Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-12-19


year. I wish l could afford"
"The address, ma'am. pleasel' said
the clerk, pencil and pad in hand.
Mrs. Cackle hesitated
well. l don't know said she. II
suppose it had better be sent at once,
with our card, to the bride. Give me
the paper, please. I'll write it down,
so that there can't possibly be any
mistake"
II tell you, Rosina." she added, as
she sat in the elevator, being lowered
down to the level OF the surface world
Il wish l knew who that elegant
young lady was looking at the white
and-pearl moquette carpet. I'd like to
ask her for the pattern of that shoul-
der cape. I'm sure it 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, beauty said Mrs Cackl,
spreading out her napkin to protect
her dress.
did you use all my check
Yes, every dollar of it, answered
Mrs. Cackle, saving her conscience
- A., ..oolIoot;on ~ Tho hlacE Es
curial lace, which was already in the
dressmaker's hands.
Il hope they'll be pleased, said
Mr.. Cackle. It's very essential To
make a favorable impression, | beg
you to remember, my dear, on these
relations, for the young man Erminie
is to marry is a 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-
fore?' said Mrs Cackle, with a pang
! OF tardy remorse. But how on earth
did your country cousin come across
such good matchf
"Oh, / don't know. | believe he
came out to Glassybrook fishing or
hunting 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-l know what these
rustic beauties are!'
The time for the wedding arrived.
The Cackles, in their holiday attire,
travelled down to Glassybrook, and
there, on the drawing room floor oi
an elegant semi-Itaian villa, Mrs.
Cackle recognized the very white and
pearl moquette carpet that she had Sc
coveted at NEEDLE & Minturn's. And
the bride-already in her white silk
and floating veil, to whom she was in
troduced as Miss Erminie Brooks
soon to become Mrs. Howard Cres-
pigny-was none other than the ele
CANT young lady in the Paris wrap
and the perfectly fitting gloves and
boots who had heard every detail OF
the bargain for the unsaleable car
pet!
If the cracks in the floor under
meath the moquette colors could have
opened and swallowed Mrs. Cackle up
that moment, what an indescribable
relief it would have been!
Il have to thank you, Mr.. Cackle,
for your present" said Erminie, in
her slow, queenly way; and her smile
was riddle.
Il hope you like 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. 1T certainly is a pretty pat
tern
Mrs. Cackle shot an imploring
glance at the bride-a glance that
said palmer than words, Don't be
tray mer'-and the bride began to
talk with somebody else about some
thing else.
She did not enjoy the black satin
dress with the Escurial trimmings 90
much as she had expected. The Paris
costumes Of the back country cous'
ins" left her far in the shade.
"Tll never go TO that dowdy dress
maker again, said she, in rage.
But she did; for Miss Bggs was
cheap, and Mrs. Cackle was economi-
cal. On the very first call she made
there after her trip to Glassybrook,
however, she gave a great start and
started around like one who hehold'
ghost.
my goodness me-" exclaimed she
Where did you get that carpetf
Isn't it nicer said Miss Biggs
beaming through her eyeglasses. 1T
was present from Mrs. Howard
Crespigny. Her mother was once
customer OF mine Wasn't it thought
ful OF herr
Mrs. Cackle made little noise as Il
she was swallowing, and said yes, she
thought it was.
Mrs. Howard Crespigny was the
bride. The carpet was her own wed
ding gift-the identical "unsaleabl'
pattern And Mr.. Cackle never re
ceived promotion in the firm OF Har
riman & Crespigny on the recommen
dation of his new relation-in-law.
Mr.. Cackle thought 1t very strange
Mrs. Cackle didn't.
well. James" observed the gen