Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-12-19
Mr.. CACKlE'S CARPET.

quettei Wilton? we nave some very
desirable importations OF royal vel
vet"
No, Brussels! The cheapest thing
YOU have in Brussels that is any way
decent"
Mrs. Cackle sat up on the eighth
floor OF Meddle & Minturn's great
store, her .ilken flounces ripping
around her ample form, the bird OF
paradise plume on her hat nodding as
il to give extra significance TO every
word she spoke. Her tan kid gloves,
glistening with many buttons, were
fastened with a gaudy diamond set
bar, and, her plump visage bore the
traces Of pearl powder and cream OF
roses laid on with no sparing han
Beside her sst her dear, particular
friend, Miss Rosina Rufford, who al
WAYS played the part Of Damon to
her Pythias, aud invariably went
shopping with her.
You see, Rosina, said Mrs. Caekle,
who was one Of the kind that talked
very loud in public places, and in
dulge in all sorts Of details, Its for
wedding present. Lemuel gave me
cheek for a hundred dollars, and told
me to buy nice parlor carpet for his
cousin, who il to be married next
month"
Mr. Cackle is always so generous,
smiled Miss Rufford, whose new set Of
false teeth made her smiles very smil-
ing indeed. "a hundred dollars, did
you say, dear? That will buy nice
one, indeed'
1T would" said Mrs. Cackle, 'if |
was goose enough to buy it. But l
don't mean to. Cackle's only man,
and men never do understand things.
What do these out wilderness
people understand about carpets?
And what do they want OF the best
grade? No, young man, | don't want
any Of the dollar and a,quarter lines.
That's too high. Haven't you any
thing for about a dollar, or ninety
cents? 1t needn't be the very finest
quality, l tell you. II | spend fifty
dollars on it, turning once more to
Miss Rufford, It'll be all that is nee
essary, and the extra sum I'll invest
in a new satin gown for myself. Ha,
ha, ha Cackle is so very close with
his check book, that now and then
have to circumvent him
You are so witty, dear" Uttered
Miss Rufford.
Nothing under dollar and twelve
cents!' shrilly repeated Mrs. Cackls,
as the salesman came back again. II
couldn't think Of paying that. Have
You no unsaleable patterns, nothing
that nobody else will know the differ
ence?n
"Oh, my'dear, you are too funny''
said Miss RufTord, behind her fan.
I'VE have one, " hesitated the young
clerk-"a scarlet ground, with i'm
mense green pineapples all over it.
We haven't sold a yard of it. Every
BODY 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 hand barrow; the
clerk unfolded its hideous, glaring
proportion, where, against scarlet
ground. some monster vegetables en-
twined themselves among impossible
scroll.
You see, ma'am, it's quite unsafe
able" said the clerk. Mr.. Meddle
was talking Of donating it to the re-
ception room Of the Blink and Doodle
Orphan Asylum at"
1T is a little peculiar" said Mrs.
Cackle, eyeing it through her lorg-
nette. "Quite-ahem!-what should
call an art carpet"
"Oh, my dear Louisa giggled Miss
Rufford.
But very striking said Mrs. Cack-
lie.
Quite so, ma'am,' said the clerk,
coughing spasmodically behind his
pocket handkerchief.
What will you let Inc have it forT'
said Mrs. Cackle, in u business-llke
way.
Eighty cents, maam," said the
| clerk.
Say seventy-fvs," spoke the Gus
toner.
we couldn't, indeed, ma'am. 1t
cost us more than that to import IT,
III take thirty yards, said Mrs
Cackle. Let me see, ;" Calculating on
the fat. tan-colored fingers. where the
rings bulged out so obstrusivelyA,
''naught's a naught, eight times
naught-that will come to twenty
four dollars, won't it, young mani?
"Twenty-four dollars, ma am! said
the clerk, scarcely able to repress his
amazemeEt that any one in their
senses should buy so ugly a carpet.
And that will leave seventy-siI out
Of the check" said Mrs. Cackle, glee-
fully. III tell you what. Rosina, ]
can trim the black satin with the
yery incest Escurial lace. / suppose
those back country barbarians will
invite HE to the wedding, and I'd like
to wear something that will just par.