The Somerset reporter., 1890-01-30
SELECTED.
MRS. CACkLE'S CARPET.

said Mrs Cackle.
What sort of carpets, ma'am? Mo-
quettef Wilton? We have some very de.
sirable importatons OF royal velvet
mo, BRUSSELS. The cheapest thing
you nave In BRUSSELS that is any way de-
cent"
Mrs. Cackle sat up on the eighth floor
OF NEEDLE Minturn's great store. her
1ounces ripping around her ample form.
the blrd of paradise plume on her hat
nodding, as II to give extra Significance
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, and 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,
ana invariably went shopping with her
you see, Rosina," said Mrs. Cackle,
who was one of the kind that talk very
loud IN public places, and indulge in all
sorts OF details, ''it's for wedding pres
ent' Lemuel gave me check for hun
dred dollars, and told me to buy a nice
married next month";"
Ny. Tackle :5 Arrays SO GENEROUS, -
smiled Miss Ruford, whose new set of
raise teeth made her smiles very smiling
indeed "a hundred dollars, did you
say dearf That will buy very nice
one, indeed
was goose enough to buy it. But don't
m tn l,io
never do understand things. What do
these out-of-the- wilderness people un-
derstand about carpets? 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 or ninety
cents3 1t needn't be the very finest quail
ity, tell you. II spend fifty dollars on
it, turning to Miss Rufford, ''it'll be all
that is necessary, and the extra sum I'll
invest in new satin gown for myself
liza, ha, ha Cackle is so very close with
his check-book, and now and then l have
to circumvent him."
''You are so very witty, dear" uttered
Miss Rufford.
Nothing under dollar and twelve
centsr' shrilly repeated Mrs. Cacklv, as
the salesman came back again. Il
couldn't think of paying that. Have you
no unsaleable patterns that nobody else
will buy? The people that | want this
carpet for are deadfully old-fashioned,
and never will know the difference.
"Oh, my dear, you are too funny"
said Miss RutfOrd, behind her fan.
I'VE have one," hesitated the young
clerk" a scarlet ground, with immense
olive green pineapples all over it, We
haven't sold yard off it. Everybody
seems afraid Of it, and | don't really
think"
LET me see it," said Mrs. Cackle
promptly.
The porter presently wheeled up
mammoth roll on a hand barrow; the
clerk unfolded its hideous, glaring pro-
portions, where, against scarlet ground
some monster vegetable entwined itself
among impossible scrolls.
You see. nam. it's quite unsaleable,"
said the clerk. MIR. NEEDLE was talking
OF donating it to the reception room of
the Blink and DOODLE Orphan Asylum,
at"
ut is little peculiar" said Mrs.
Cackle, cycling 1t through her lorgnette.
"Quite-ahem' what l should call an
art carpet"
"Oh, my dear Louisa" gggled Miss
Ruflord.
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 it for?"
said Mrs. Cackle, In a busipess-like way.
Eighty cents, ma'am," said the clerk.
Say seventy five," spoke the customer.
I'VE couldn't. indeed, ma'am. 1t cost
US more than that to import it,
I'm take thirty yards" said Mrs.
Cackle. Let me see Calculating on the
fat tan-colored fingers where the rings
bulged out so obtrusively), "naught's
naught, eight times naught's-that will
come to twenty-four dollars, won't it,
young mani"
"rwentyfour dollars, ma'am," said
the clerk, scarcely able to repress his
amazement that any one In their senses
should buy so ugly carpet.
"And that will leave seventy-six out of
the check" said Mrs. Cackle, glecfully.
IN tell you what, Rosina-I can trim
the black satin with the very incest Es-
curial lace. l suppose Ithese 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 be any the wiser. 10
you look, Rosina:" nudging her compan-
lou. What a beautiful moQuette that
tall young lady in the black silk Is choos-
ing! I've got to have something new in
my reception.room next year. l wish
could Afford
1.-The address. s'am, please" said the
clerk, pencil and pad in hand.
Mrs. Cackle hesitated.
"Well, l don't know" said she, IL sup
pose 1t had better he sent at once, with
our card to the bride. Give me the pa
per, young man, II you please. I'll write
1t down, so that there cant possibly be
any mistake"
II tell you, Rosins," che added, as she
sat in the elevator, being lowered down
to the level of the surface world, ~ wish
l 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 1t must have come direct from
Paris"
well, my DEAR" said Mr.. Cackle, as
he sat down to the soup and roast beef Of
the plentiful table at home, "what sort
Of parlor carpet did you buy for Cousin
Erminie?"
"Oh, a heautyy" said Mrs. Cackle
spreading out her napkin 10 protect her
dress.
ibid you use all my checks"
Eyes, every dollar Of It," answered
Mrs. Cackle, salving her conscience with
the recollection of the black satin and
the Escurial lace, which were already 10
the dressmaker's hands
II hope they'll be pleased said Mr..
Cackls. "It's very essential TO make q
favorable impression, beg yoa TO re-
member, my dear, on these relations, fol
| the vOunR man Erminio n to marry In I