The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-26
coldly. 81 want his ear for a moment. y

cS, Sir; certainly, SAID he. wait
right here n moment. Lizzie" he
he continued, addressing one of the
cash girls, "tell Mr.. jackson that there's
n gentleman in the dress goods depart
mcnt who wants one of his ears"
Mr.. Jackson appeared with prompt
ness that amazed me. 1 had been led
to believe by Maudcs story that it took
hours to gcta glimpse of anybody ut
Fennessy's.
Sir" said 1, fixing my better eye on
Mr. Jackson, my wife had most
painful experience here yesterday, and
somebody must suffer for it,
Yes, sir; certainly" said he, ''somc-
body must suffer for it. will see that
somebody suffers for it. Can do any
thing more for you?"
She was dcfrnuded of three dollars
and two cents" l continued, "by Il
| young woman who sells stockings,
aided and Allotted by man who wears
patent leather shoes in the daytime.
This must be investigated and my wife
must get her money"
III will investigate it at once" said
he, ''and bring back the money!"
81 think you are much to blame"
began, "and-"
1--WE are much to blame" said he.
at is an outrage" said l.
cit certainly is an outrage" he re-
piled.
Now, / am rs good n kicker as
brcathes the vital air; but cannot go
on kicking indefinitely against a man
who agrees with me at every point
paused to think of something SO Offensive
that he could not possibly lndorsc it
and leave himself any standing among
civilized Christians.
Perhaps the lady would like 20 look
ut some of our dress goods while l am
gone" said he, indicating Il counter be-
hind me- Maudc was already looking
at them.
ooh, sec that lovely Henrietta CLOTH"
she exclaimed. 1T is just what need. =
1t is remarkable how, in the matter
of dress goods, even an educated
woman will confuse her desires with her
necessities. However, the presentation
of Il purely metaphysical point like
that would not tear Maudc away from
the Henrietta cloth. She had sworn TO
me that she would never buy in that
store again; but what woman will not
be forsworn ut the rate of five cents re-
duction per yard? She examined all the
lovely Henrietta cloth while Jackson
was gone, and then bought eight yards
and Il half of something else. Then we
closed in on the counter where they sold
various matters which go into dress
and produce no visible effect. We
paid two dollars and scventy-five cents
for them. Aftcrward we attempted to
force our way to the button counter.
but lost four yards on the first down.
We then tried the wedge, with no gain,
after which fell back fora kick" but
Maudc went around the end and got
across the line. She bought moro but
tons than she has scwca onto my raj
mcnt i'll all her happy married life, and
they all for one dress. Then we went
upstairs TO look at some hats
kept reminding Maue,e that we had
agreed to wait for the superintendent,
but she said: Never mind let him wait
for us: it won't hurt him" So we
bought hat with bird of Paradise
Lost sitting on the front of it and look
ing very tired.
BY and by VIC came downstairs and
driftcd around looking for Mr.. jackson.
We found him beside the stocking coun-
ter talking TO 4 sclesgirl whose counte-
nance was covered with Il supernatural
gloom.
ut is very annoying" said he, II can't
see how it could nave happened. 1t
must have been very painful to the IL.
dy's feelings"
And so he ran on saying everything
just about orc second before / could
think of it. Finally got chance to
say word or t"'o, after which Maude,
replying to fcw courteous questions
by the superintendent, contradicted me
on all points. ! then apologizcd to Mr.
jackson for making n fool of myself,
and asked him as a favor to allow my
wife to exchange the nincty-ninc cent
stockings. lie thcrcupon showed some
at sl.i4, and She bought four pairs, thus
consuming the money which the oblig-
ing Mr.. jackson had returned to her
with the exception of two cents. With
that sum pressed against the palm of
my hand made my exit from the store
and if ever consent to visit such IL
place again for a similar purpose may
my attcnuatcd legs refuse their Office
"l!owdy,' whispered Maudc, could
you let me have Il little change just 10
pay my carfarc?''
hadnothing but the two cents. She
had spent my all while we were wait
ing for Mr.. jackson. We walked nine
blocks to Jack llyland's Office, where
borrowed half a dollar to get us home
HOWARD FIELDING.