The Irish standard., 1892-10-01
"A PAIR OF Sill sToc KINGS 4 4 g:

For weeks had been puzzling over q
commencement gift for my sister, who
was soon to graduate, when 9 letter 4
from my mother made me decide upon q q.
pair sof silk stockings. The thought
that should have any trouble in buying
q pair Of silk stockings never crossed
my mind, and it was with a feeling OF
confidence that entered one of the
largest dry goods houses in the city.
Af1oorwalker inquired what wanted.
and directed me to the third counter to
the left, down four rows. "5and waved
his hand in general way. After some
wandering | found the 'sthird counter to
the left, down four rows" and to the
young man who presided behind it said
that l wanted to see some stockings.
eyes, sir; You mean socks.
'.No, silk stockings" said l, and I felt
that the suggestion of a blush was hang
ing on my manly brow.
ssIts socks, sir; socks, sir" reiterated
the clerk.
''But want them for lady" and as
I said these words grew red. The
clerk looked at me and then said:
e'H-m-m-oh, yes! Fourth counter to
the right, down two rows"
It was young lady who stood behind
this counter, and she maintained stony
silence until l asked her to show me
some silk stockings.
"White or colored?"
"Why, hadn't thought of that!
Which would you suggest? But this
question seemed to freeze her, for she
again relapsed into silence. (which is
the fashionable color for ladies?" l went
on, bound to treat the matter as mere
business transaction. II mean, do young
ladies usually wear colored stockings"
This seemed to make matters worse,
for the young woman glared at me. !
thought that perhaps had made q mis-
take about color, and SO | continued:
"Well, after all, guess white will do.
just wrap me up pair of your best
white silk stockings"
"Will you have clocks?' she deigned
to ask.
"No, not clocks-stockings," and !
looked at hen in blank amazernent.
Il mean, will you have them clocked
or not clockedY'
Now | hadn't the ghost of an idea
what she was driving at, but didn't in
tend to confess my ignorance. Albright
idea struck me. ''If you were buying
them for yourself, which would you
prefer2"
''What?"
II mean. if-if-you were me, which
would you PREFER"
The look in her eyes interpreted to
mean, ''1o no further, sir; regard your
remarks as Extensively personal" So l
went no further and said would take
them without clocks. My sister had a
watch, and she could get along very
well with that.
"What size2" was the young woman's
next inquiry.
"Oh, the usual size for young ladies"
said l.
"You must be more exact, sir" she
said.
sWell, she-that is, the person who is
to have these stockings-is about five feet
high. Oh, she is just the size Of most
young ladies. She is no larger than you
are. Now. what size do you think she'd
wear?'
''Sir, don't know"
But am not going on with this pain
full narration. All men who have been
in the same fix will appreciate my feel
ings. Atlength, however, could stand
it no longer, and / blurted out that l
wanted pair Of silk stockings for my
sister as commencement gift, that l
was willing to pay for them. but I didn't
know anything about buying them.
Then the young woman relented and in
her sweetest voice suggested she wrap
up pair of of the best stockings, and
that l write to my sister that if they
didn't fit she could exchange them. This
did, but the sun will rise in the west
before l buy any woman's stockings
again.-Cor. New York Recorder.