Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-02-03
CHAPTER II.

| ing these events, q p1a7t0n uIoVe PAST q.
Archibald Bockaby's house, and stopped
at the corner just beyond it. A little wo-
man dressed entirely in black, and carry
ing large black calico bsg, slighte5, and
giving the reins into the charge Of small
chubby hoy, who hal been her sole COM
panion, she crossed the thoIoughtsre, as
csndel the fight of stane stsps lsading to
Malvina BIckaby's home, and rang the
bell.
The poItly individual who opened the
door, looked rather surprised a. the VIZ
ened tile creature, With the baady, black
eyes, who stood b sfoEe BIN.
II wish to see Mrs. Bocksby," size said,
in almost a whisper.
Your namt?" querisd the uncomPro-
missing James.
"Mrs. Wylde."
james to5k al austs5e lcok at the We
man as though doubtful whether, under
the circumstances, he ought 10 obey the
Commands CT his mistress. M-s. Wylde
ce,tainly looked respectable, though By 70
means fascinating. Hi5 servi.ity tri-
umphei, ho6evsr, and Mrs. Wylde was
scon in the bedroom of Mrs ]. Archibald
Bcckahy. There WIS 20 need 10 inform
that lady of the advent of her
euett she had been listening atten-
lively over the banisters while Mrs
Wide hud James held their brief confer
ence. Nov she almost wished James bad
refused to admit her As he had lot done
so, however, she mus. sse the matter 10 Ga
end.
Mrs. Bocksby found her guess standing
before the bed and carefully examining the
black snd gold garment which lay spread
out in its glossy glory upon the white
couaterpare. Tbs ar,istic beauty of the
dress seemed 10 BIZ Cf 10 account ia Mrs
Wylde's investigation. She pulled at ghe
seams, peaped under the arms, explored the
lining, tested the quality OF the goods, AID
in fact, made herself completely at home
with the robe.
Mrs Bcckaby looked on timidly, not
ventuIiog to utter a word. mrs. Wylde' 8
methol surprised her somewhat, hut she
vas always too well bred to ma1ifeet sur
prise under any circumstances. Mrs
Wylde's examination lasted for fully zen
minutes, at the end Of which TINE she
sought sn easy chair, sat down cOmforta-
bly, in it, folded hsr arms and pursed her
lips,
"You-you-like the dress?r asked
Mrs B1ckaby, nervously, rs she notiCei
that the lovely Mrs. Wylde made no effort
to break the silence. Mrs. Wylde grunted
pleasantly but undeniably.
l wish you to understand" said Mrs
Bockaby, still more nervously, and with
the AWFUL knowledge that she wss lin for
it" now, that this is the-the first tins
l have had dealings with WON ladies OF
your pr.profession. My husband does not
krow that have sent for you"
HE nsver will, ," said Mrs. Wylde, sud
denly finding her tongue, and finding that
sac could nog satisfactorily assert herself
SO shs was so fond OF doing. "Mrs. Book
ably, 1 do large and confidential bust
ness-confiential is the word, ma'au,
assure you. If l were to tell you
the names Of the li1ies whom I
ahem-relieve ofs-er-supeIfluous gar
ments, you would start. The list might
show the names of soma OF your best
friends-lsdiss in your get, na'am. But
l am to be trusted. It's 60 use my beatirs
about the bush-I might as we'll say ii
right out. I'm cut out for this business.
Ladies oil fad it out sooner or later.
never breathe the name of one customer to
another. If you were 10 Offer me $500,
ma'am, wouldn't reveal 10 you the
name Of the perso1-lsdy, should say
whom l have Just left, nor that of the
customer 1 shall see after leave you"
Mrs. Wylde, with this declaration o.
morality, looked proudly at Mrs. Bocksby
She gloried in asserting" herself, and
generally did so in excellent English.
T-I-suppOse y-you not oaly buy, bu
must be confessed.
"Of COURSE" was the answer. II dom
wear all these fine feathers myself"
"And-and you really mean to t-tell mi
that ladies-lsdies, you understand
will buy second hand dresses, and wes
them? l supposed servant girls bough
them" Mrs. Bocksby wss interested il
spite OF himself.
THE Wylds looked at her would-be pa
tron with affable contempt. She enjoyed
all this talking, but she liked to appear q
though confessions were very painful t
her.
"If 1 by tina. dress from you this morn
ing" she said, casting rather an unfavora
BILE glance at the gown, Il shall sell it thi
evening. A lady said to me only the othe
day: 'Wylde' when have intimate auC
frequent dealings with ladies they &c
very familiar, you know, L want mic
evening dress, bat l don't want to pay 70
it. If you can get ne something prett.
for nothing, or next to nothing, snail b
J very glad On! you need not be afraid O
NE, Mrs. Bockaby. I assure you am &C
customsd to the very best people"
Mrs.. Rockaby felt relieved. Since 81
had dispatched her letter sum nonirg tn
, ubiquitous lady to hec side, she haC
temporarily forgotten her urgent need O
, money, in her dread If being discovers
desling with an advertising ''s1peIfluous'
clothes dealer. Now thai Mrs. Wyld
had administered Title balm to her sal
esteem by informing Ter t5at her neigh
boIs were equally hard pressed for none
she remembered Mrs. De Suigsby's b.
Ip9ulrs and all its alarming requirement;
, Then You like my dress?n sske
Malvins, anxiOusly, as Ia Wylde's e!c
queuce ceased to flow.
II never said did"
! B1t-but-the lady who wants an even
i-g dress? Surely-surely, she cannot d
better than take this one. It's lovely. NJ
: husband begged me to wear it next Wed
nesday evening, but I want new gown
This cost e10O in London only lsst yesl
| Look at il Mrs Wylde, look at i"
Mrs Bocksby was really agitated. Sh
had felt so certain that tie 'superfous
= clothes deal r would take her dress. tbs
even the bare possibility Of her no! dom
/ so waa v5Xatious.
'I.'s so conspicuous" said Mrs. Wyld'
9 deliberately, standing away from the dre;
and bscoming critical. Ladies don't Lib
D to buy anything so uncommon. It's hsn(
: some-Jel But, I ask you frankl!
/ ma'am, would you like to buy a gov
{ such az this from me? You'd say: o.
: no, shall meet people who have seen i
. and they'll say that I'm wearing Mrs. 81
j aud-So's old clothes Whereas, if buy 6
9 ordinarily petty dress people won't
; afraid Of It's being recognized. You unde
: stapd?"
e YES" very faintly, my dresp, how
ever, has never been worn in America"
Mrs. Wylde reflected few moment