CHAPTER VI—THE PICNIC
Mr. Weston had gone to market two days after Helen Dayton’s call upon Randy. He had laughed heartily at the description of the exact kind of shade hat which Randy wished for, and as he drove off he continued to laugh as Mrs. Weston called after him, “Remember, she wants a white hat; don’t, for mercy’s sake, come home with a brown one.”
“And, father,” shrieked Randy, “remember to get a big one and one that isn’t too coarse.”
“Yes, yes, land sakes! I b’lieve I’ll bring ye home a dozen to pick from,” and the good man chuckled to himself—he had his own plan for doing Randy’s errand. His eggs and vegetables disposed of, he turned to start for home, when he ejaculated, “Bless me! if I didn’t most forgit Randy’s hat.” Back into the store he went. “What have ye got for hats?” said Mr. Weston. “My Randy’s set her mind on havin’ a fine shade hat for the picnic, and nothin’ but a white one will do.”
Silas Barnes reached under his counter and brought forth a dozen straw hats, which lie spread out for Mr. Weston to select from.
“Wal’, that beats all! Randy and her mother told me just how it ought to look, but I don’t see any difference in ’em, do you, Barnes?”
“Why, yes,” replied the genial storekeeper, “that one’s twice as fine as the other, an’ it’s worth twice as much.”
“Wal’, I guess it’s ’bout good enough for Randy, then, and I’ll take it.”
When her father returned that night Randy met him at the door, and with a little cry of delight took the parcel which he handed her, and she could not find words to express her pleasure when the fresh, white hat lay before her on the table.
“Dear me! Ye might have had one before, if it delights ye so,” said her mother; “I didn’t think of it before, because most every girl here wears a sunbonnet.”