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Choosing a Hat and a Husband f ’*’**'■ w - J J J By NELL BRINKLEY n One Woman’s Story . By VIRGINIA TERHUNE VAN DE WATER CHAPTER XXIII. I N after years. Mary Danforth looked back at the moments during which she waited at her door while Her bert Fletcher came upstairs toward her as a crisis in her life. It was as If she stood at a point where she turner her back upon her youth, her fancies, her hopes, and deliberately faced a grim something of which she knew nothing, in which lurked a duty she could not escape—a duty to her mother. Yet back of the thought of her mother there was another impulse, one that drove her on to take blindly a step which ■he would not pause to consider. That impulse was born of wounded pride anj of heartache such as she had never be fore felt, and which even now she would not analyze. And as she stood. Hwayed by these emotions, she heard Hert Fletcher'H heavy footfalls coming slowly into her life. Wonderful Forces. Conventionality and self control are wonderful forces. They enabled this fragile girl to face her caller calmly as he reached the top stair and turned to ward her. He did not take off his hat until he had shaken hands with her. "Why. good evening. Miss Danforth!” he said, holding out his large hand and grasping her slender fingers In a grip that almost made her wince. "Good evening," she returned In well- modulatfM tones. "Come right in. won’t you? Will you hang your coat and hat there on tlie rack 0 " He had removed his hat as he came into the apartment, and now wriggled out of a tan overcoat, evidently entirely new. as Mary noticed. She also ob served that his vivid tie had never hem worn before. His light suit made his large figure appear more rotund than usual, and, as he talked, he pulled off Nell Brinkley Says NERVOUS PROSTRATION Severe Case of ■ Philadelphia Woman—Her Symptoms. Philadelphia. Pa.—*'I had a aever# case of nervoua proatratlon, with palpitation of th« heart, constipa tion, headache# dizziness, nolst in my ears, tlm-J Id, nervoua, rest-? leas feelings and sleeplessness. "I read In th« paper whera a young woman had .been oured of the same troubles by tak- j lng Lydia K Pinkham's Vegetable Compound, ao ] threw away the medicines the dootoi left me and began taking tha Com pound. Before 1 had taken half a bottle I was able to alt up and In a short time I was able to do all my work Your medicine has proved itself able to do all you say It will and * have recommended It In every toouseSold I have visited."—Mrs Mary /ohnaian. 210 Siegel Street, Philadel phia, Pa. Another Bad Case. Ephrata, Pa.—"About a year ago 1 was down with nervous prostration. 1 was pale and weak and would have hysteric spells. Hck headaches and a bad pain under my shoulder-blade. 1 was under the care of different doc tors. but did not Improve I waR so weak I could hardly stand long enough to do my dishes "Lydia E Plnkham'a Vegetable Compound has made me well and happy and I have begun to gain in weight and my face look* healthy rov "—Mrs J W. Hornberger, R. No. 3, F.phrata, Pa If you want special advice write to Lyd a E. Pinkham Medicine Co. (con fidential), Lynn, Mass. Your letter will be opened read and answered t rralliru* held in strict confh * a pair of yellow gloves. Mary remem bered suddenly that Howells had said that Silas Lapham s hands in evening gloves loked like hams. She also re membered that her caller had probably riover heard of Howells, or of any au thors with whom she wus familiar. What could he and she talk about this evening? What would they have in common? And, as she asked herself this question, she was observing every detail ot this man’s flashy person, his rather oily auburn hair, tfie heavy mus tache several shades dnrker than his .ilr, his small gray eyes plnk-and* white complexion and full, sensuous lips. Yet, some girls would consider him handsome, lie had a kind face, and she wanted some one to be kind to her. "Sit down, won’t you?” she said. She tried not to notice that he dropped into a chair without waiting until she herself was Heated. What did such trifles matter? "I got your telegram Just after I j reached home," Fletcher said, "and I j came as soon a« I’d my supper. It wus j good of you to let me come to-night j after all. I was awfully disappointed when I got that telephone message down at the office saying l couldn’t call, so your telegram was real cheering.” "I found out that 1 would he disen gaged this evening." she explained, her eyes cast down. "1 got to thinking as 1 came uptown of a matter that | might take time to-night, hut when 11 got home 1 found a message that al- J tered my plans, so 1 changed my mind and sent you word that you could come. To change one’s mind is wo man’s prerogative, you