
farthest from Peters thoughts MOI
until many hours later, as he sat in
his room, comfortably pulling at an
old brier and letting his mind dwell
lovingly on the dearness of Camilla
did the ghost of her words arise to
trouble him. She had never sewed a
stitch. And it did seem, as il he re-
called noticing, subconsciously, as they
had sat on the sand that day, that the
upturned hat beside her bore on its
shirred lining the label which spoke
for itself-Madame Lucille.
well, hand it all.'' he told himself
"I'll work nights to see that she keeps
on getting that same kind!'
u The next morning Peter offered tc
take off of Bobs hands a little JOB
the latter had with that same
Madame Lucille in regard to a Gus
| 80 h
count. If one was going to marry 9
, woman whose one extravaganza rar
to hats, it might be a good idea to gel
a line on their worth.
Seated some time 1ater-in fact
during his noon hour-in madame's
office, he was thunderstruck to hear
, quite suddenly a voice he certainly
recognized. Parting the curtain at the
railing above the desk he was able to
verify his suspicion. 1t was Camilla!
Nor could he help overhear the con-
versation which followed. TRY on this
one" said madame herself, for whom
Peter waited.
ct am afraid it is rather expensive
said Camilla
Peter decided she was right when
he heard madame say, Nonsense
only fifty dollars
That very evening, the first words
with which Camilla greeted him as she
rose to meet him in the little stuffy
parlor, where she had been waiting
his coming, were, Peter, how do you
like my hat?"
And Peter, strictly truthful, told her
that it was so very beautiful that il
was almost good enough for the dear
girl under it.
: WELL confessed Camilla, "of
J course, could never do it if the cir
cumstances were not unusual"
You mean?" said Peter eagerly.
! "Why, madame used to know my