The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-10-02
flisteuaneol1s.
A Warning to Ladies.


asked OF my friend Lyman Robbins, who
is somc ten years older than myself and n
confirmed bachelor.
~ have thought Of it," said ho.
"Well, why didn't you marry, then ?"
al will tell you. You know Frank Pal.
mer, don't you?"
"Ycs; he failed last week to the tune Of
twenty thousand dollars. But what has
that to do with your story?"
'.Something. as you will sec. l was nev-
or seriously tempted to make proposal but
once, and that was to Franks wife-beiore
she was married. do you undcrstand?"
"Oh! !" said I, growing interested. "And
why didn't your"
.You shall know. was young and ro-
mantle ut that time-she was beautiful and
accomplished. We were thrown together in
society and was just at the ago to yield to
her fascination. Though had never OK
pressed my love in words, suppose my looks
betrayed me, and was quite sure that she
was aware of my feeling towards her. Our
families being somewhat intimate, we were
on the same footing and she treated me in
much the same confidential manner as she
would favoritc cousin"
"Do you think" inquired, that she
was in love with you?"
"No," said he; al never thought that. |
presume, however, she would have liked to
have lurcd me on to declaration, and then
would have acted as fancy dictated. One
day, when had made morning call and
was retiring she told me she was going out
shopping and laughingly proposed to me to
90 with her and carry the bundles. Having
nothing of Importance to take up my time,
and not being ayersc to the proposal, partly
on account of Its novelty and considerably l
rather suspect, on account. Of the agreeable
character of the company l should have, /
consented in the same spirit, and in o few
minutes VIC wcro fairly Zen route"
al have but little to buy" said my com.
panion. "You may congratulate yourself
upon that, as you will have the less to car
ry."
We made our FIRST visit to dry goods cs-
tablishment.
Have you any lace collars?" inquired
Caroline. A large quantity wcrc displayed,
but they were only five dollars in price, and
they were too cheap. At length one was
found at seven dollars, with which, being
declared the best in tho store, my companion
at length proicssed herself satisfied and do.
cidcd to take it.
81 suppose" said shc on going out, "that
I don't really need il, but IL was so heauti'
ful could not resist the temptation"
A beautiful shawl at the door of a store
next caught Carolines attention l must
certainly 80 in and look ut their shawls."
said she, II never saw any precisely like
them"
"New kind ?" said sho to the clerk. "Ycs,
miss, Just imported from France, warranted
to surpass in firmness OF texture and dura-
bility any now extant. Will you have
one?"
"The pricc?"
"Scycnty FIVE dollars, and cheap at that"
Caroline was started ut this announce
ment.
THAT is high" said she.
"Not for the quality. just feel OF it--sec
how soft it is, and you will not call it cx-
pensiye."
- did not think of getting cne to day
however, think | must. You may charge
it to my lathcr."
The shawl was folded, onveloped, and
handed to me by the clerk.
II suppose father will scold, " said Caro-
line "but it's such beauty"
We reached ere long another dry goods
store, the placard of which, selling OF ut
cost proved so seductive that We at once
STAYED our steps and entered. Caroline
rushed to examine the silks; the FIRST speci-
men offered. which, to my Impractical eye,
seemed OF superior quality, was cast con-
tcmptuously aside, and she desired to SEQ tho
very best they had in the store. Some were
shown her at two dollars and half per yard.
After while, she ordered twelve yards to
be cut off for her. This was done and the
bundle handed to me. The bill, of course,
was sent to her father.
What with tho shawl and silk, each of
which made bundle Of no inconsidcarble
siu, was pretty we'll weighed down and
began to be apprehcnsivc of tho consequence
in case my companion should make any
more purchases. She, however, relieved my
anxiety, by saying that she intended to pur.
chase nothing more. She was only going
to step into jewellers to have locket rc-
paired. Accordingly We repaired to the
store Of fashionable jewcller. The lockct
was handed over with the necessary direc-
ti0ns.
But this was not all. A lady at tho coun.
ter was IN aged in examining vcry costly
pair Of earrings which shc was dcsirous Of
purchasing, but dcmurred ut the price. At
last she laid them down reluctantly, saying,
"Thcy arc beautiful, but do not care to 60
so high as twenty-five dollars"
Z" lot me see them, if you please" asked
Caroline. They were handed to her. Sho
was charmed with them, chiefly, imagine,
on account OF the price, for they had little
beyond that to recommend them. "Now. I
must absolutely go home, said she, "with.
out purchasing ANYTHING more
For once she kept her word, and released
from my attendance. But the thought that
she had expended one hundred aud thirty.
fyo dollars, in single mornings shopping,
and on Objects none Of which, by her own
confession. she stood in need, could not help
recurring to me. and l decided that until ]
could find some more rapid way Of making
money, such wife would be altogether too