know." She laughed, ami the listener did not de tect any artlfiolullty in the sound. "Well. I was reul glad to come.” he said. "I don't call on ladles often, for I’m noi a ladles’ man. My work takes me out-of doors u lot, and I’m tired when night comes." He was launched upon that most Interesting of all topics to any man himself and the girl had but to listen. She learned from the mono logue that her caller had been born and reared In New York, that his father wus dead and that he lived with Ids mother in an iipurtment near Lex ington avenue, also that the business he wus In was doing well, and that his "pay was on the increase." "Mother has a little money of her own," he said, "but 1 pay half her rent and my own board. She don’t ac tually need help from me, but l feel better to give her a lift She’s been a good mother, and men were made to be nil'© to women, I guess." T HROUGH the mossy-earpeted, scented temple, where hats are lifted tenderly and deftly on and off fair heads and dark, I strolled, the gentle cynic beside me, with one bright eye open for an Autumn hat for me, myself. All about the outer edges of the temple glass cases rose, filled with vari-eolored chapeaux on their slender stands, like so many bright storks standing on one leg. Out in the green open of the temple two-faced mirrors stood about, each with a tiny gilt and mahogany chair before it. Tall women, slender as race horses; short ones, round and plump as partridges, all clad in trailing, ankle-binding black, insinuated themselves softly about, carrying melting- ly perfect little hats on three fingers, their faces spread with the expression of a slave bearing his master’s pet jewel in his hand. We walked slowly and at last stood still behind a little beauty of a woman who twisted and turned on a ma hogany and gilt chair under countless hats that were low ered to and lifted in a swift succession from her head. Oh, la; such a weighty matter was this! Here was good, honest labor and thought spent recklessly! The race-horse saleslady in black charmeuse searched and worked desper ately and absorbedly. The girl on the chair, brown-eyed, gold-haired, sought out her image in the mirror under a myriad of hats and endless angles Old Time trod swiftly by, and at last—at last, the little lady rose hastily. “I must,” she said, ‘‘I must think it over. I like this little blue one, but I must go home and think it over!” There was smiling and bowing, and the lady of the startling brown and gold face-coloring was gone. The gentle cynic turned and smiled wryly. ‘‘Look at that, pray, mademoiselle! That reminds me, because it is so different, of the fashion in which that same careful little lady will go out and take unto herself a hus band ! Of course, sometimes a woman walks out of a temple of millinery with a fright on her head, just as she leaves the church door with a fright by her side. But in the first mis take it isn’t because she didn’t spend time and gray matter on it! ‘‘See, now, this little lady. She worked like a little tow- head, using time, patience, all her brain, her judgment, her artistic sensibilities. She didn’t stop at one. She tried two dozen on the top of her gilt head. And now—she has gone home to ‘think it over.’ “How will it be when she takes a mate? He will prob ably pick up her wisp of a handkerchief on the train between Atlanta and New York, they will look once into each other’s eyes and the next day there will be a wedding and their pictures in the paper. She’ll never know if he’s becoming to her style of disposition until after she has him. She’d never in a thousand years walk out with the first hat that rav ished her eye. She goes home to ‘think it over.’ But she walks off with the first man who touches her heart. And it’s after that she ‘thinks it over.’ “Tell me why that is—when the hat may be chucked into the yesterdays when this short season is over—and a husband lasts forever?” So I have made a picture of it for the cynic’s delecta tion. If he is right or not I do not knew. The official vlper-klller of France has a dress composed of 900 skins of venomous reptiles. He receives a small payment for the head of every viper he destroys. On Arnlsh Rock, Stornoway Bay, is a lighthouse without a light. Instead, It has a mirror which reflects a ray of light thrown upon It from a lighthouse on the Island of Lewis, over 500 feet away. A pigeon flew &galn9t the face of the Ipswich Town Hall clqck and was caught between the minute hand and the dial. The clock was stopped for an hour until the bird was liberated. