Wichita eagle., 1888-07-21
81 should nans This. " said Minnie.

II should want this, said Minnie.
"Well, as the best figure on that IN say
s33. We don't mako anything On it, any
way
Mrs. Blossom was not deceived, but she
pretended to be, and with another ezertaon
Of courage asked for months credit. Then
she directed the cutting to be done by Alex
anders measure, already with the tailor, ana
the next day carried her bundle in triumph
to her dressnaaker That was her idea der
dressrnaker, Of course, was one OF that Inn
mite number Of sewing women, found only
by sheer good luck, who are called Jewels"
by feminine gossips and who charge two
prices. They are said to be Reasonable" as
distinguished from the real modesto. Ac-
cording to inumemorial usage among dress
makers, this particular Jewell Of Minnie's
did not set a price, but she said it was
splendid plan" that she would try, and that
she would make everything satisfactory"
What can be moro satisfactory than satisfac-
toryf Minnie departed in great spirits.
Time ratified On and brought the night Of
the clubs first meeting.
The Blossoms acceptance had been duly
sent, and Alexander had been complacently
informed that a dress suit would be provided.
He trusted to his wife implicitly, believing,
not that In two months she would create q
wonderful novel, as ladies SO easily do-in
other novels-but that she would pursue the
more useful and perhaps moro woman1y plan
Of calling on her father Men are SO tardy
in conceding to their wives other than do
mestic virtues. But one man was about to
have his masculine prejudices swept away.
The important night having rolled into War
re.sburg, Minnie came dancing down stairs
in something" the gifted dressmaker "had
patched up out Of nothing" and consequent
TALLY babe her dependent husband to ''come
up and get ready" He went The bundle
was brought out for him to open. 1t was a
regular tailors box such was Minnie's craft
iness) and 10! on the collar Of the coat was
the clarifying name Of a New York tailor.
Minnie, of course, had obtained the name OF
her father and sswed it on with hsr own fair
hands.
Alec, with full heart, donned the suit
and stood before the mirror. He cast two
careful, comprehensive glances at the trim
reflection. clasped Minnie to the new coat
and exclaimed in many raptures, You dar-
ling! lists the regular thingl"
'Are you satlsfedF' asked the wife, wish
ing him to commit himself beyond retrac-
ton before she divulged the low origin Of
the suit.
"Of courser" cried Alec warmly, wishing
he were a woman, SO that he could gush a
little Satisfied Why, it's one Of Acker-
mans best-that's what it is. See the way
it fits. l could tell that was Alderman a
mile off"
Iah oI rod fr,rt tam ,trnfac Miryio
confessed the history Of the suit. $50 you
see, after ALL" she said at last, 1--WE women
do know something"
Mr.. Blossom looked at the coat more crit
ically, trying to detect blen1ish, but he
couldn't.
''Are you stin satisfedr asked Minnie
He had to admit that he was.
Now, how much do you suppose it cost"
Mr. Blossom couldn't tell ''Now, a tail
or"-he began.
"Tailorr' cried Minnie. "You mean rob-
Der. l counted on just $40, and out of that
have this suit, which you say you like, and
this dress Of mine. You would have paid
S75 for the suit alone. Tomorrow shall go
and pay up, and warn you that every cent
/ have left out of the SO shah spend on
candy, every single cent" For Minnie had
the woman's love of extravaganza after all
So this was HRS. Blossoms triumph. Not
a gentleman at the club was better dressed
than her husband.
They were both in raptures. Alexander
especially, when he had convinced himself
that bis suit did not proclaim to the world
the disgraceful truth that it bad been con-
structed by dressmaker.
The next evening, when Mr.. Blossom came
home and Instituted the search for Minnie,
she did not leap out at him from her old I'M
thought Of hiding place. She was in her
room and crying.
What's the matterr' asked Alexander.
She did not reply at first, but still kept Ter
head from him, but when she had been
wrought up to the proper state Of sympathy
and alarm she cried little more bitterly
than before, and quite unconsciously relaxed
her grasp on a piece Of cruInpled paper. Al
exander OWNED that this dingy scrap was
the source of the trouble and picked it up.
1t contained atrocious writing executed in
red ink, and looked like the work of a dyna-
inter. But it was not SO brief. 1t began:
Mrs Blossom to Mrs. Darden, mans Dress
Suite" and after eighteen or twenty lines of
trimmings, Innings, buttons, extra cloth,
Under this 'totle" Minnie had written In
trembling figures what she owed the tailor,
S33, and then she had made a 'totlen Of her
own The dress suit had cost her $40.
You hate me-" she sobbed; you'll think
you've married q simpleton."
Alexander was not distinguished for a keen
insight into human nature, but with 50 beau
tiful and appealing creature as Minnie in
tears who would not know the proper chordi
''Simpletonr' be cried; and distressing the
power of words alone he seized her by the
waist, ''sae jump" and gleefully whisked her
about the room, $50 you want compliment
on your fnancieringl You shall have it.
You have got thing worth SIS for sT2;
made 50 by simply turning over your some
what dimpled hand. Simpleton, forsooth;
you arc a money grubberi Take me to the
theatre, capital! and | viii give the supper
afterwards Ehl What do you think of
thatT'
Minnie. flying from tears to smiles, fool
ishly thought Alexander more adorable than
ever, and that evening at the play, although
it was very fatal tragedy, they successfully
maintained the highest spirits. But better
than all, when the story was related TO
Min1.e's father, he-knowing how to strike
the right chord-immediately presented her
with large check as a guarantee that her
first charming futile efforts at economy We're
properly appreciated Tines
Uho,, tha G,,,, Seams IN EirR