Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-24

ton asked Dy llJGle MISS VI
man, who was evidently her tather' as
she gazed into the window OF 1ewelry
establishment. isn't that perlecCy
lovely? Let's go in there and ma OUT
what it costs? I've got S. in my oanK
and I do so want that for mamma
Into the store the couple went ana the
reporter, looking through the window,
saw the attendant place before tRem
little chatelaine watch about the size OF
silver quarter-dOllar. The couple
turned away and as they came out IL
was not difficult to see tear, evidently
of Disappointment, stealing down the
ROSY, round face of the child. The
watch was returned to the show window,
and as the man and the little girl walk
ed away il was noticed that the price
marked on the ticket was S26.
For the love of woman, heaven, get
off my. feet. You are killing me by
inches,A exclaimed n fat, well-kept-
looking man who was one Of busting
group gathered in front of show win
dow.
A poorly clad, motherly-looking little
woman, standing beside tall, suriy
man, stood with dilated eyes feaSting
her vision upon the magnificent display
at one of the stores. She ventured the
suggestive remark: 81 wish we could
take that black-haired doll home to
Mamie. believe it would almost make
her well again." And like blighting
frost, came the chilly, brutal response
from the thing at her side who was pre-
sumabiy her husband:
Take nuthin' home. You'd better
thank God you've got home and some
thing to eat there. I've got no money
for such monkey business as that"
sob, Cy, see here" AMI she nearly
yanked a sleeve off the historic yellow
coat, "iist you look at them ere kinky
spoons. Amt them darn handsome
now? Sue would be clean out tuckered
to git one them purity things. Cy, you
kinder walk in and ask that fellah what's
behind the counter how much them be-"
But Cy didn't go. He only had twenty
cents and a chunk OF tobacco in his
pants pocket.
The once-a-year shoppers are flooding
the streets at this time OF the year.
Quite a proportion Of them are from
the country. and mostly women. There
is the proper old accountant with shiny
hat and thin, trembling legs. He is OF
the city, and fifty-one weeks OF the year
he scrupulouSly avoids crowds. He is
full of old-fashioned, gentlemanly oaths,
but he must buy presents,
and Wheeling is the place
to buy them. Then there is the rail-
road conductor with his brass buttons
and blue uniform showing under his
overcoat. Then there is the market
man who sells turkeys and vegetables,
and the farmer who raises them. These
men plant themselves before the show
windows where children's toys are ex-
hibited, before the clothing stores, the
millinery stores, and other establish
ments where things essentially feminine
are on show. Gray bearded men smile
at playthings with the children. The
fat matron and the rheumatic spinster
who have made supreme effort to come
TO town, drink in these displays with
an interest that is more than idle.
In jewelers. window is a small but
rare collection of emeralds, rubies and
diamonds, upon which two toughs from
Toughville are feaSting their eyes.
that the chappieS do not see. They see
the prima donnas, the coQuettish SOU
brettes, and the dashing Serio-comics
of the Wilbur Opera Company as they
fit here and there throughout the stores.
But other studies they overlook. Nei-
Their do they see the otherwise dignitied
looking gentleman with dolls baby
carriage under his arm. nor the very
feminine young lady lost in the study
of masculine necktieS. slippers, sus-
penders aud smoking jackets: nor the
poor scrub woman gloating over the
fairy-like display Of beautiful flowers.
Did you ever notice how long it takes
lady TO select gift. But the
members OF the sterner sex do not have
that great and interminable desire
that the gentler ones are instilled with
TO see everything in town before purch-
asing a Christmas souvenir, and il
only requires about fifteen minutes.
and as many dollars for them to secure
what they imagine will aWfully please
the recipient-elect.
There are those fellows who have TO
make the same amount of money an
swer for nearly as many girls, but they
were only to be pitied. just exactly what
to get for dollar that looks costly and
handsome is one Of the unsoived prob
| lens Of the season.
Now the ''dizzy" little blonde fits in
and out OF the jewelry stores in town.
looking for suitable gift for ''Cholly.r
Then she goes to dry goods establish
mont a"d after critically examining all
the muchoir cravat and handkerchief
cases, finally :eects one of the lat
| tar for ,.HarrEn Than she racks bar