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS By^ ANNA KATHARINE GREEN One of the Greatest Mystery Stories Ever Written Drew Off the Trinket. Mary lack museA again. Suppose he did polish? Men with exquisite manners were not always to be trusted. Think ing this, she lifted to her caller eyes so full of sadness that he found himself asking her if she was unhappy, and. In spite of her former Interdict, tell ing her once more that lie loved her. But this time, although she grew very pale, she did not forbid him to mention the maUer to her again It was 10 o'clock when Mary Dan- forth's caller reluctantly left her, ami she went at once to the room In which she knew her mother lay, still awake. She did not turn up the light as she bent over the anxious woman and kissed her good night. "I have a little writing to do before I go to bed. mother." she said. "So I will tell you good night now. Try to go to sleep, dear." "Did you have a pleasant call from Mr Fietoher?" the widow asked- The girl pretended not to hear the question as she busied herself tucking n the covers about the elderly wo nan’s thin Rhoulriers* "Go to sleep, mother." she said gent ly. "1 must no? stop to talk now, or l will not get to bed as soon as I want to." Fifteen minutes later, seated at her • esk. she signed her name to the note she had Just written. "My dear Gordon." it ran. "allow me to congratulate you on the news Just received. Since you have told me of your happiness, 1 thtnk it only fair that 1 should tell you of my own en gagement. I expect to be married in three months. Sincerely yours. Mary Dar.forth " The writer unfastened the chain from her neck and drew off the silver trinket bearing her own and Gordon Craig’s initials. For a long moment sh*> gazed at it and pressed it passionately to her lips. The kiss left a faint blur over Craig's initials, but this lasted for only an mstant Then Mary laid the coin • 'two r • o#ob * . f h.-r letter whirl- she envelope* sealed and addressed to Gordon Cra *r Sun Antonio, Texas (Copyright, 1913. by Anna Katharine Green.) TO-DAY’S INSTALLMENT. "Madam, do you know' a Dr. Moles- worth of this city?" "I do not.” "Are you sure that no such person was Invitee to your daughter’s w r ed- ding?" "Positive.” "Then, if he was here at all. he was here against your knowledge?" "Most certainly.” "We do not know that he was. but he is the person who professed to pick up Miss Farley from the stoop of a house in Twenty-second street, and as that story is somewhat incredihle, we are trying to prove he carried her away from this house, where he certainly was in attendance on Miss Oretorex as early as 9 o’clock in the evening.” "Then all >ou wdsh of us is to prove that attendance?" He bowed. "Why not prove it. then, in a simpler way? Can not Mrs. Cameron say wheth er she had any such person with her or not?" He knew w’hy this was asked. He knew that the mother’s heart was throbbing with anxiety under all her pride and self-possession, to learn what her equally proud daughter concealed under her silence and seeming Indif ference "I have not questioned Mrs. Came ron," he therefore, said, "but from the fact that she has volunteered no in formation to the police I take it for granted that she does not know the right name and history of the person she employed.’’ "Your conclusions are doubtless cor rect.” the mother allowed. But she looked as If she would like to be as sured of the fact. "And now will you come up to her room?" Wondering at her calmness, for he knew that she had in some way re ceived a blow, he rose and followed her upstairs. As they passed Peter, Mr. Gryce gave him a faint smile, perhaps in the way of remuneration for the dis appointment he was conscious of having caused him. I think that I have somewhere said that the room formerly occupied by Miss Gretorex was In the front of the house. It was large, and. as Mr. Gryce perceived upon their entrance, an ex ceedingly attractive and home-like apartment. But it was all tn disorder at the present lime, snowing by its very condition that no foot had entered it since Mr. Cameron went out. This circumstance was certainly a most fortunate one, and lent to the sur vey which this astute detective at once gave it an interest it could not have otherwise possessed. Even Mrs. Gre torex seemed to catch the infection of the moment, and peered about in cor ners and under the tables as If her life depended upon finding some clew with which to help forward the cause of Jus tice. He watched her as much as he >tudled th« room, and only when he perceived that she was quite satisfied that no stray veil was to be found, did he point to a pile of clothes that clut tered up a small alcove at one end of the room, an<] remarked: "Y’our daughter seems to have flung her whole wardrobe here in a heap. These are her clothes, are they not?” "Certainly; old ones which she had before she was married, but too good to be scattered about like this. I won der ” But here a voice thick with emotion broke