Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-13


with all the marked assurance
Il of a woman who is out to buy
hat no matter whether she
can afford it or not. Ruanna knew Just
what kind of hat she wanted--'wide in
the brin, black. with grosgrain ribbon
on it." So she told eager Miss Fuller,
For the next half hour Ruanna was
busy trying on hats. The mirror was a
panel affair which gave both sides as
well as front view. Besides, Ruanna
had long-handed glass that further
aided her in getting the effect. But
each time she put on a hat the result
was the same. Something was wrong,
She became more and more disappoint-
ed. Her cheeks famed, her heart
pounded with emotion Miss Fuller was
having quite as bad time as her GUS
TONER. Half submerged in deep draw
ers she rurnmaged for still another hat
,Lnat might consent to cover Ruanna's
head instead of perching ridicuIousty
upon the tiptop of her high-piled auburn
hair. :
What's the matter with your hats.
anyway. Jessie?" demanded Ruanna.
ANY one would think there wasn't 4
female head bigger than a pinhead in
this whole town. Little stingy crowns
that you couldn't get over your thumb!,
Tired. f1ustered, Miss Fuller sighed
helplessly.
] I'm afraid it's the hair, not the hat"
.she murmured.
Ruanna fiared. "well, If you think
I'm going to sacrifice my hair for any
hat that was ever made you're mis-
taken" She got up and marched out
OF the shop, tears Of despair in her eyes.
Home she went and got out last sea-
sons hat, which was also the seasons
before last season. When Ruanna
bought that hat it had already been
out IN the city-in fact, it was very
nearly impossible. And Ruanna knew
it. But 1t fitted that mass of browning
glory which was hers. It would have to
do.
Next morning when Mrs. Powell drove
up in her blue coupe Ruanna walked
out of her front door wearing a fiat
crowned, green antique with a wilted
water-lily on the brin1, instead of the
mooish cloche she had hoped to christen
on that occasion. Mrs. Powell was
young, smartly dressed and outspoken.
She had known Ruanna long time
rand felt privileged as popular bride to
say what she pleased to the quiet, elderly
damsel whom fate had left to fade upon
the parent stem.
MY goodness, Ruanna! You can't
wear that old horror to the city! Why,
] telephoned Uncle John I was coming
in to shop and he asked me to take
lunch with him. And I'm going to take
you with me. You've never had
chance to meet really eligible man.
And Uncle John is perfectly adorable"
All the way to town Mrs. Powell gave
her attention to her driving and ignored
Ruanna. She was out of patience. In
a day when every woman shingled
Ruanna persisted in wearing her auburn
locks q yard long and thick as your
wrist. No wonder she couldn't find q
decent hat to wear. She didn't know
THAT Ruanna wore her hair that way out
iof sentiment. Dan Simmons had adj
mired that wavy mass; in those days It
had constituted Ruanna's chief beauty.
And, though she never expected to see
Dan again, she chung to what was the
,prettiest memory of her whole life.
When they had parked Just or the
main street Ruanna said Unexpectedly:
1T was awfully kind of you to call
me up yesterday and ask me to come
here with you today, Agnes, but guess
I won't bother you any further. I've
got few things to get for my folks, SO
I'll just poke round by myself. When