The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-12-21

I
knew who that elegant young lady wa,
who was looking at the white-snd-pear
moquette carpetl I'd like to ask her fol
the pattern of that shoulder cape. I'm
sure it must have come direct from
Paris"
"Well, my dear" said Mr.. Cackle, a,
he sat down to the soup and roast beef Of
che plentiful table at home, "what sort
OF parlor carpet did you buy for cousin
ErminieT'
"Oh, beautyi" said Mrs. Cackle
spreading out her napkin to protect hel
dress.
did you use all my check?"
"Yes. every dollar of it," answered
Mrs. Cackle, salving her conscience with
the recollection of the black satin and
the Escurial lace, which were already in
the dressmaker's hands.
81 hope they'll be pleased" said Mr.,
Cackle. "It's very essential to make q
favorable impression, beg you to re-
member, my dear, on these relations,
for the young man Erminie is to marry
is q relative of the head of our firm. and
could, have no doubt, recommend me
for advancement"
why didn't you tell me all this be-
foreP" said Mrs. Cackle, with a pang of
tardy remorse. "But how on earth did
your country cousin come across such a
good matchT'
"Oh, l don't know. believe he came
out to Glassybrook fishing or cunning or
something. Minnie's very pretty, they
tell me-"
"Humphr said Mrs. Cackle. "Red
cheeks and black eyes, and hair cut in
pointed bang right down to the top Of
the nose-I know what these rustic
beauties arer'
The time for the wedding arrived.
The Cackles, in their holiday attire,
travelled down to CLASSY brook, and there,
on the drawing room floor of an elegant
semi-Italian villa, Mrs. Cackle recog-
nized the very white and pearl moquette
carpet that she had SO coveted at NEEDLE
q Minturn's. And the bride-already
in her white silk and floating veil, to
whom she was introduced as Miss Err.
mimic Brooks, soon to become Mrs. How.
ard Crespigny-was none other than the
elegant young lady in the Paris wrap
and the perfectly fitting gloves and boots
who had heard every detail of the bar
gain for the unstable carpetl
If the cracks in the floor underneath
the moquette colors could but have
opened and swallowed Mrs. Cackle up
at that moment, what an indescribable
relief it would have beenl
81 have to thank you, Mr.. Cackle, TO,
your present, said Erminie, in her slow
queenly way; and her smile was a riddle.
II hope you liked it," said honest Mr..
Cackle, looking down at the rose-and
pearl shades of the soft pile, that closed
around his foot like forest moss. "It
certainly is pretty pattern"
Mrs. Cackle shot an imploring glance
at the bride-a glance that said, palmer
than words, "Don't betray mer'-and
the bride began to talk with somebod,
else about something else.
She did not enjoy the black satin drest
with the Escurial trimmings 80 much as
she had expected. The Paris costumes
Of the "back country cousins" left her
far in the shade.
"I'll never go to that dowdy dress
maker again" said she, in a rage.
But she did, for Miss Biggs was cheap
and Mrs. Cackle was economical. Or
the very first call she made there after
her trip to Glassybrook, however, she
gave great start and stared around her
like one who beholds ghost.
my goodness mep exclaimed she.
"Where did you get that carpet?"
isn't it nicer" said Miss Biggs, beam.
ing through her eyeglasses. "It was
present from Mrs. Howard Crespigny.
Her mother was once a customer OF |
mine. Wasn't 1t thoughtful of herr"
Mrs. Cackle made a little noise as u |
she was swallowing something, and saiu
yes, she thought it was.
Mrs. Howard Crespigny was the bride |
The carpet was her own wedding gift
the identical unstable pattern" And
Mr.. Cackle never received promotion in |
the firm of Hartman & Crespigny on |
the recommendation of his new relation. |
in-law.
Mr.. Cackle thought 1t very strange;
Mrs. Cackle didn't. - Helen Forrest |
Graves in Philadelphia Saturday Night.