The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-18
A PIECE OF SILK.

Anu only tile shadows TOLL on me.
Chambers Journal.
A PIECE OF SILK.
1t had been rainy, drizzly, disa
grcenble sort Of day. The flower.
and sunshine were alike scarce anG
coy. At Snipwell& Birch's business
was dull. and when, late in the after
noon. n customer came in, Fanny
Pole was fast asleep behind tn,
counter. She hoped that the sturdy
old man, with the white whiskerl
and the blue eyes, would pass on t.
George Miller's department., but HI
did not. He paused directly in from
of the silks, with an air that meant
business.
FORWARD, silks! Miss Fanny
wide awake there" cried the floor
walker, rousing himself from TIN
newspaper.
And Fanny came forward, assum
ing n smiling interest that she wa
very far from feeling.
"What order, please?" said sha
yawning behind her hand.
"Well," said the customer, "that'l
exactly what don't know. It's to-
the old lady ut home. It's her birth
day tomorrow, and she amt nevel
had silk gown yet. So, il 20,
pleasc, young woman, I'll take you
views on the subject. What would
you adviser"
Fanny frightened up, with q sud
den inspiration.
"Black," she cried-"black by al
means. There's nothing 80 durable
Us black. nor so ladylike. And w
have some very desirable dress
lengths in black cashmere finished
silks"
The old farmer stroked his beart
obviously.
"Olive's n fashionable color, ain
it," said he. "And she was alway
partial to blue when she was gal.
"But she isn't q gal now, is she?'
retorted Fanny, rather flippantly.
"Well, mol can't say she is!
slowly answered the old m an. "She'
be GO tomorrow"
"Then blue would be quite out O
the question:" said Fanny, with {
little authoritative nod of the head
"And olive is q dreadful color to fad,
and spot"
The old man poked at the pile O
soft brightsilks with his whip handle
"This ere reds a mighty prett,
color" said he, tentatively.
otis a great deal too bright to b.
in good taste," said Fanny, with de
cision.
"Well, Idunno butwhat it is, sale
the farmer, regretiully.
you'd better select this black
said the girl, with a persuasive smile
EFF twas for your mother you wa.
a-buyin' il" said the farmer, "woull
you take the black?"
II certainly should" said Fam,
Pole.
GLOW much is it,"
IA dollar twenty a yard, reduced
from 81 So" Fannieglibly answered
Fifteen yards is the piece-n good
full pattern"
"Do you recommend it rs good?'
questioned the old man. 81 ain't M
judge of the article myself. FL twas
fat cattlenow. or asample of oats
"There isn't a better silk in tn,
store" said Fanny.
And the farmer bought it and pait
for it, accordingly.
"Bring mesome paper and string
and I'll do it myself" said Miss Pol
to the cash boy, who took the farm
er's $40 bill; and she did SO.
Pm awfully obliged to you, youns
woman!" said the old man. us h,
took the precious parcel on his arm
"Gool-day!"
The other store girls giggled.
Fanny Pole has got hold of tn
old inhabitant this time," said one
WASN'T he q queer old stick
laughed another. "Did you motto
his old-fashioned silver atch chain?'
Girls" whispered Fanny, exult
antly, us the floor walker paused n
the far end of the room to CRITICS
some arrangement of the ribbol
counter, "I've sold it! I've got it Of
our hands!"
1.-The pattern?" whispered Cynthi
Joyce.
"What pnttern?" said Lizzie Lie
max, who was ~ newcomer. "Wha
are you all talking about?"
"S,'e don't know" said Cynthia
"But il was one dull day, and oil
Pnrkins, the plank trotter, was HON
with a sore throat, and Fan and m
ate our lunch up stairs, instead {
tnking it down into the packing
room, according to orders. Fa
treated to oyster soup, and we ha
little scufiie over tho tin-pail {
SOUP, and somehow it upset, and-
"Not over the goods gusped Lizzi
Lomax, with ROUND eyes of disma
and horror.
"Yes, over the goods" stuck
Miss Pole, "and tried by best t
wash it off the black silk, but til
grease wouldn't come out do wha
i would. Oh, if ever Parkins foun
it out I'd have lost my plat
certain and when stock-taIing tim
came, he would have found it on
sure. I've been on the lookout for
chance to get rid Oft ever since, bu
! declare to goodness ! thought til
chance would never come"
Lizzie drew u long breath.
"There was old Mrs. Hotaling yel
terday," suid she, buying u blac
silk"
"Do you suppose old Hotalin
would everbuy u dress without e,
amining every square inch of it frs,
through adouble magnifyingglass?
jcered Fanny. "Not she. tell vo
1 kept the spotted dress patter
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