Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-07-12

sure that the wound will be OF the
friendly. faithful sort). but before left
Mrs. Richmond told me how she sold
her things.
Il am getting along SO nicely. she
said, looking up from her work and the
tears starting to her eyes. The min
lister didn't think ] could get along
she added. proudly. "Out l have. cave
as much as l can do all the time, and
sometimes even have orders ahead. All
make leave at Mr.. Pr;tchard's fancy
store, and he sells them for me. told
the minister that the Lord would pro-
vide customers. and He has. You see
l knew the Lord better than he did.
went away wondering, for Pritch-
ard S was a very fashionable and exclu-
sive establishment indeed, where moth
ing, / supposed, was ever sold that was
not of the very best. He made a
speciality of high art" needlework
and such matters: so l was not a little
surprised a few days after-happening
tldC W dS-eO SCC III Las elegant "AA0O =
among the beautiful PLAQUES and pam
els and embroidered fabrics, the iden-
teal tidy all askew as il was, and la
beled with the price.
hardly know what impelled me, but
! had the curiosity to 60 in. Not being
able to afford much in the way of
high art" l seldom purchased any
thing of Mr.. Pritchard: but 60 there
very often with friends who do, ana
Mr.. Pritchard is always exceedingly
civil.
"Oh, that! that tidy in the window
do you mean?" Then he began tc
smile. II don't suppose you want tc
buy lido youp''
No"
Il thought not. Very often people
inquire about the things in that corner
of the window. The fact is" his voice
fell, there is a story about that tidy
and lot more of similar things. II
isn't known. and / shouldn't like it tc
get QUIT might lose me custom you
knOw-but will tell you in confidence
how it happens. ''Of course''-Mr.
Pritchard's tone was little contemptu.
Ous-''nO one in hers senses would pay
three dollars for Il thing like that, un.
less perhaps-in this case-for a whim.
Well, over six months ago an old woman
came in here one day with some things
to sell. was very busy. l was wait
ing upon Il lady. one of my best Gus
toners, and it annoyed me to be inter-
rupted. The old woman stuck and
hung; as they say, wouldn't take no
for an answer. After awhile the lady
began to take an interest. She looked
over what the woman had in her has.
kettle queerest things you ever saw
and actually insisted upon buying a
pinc,lshion and a white rabbit made OF
flannel with bead eyes. She made out
to the old woman they were just what
she wanted for her children. Then
Mrs. Van Arsdale started" there!
didn't mean to tell her name!-please
don't mention it-Mrs. Van Arsdale
took me aside, and made me promise
to take what the woman had, to sell on
commission. told her there would be
no market oh. yes said she, there
will be a market, for all you can not sell
l will take and pay for myself There
never is any accounting for rich
wOman's whims, continued Mr.. Pritch-
ard, ruefully. Every body wonders
why let my window be cluttered up
with such stuff; but the fact is
can not afford to affront Mrs. Van
Arsiale. It's amazing how much that
old woman cOntrives to do, and she
isn't satisfied either unless she gets a
good price. Once put the price of a
toilet set she made. cushions and three
little ridiculous mats, at a dollar. She
keeps sharp watch of the window, and
next Cay she came in very indignant at
my asking so little. You see / thought
it an imposition on Mrs. Van Arsdale.
The price for the SET said the old
woman, ought not to be cent less
than four dollars. They took me every
bit of four days to make. Now you
put up the price, said she, Independent
as YOU please, 'or III GO to some other
place! That was cool, wasn't it? !
told Mrs. Van Arsdale, but all she had
to say was: Let her fix the price to
suit herself. I'll make it good. Send the
things to my house, but be careful she
never EnOws' -
l have thought of this story many
times since l heard it. and perhaps, in
its way, it is worthy of being jotted
down. have been careful never to
speak of it and the names are of course
changed. but the story itself is true.
1t does seem, after all, as if Mrs.
Richmond was right in the faith she
had that, while her own fingers pro-
vided the fancy work, the Lord would
see about the customers. First and
last by this time Mrs. Van Arsdale