In with the words: "What does this mean? What Is this going on In my room without my knowl edge ?" With a quick movement both turned. Mrs. Cameron, bonneted and wrapped in furs, was standing before them in the open doorway. Mrs. Cameron at Her Worst— and Best. F OR an instant Mrs. Gretorex and the detective, so dissimilar in all other regards, wore the same ex pression of disconcertedness, but only for an instant. She from policy and he from custom soon assumed an as pect of self-possession; and Mrs. Gret orex. speaking in behalf of both, ob served with a nonchalance that the other secretly admired: "We were looking for that poor girl’s veil. It seems that It Is missing, and that the police Imagine it to have been dropped here." A mortal pallor spread a ghastly light over Genevieve Cameron’s face. "I am at a loss ” she began, but | meeting her mother’s eye, quailed, and i caught hold of the door at her side for support. "I suppose you knew that the young woman who was in the habit of bring- j ing home your dresses died on your wedding night?” that mother Inexorably J pursued. * No answer. * - "You have not been so absorbed in your new life that you have not read this In the papers?” Genevieve shook her head. "Why didn’t you say something to some one, then? I should have thought you would, Genevieve. If only to pro tect us from the surmises and sus picions of the police. But perhaps you did not know what a secret you were hiding. Terhaps the girl had not given you her real name or shown you her real face” "Her face?” repealed Mrs. Cameron, under her breath, her eyes growing large and black in the stare she fixed upon her mother. "Yes, they say—all say—that this girl. this Mildred Farley Was that the name she gave you?" Genevieve quivered. Did she nod yes, or did that look of hers mean no. “ Looked so much like you that it was really remarkable.” Mrs. Cameron dropped at once into her usual manner. "Do they say that?” she Inquired, loosening her furs with a steady hand and carelessly throwing them into a chair near by. "Well, it is odd!” And turning toward the hall, she cried, al most gaily, "Come in, Walter. I have been caught in an equivocation and you must help me to reinstate myself." Promptly at this call, the tall fonq and fine features of Dr. Cameron appeared on the threshold. “I do not understand you,” said he, "but I will do what I can.” And there he paused, for his eye had fallen on Mr. Gryce. and h« expe rienced a vague trouble, that he in stinctively sought to hide. "Can I do anything to remedy my fault?" she asked. Mr Gryce stepped rapidly forward. “You can tell us whether you left her in this room when you went down to be married." More Admissions. "And do you know' all that, too?” she asked. "What clever people you are! I declare I never imagined the police w’ere such adepts at getting Informa tion. Yes, she was with me that night —helped me to dress and arrange my veil. I had not expected her, for she had received her pay when she brought home the last dress, and I had no rea son to thing she would come—but her presence was very welcome for all that, and she assisted me, as l say, and when the time came for me to go down 1 left her to go home when she got ready. Was there anything W'rong in that?” "Certainly not, madam; we only wish to get at the facts. And was she there when you returned?” "No," Mrs. Cameron lightly shook her head. “She had disappeared. I had not expected her to remain. Walter, where are you going? Wait for me, do. This gentleman will not keep me much longer, I know.” Dr. Cameron, who had withdrawn from the doorway, at this last word of his wife, paused on the spot where he stood, but did not come back into the room. "My husband is in a hurry,” she ex claimed to the detective. "Is there any thing more you would like to ask me about this girl?” "Well, yes. madam, there is,” re turned Mr. Gryce suavely, "In the first place I would like to know how you be came acquainted with her; then how far that acquaintanceship went, and lastly what light you can throw upon her death. All these things it would be of service to me to hear, for as you already know, there Is sutTpicion abroad :iiat she did not meet her death by her own free will and act, but was helped to it by a certain person whom you also know, or at least have lately seen.” "Walter, can you spare me five min utes?” Mrs. Cameron inquired, going to the door and looking smilingly Into the hall. To 3* Continued To-morrow. KODAKS;;™. First Class Finishing and En larging. A complete stock Unis, platea. papers, chemicals, etc Special Mall Order Department for out-of-town customers. Send for Catalogue and Prlee List. «A. K. HAWKIS O. Kodak Oapartmen' | 14 Whitehall St. ATLANTA. 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