Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-17
MRS. CACKLE'S CARPET.

iDffu, tuH DlFb Oh piEduf5e piulhc cu beS
hat holding, az IL TO give extra signih-
canoe TO every word she spoke. Her tan
kid gloves. glistening with many buttons.
were distended with rings; her lace scarf
was fastened with gaudy diamond set
bar. ard her plump visage bore the traces
OF pearl powder and cream Of roses, laid
on with no sparing hand.
Beside her sat her dear particular
friend, Miss Rosina Rufford, who always
played the part Of Damon To her Pythias,
and invariably went shopping with her.
You see, Itosina," said Mrs. Cackle,
who was one Of the kind that talk very
loud Ia public places. and indulge in all
sorts Of details. ''it's for wedding pres
eut. Lemuel gave me check for hum
dred dollars, and told me to buy u nice
parlor carpet for his cousin. who is to be
married next month -
MIR. Cackle Is always so generous"
smiled Miss Rulford. whose new set OF
false teeth made her smiles very smiling
indeed. "a hundred dollars. did you
say, dear? That will buy a very nice
one, indeed"
at would" said Mrs. Cackle. iii
was goose enough to buy it. But don't
mean TO. Cackle's only man, and men
never do understand things. What do
these out Of the wilderness people under
stand about carpets9 And what do they
want of the best grade? No. young man,
don't want any Of the dollar and .
quarter lines. That's too high. Haven't
you anything for about dollar, OF nine
ty cents? IL needn't be the very finest
quality. ! tell you. IL spend fifty dol
lars on it" turning once more TO Miss
Ruff1rd. "itll be all that Is necessary,
and the extra sum I'll invest in a new
satin gown for myself Ha. ha. hal
Cackle ia so very close with his check
book, that now and then 1 have to cir
cumvent him"
"You are so witty. dear" Uttered Miss
Ruiford
cents:' shrilly repeated Mrs. Cackle. as
the salesman came back again. II
couldn't think of paying that. Have
you no unsuitable patterns-nothing that
nobody else will buy? The people that
want tins carpet for are dreadfuly old
fashioned, and never will know the diff
ference"
ooh, my dear. you are too funny
said Miss RuiTord. behind her fan.
"Wo have one" hesitated the young
clerk scarlet ground. with immense
olive-green pineapples all over it. We
haven't sold u yard off it. Everybody
seems afraid Of it. and l don't really
think"-
Let me see it," said Mrs Cackle,
promptly,
The porter presently wheeled up q
mammoth roll on a hand barrow: the
clerk uufol1ed its hideous. glaring pro-
portions where, against scarlet ground.
some monster vegetable entwined itself
among impossible scrolls.
"You see. na'am, it's quite unstable"
said the clerk. Mr. NEEDLE was talk
ing Of donating it to the reception room
of the Blink and DOODLE Orphan asylum.
at
at Ia a little peculiar" said Mira
Cackle. cycling it through her lorgnette.
uite-ahem!-what l should call an
art carpet.
"Oh, my dear louisa giggled Mis-
RuiTord.
but very striking" said Mrs. Cackle.
Quite so, ma'am." said the clerk.
coughing spasmodically behind his
pocket handkerchief
"What will you let me have 1t for7'
said Mrs. Cackle, in n business like way.
Eighty cents, ma lam" said the clerk.
"Say seventy five. spoke the customer
1--WE couldn't. indeed. ma am. 1t cost
us more than that to import it."
"ill take thirty yards" said MrA
Cackle. Let me see" Calculating on the
fat tan colored fingers where the rings
bulged out so obtrusivelyl. "naught's
a nauGht, eight times naught's-that
will come to twenty-four dollars, won't
it, young mang'
Twenty dollars, ma'am!" said
the clerk, scarcely able to repress his
amazement that any one in their senses
should buy so ugly a carpet
"And that will leave seventy-six out
of the check" said Mrs. Cackle. glee-
fully. "fll tell you what. Rosina-I can
trim the black satin with the very incest
Escnrial lace. suppose these back coun-
try barbarians will invite me to the we'd
ding. and I'd like to wear something that
will just paralyze them' And my hus-
band will never ~ any the wiser. Do
you look, Rosina,' nudging her compan-
Ion. What u beautiful moquette that
tall young lady in the black silk suit is
I've got to have something
new in my reception room next year. l
wish could Afford
The address. ma'am, pleased" said the
clerk, pencil and pad in hand.
Mrs. Cackle hesitated.
"Well. don't know" said she II
suppose it had better be sent at once,
with cur card, to the bride. Give me the
paper, young man. II you please. III
write it down. SO that there can't pos
sibly be any mistake.
Il tell you, Rosina," she added, as she
sat in the elevator. being lowered down
to the level of the surface world, II wish
/ knew who that elegant young lady was
who was looking at the white-and-pearl
moquette carpet! I'd like to ask her for
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 beefof
the plentiful table Mt home, what sort
of parlor carpet did you buy for cousin
Erminie.'
"Oh, beauty!' said Mrs Cackle,
spreading out her napkin to protect her
dress.
ibid you use all my checky
ayes. 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
Il hope they'll be pleased" said Mr..
Cackie. ITS very essential to make .
impression. beg you to re-
my dear, on these relations,
for the young man Erminie Is to marry
Is q relative Of the head Of our firm, and
could, l have no doubt. recommend me
for advancement"
"Why didn't you tell me all this b.
forey said Mira Cackle. with = pang Of
tardy remorse. "But how on earth did
your country cousin como across such Q
good MATCH"
'.Oh, l don't know. Ihehsvs b cans
sat g GlasyhEeek failing q guaniag 9