The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-13
Tho Mysterious Custo NOR.


| was playing Mr.. Spicer ,Run.fo,'d in
"Artful Cards" and you know in the second
act ne goes to al evening party, and he has
bought pair OF white kid glovcs--rcgular
party-going gloves, warranted not to split,
at one-and-sx. But they do split, and
here is the fun of the Introduction of those
comical articles called hand-shoes by the
matter-of-fact Germans.
The gloves were necessary for the fun of
the play; they must be split or there is 30
fun; and usually keep dozen PAIRS ready
IN case of emergency, as l have to split
them before going upon the stage.
When acting in celebrated provincial
town, where they are extremely critical and
particular down to the smallest detail, my
dresser told me that had no gloves; | had
used them all.
1t was dreadfully wet night, pouring
cats and dogs, and all the best shops were
shut up; 30 l told the coachman to stop at
the first glove. store he came to. We came
to halt at a mscrable-looking fourth-ratc
shop, where they sold cheap braces and
mouldy neckties, fly-blown shirts, and the
most alarming brass studs fixed into card
board.
The proprietor of this dingy emporium
was just about To close, and seemed half
asleep. could sec at once he was surly
ill-conditioned fellow, and don't think |
improved his temper by making my re-
quest very earnestly and in low tone, ac-
companled by a gibberish which he could
not understand.
heard him muttcring to himself,
What docs he mcan2 the mans Iool"
when suddenly, as he was bouncing about
anu losing his temper, ] said, as distinctly
as possible, '1lavo you got any white kid
giovesT don't understand your provincial
dialect.
1t was as well to turn tho tables at once,
and put him in the wrong.
lie gropcd about until at last, when he
was red with tho cxcrtion, he found for
gotten box of white kids They were I'M
commonly dusty, and had evidently been
the original stock of his grand-lathcr's
shop. picked out pair, and he went
through the stupid old formula of doubling
them across my knucklcs.
II think these will do" he said.
ooh! will they9 then give me pair of
scissors"
''They are untied you don't wan, any
scissors"
''Yes, / do"
then deliberately cut the gloves in five
or six places. The man positively shud-
dered and said, ooh, tlon'tl" 1t seemed TO
hurt him, although the gloves were mine.
The moro he shuddcrcd, the miurc ! ia;
away.
''But could have rot you a larger pair
without that, he whincd, as if he were in
dreadful pain.
'"They are quite large enough, my dear
sir" replied, hacking away; "but | like
plenty of ventilation"
lie shuddcrcd again.
GIVE me another pair!" said, tlcrccly,
us II were thirsting for destruction.
Twill you have Il larger size2 Do," he
murmured. "Don't hurt lhcm,' he added
with real pathos.
"No,' | said, mclo(lramatically. "Givc
me some larger scissors!''
saw large pair of SCISSORS on the
counter, and, scizing them, cut away at
TWO or three pairs rs eagerly as child cut
ting up paper. The more cut, the more
puzzled and distressed he looked. 81 here
that Will 90 said |, throwing down the
money and pockcting the gloves.
''Wlll you have any papcr2 Oil dcar!'
ne roared, as if the scissors had been RID
ping him open, aud he was recovering from
the shock.
mo, indeed, not /. Belinda shall be
rcvenged!" groancd between my teeth.
'Ihus will dcsloy my hated rival"
lie backed away from ne as waved the
scissors in the air, and l could see by his
termed lace that he thought | was stark
staring mad. As was leaving the shop
looked out and said,
tits lovely morning, isn't it," 1t was
o'clock III the evening, and raining in tor
rents.
Don't talk nonsense, sir" he replied
angrlly, but evidently very frightened and
astonishcd.
with hidcous grimacc ! left the shop
IND jumped into the carriage. In five
minutes 1 was at the theatre. trying to
amuse the audience with the perplcxiics
OF MIR. Spccr Rumford, while the puzzled
ahopman was brooding in the little back
parlor over this strange adventure with his
(" "Mystcrious Customer