Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-02-05
NEW SERIES, VOL. xxx, NO. 8.


IS anything else you want me to do for
you Just name it, and I'll do it -
He went away, but returned in mo
ment and called out:
.fOh, Louise, I'm going to dinner
at the club tonight, and I want you to
have my dress suit handy when come
home. Goodby.
Now, then, said Louise rs she
Mr.. Tom change his opinion about
very thing wanted.
The hour ionsed for by both came at
last. Tom entered the house and rushed
to his room to put ON his dress suit.
"Oh, Tomp' Louise called while he
was dressing. Come down here. I
want you to redeem your promise of
this morning and do me a favor. -
'.All rightp he called. ..I'll be down
in a minute. and I'll keep my promise. "
He found his wife sitting ON the floor
with dress pattern in front OF her and
dress goods scattered all around.
''Well, what's all this?'' he asked.
''Are you making rag carpet? What
is it you want me to do for you? If it's
TO clean up all this mess here, 1 shall
refuse, for have some work to do next
week. ="
mo /" she said. Laughing, 'I don't
want you to clean up the mess, and I'm
not making rag carpet. I'm making
a bicycle dress, which must have early
tomorrow morning, and want you to
let me drape the skirt on you SO that it
will hang all right
''But, Louise, (" he objected, give
got to go out to that dinner at O'Clock,
and it's now nearly z. I won't have
time. Let the dress go for tonight. .
81 can't let it go, for must have it
tomorrow morning, - she insisted.
you've promised to do what asked,
and now when want you to do little
thing like this you refuse, and / think
it's real mean. ="
Mrs. Cranston stood up, holding q
pattern in one hand and an unfinished
dress in the other, and looked as though
she were about to burst into tears.
'fOh, come now, Louise, - he urged
impatiently.s Cant you see that your
request is trivial and unreasonable. and
must go to that dinner?''
The tears that had seemingly been
held back with such an effort now be-
came visible and rolled down her cheeks.
''I think it's mean," she sobbed.
'You promised to do anything I wanted
you to, and now you won't keep your
word I've cut up my other dress, and
the bicycle party is of just as much inn
portance as your old dinner.
Mr. Cranston looked grave. BE did not
want to lose that dinner, and he didn't
want to break his promise.
.'How long will this fitting business
last?'' he questioned after several mo-
ments' silence, broken only by the sob
bing of his wife.
''About half an hour" she replied,
Frightening up little.
"Well, then, hurry up" said Mr..
Cranston, throwing off his coat and
standing erect Bring the thing here Z"
And so the gown was put ON Mr..
Cranston, and Louise dropped on one
knee and began pinning the draperies
in q hurried manner.
''You see, Tom,'' she said as she
tucked mp the first fold and surveyed it
with a critical eye, ''tllis is of the
greatest importance to me, and know
you will help me out. :"
Gum, was the only answer her hus-
band made. He was looking straight at
tlO O4OIA AOm ~ WIS
that the minute hand was moving so
fast. He Thought that the clock must be
out of order. He pulled out his watch
and saw that the minute hand there
moved with the same railroad speed,
and it was 7:30 o'clock.
care you anywhere near through?'' he
asked impatiently.
She shook her head and turned her
-
he noticed that it was now 7:45. "Haye
you any idea how soon you will be
through" he asked, with a forced calm
ness.
mot the slightest" +" she replied in
voice that was either muffled with pins
or laughter, Tom couldn't tell which.
for she was STOPPING and studying the
hem of the dress.
At that moment the door opened, and
Mr.. Kynaston. the husband of Mrs.
Cranston's bloomer wearing friend,
threw open the door and stood gazing
in open mouthed astonishment.
"Why, Tom" he said when he re-
covered himself. "I thought you were
going to call for me If you left down
town frst2 You know you told me SO
and said If got ready first was to
come here and walk right in. Are you
going to the dinnerT'
"This-will be all over the exchange
tomorrow, groaned Tom inwardly.
"Yes, I'm going to the dinner If Louise
ever gets through with this miserable
skirt, - he added aloud.
''Oh, nonsense. Why don't she wear
bloomers? Come on. We are late al
ready. - said his friend
Louise. " whispered Cranston, eff
you'll call my promise off, you may
have the blcomers or anything else you
want
'toh, you dear good boyrp cried Lou
ise, with well feigned surprise. go to
Jour dinner. Now hurry. or you'll be
late -
Then Tom, after kissing her goodby.
rushed of to the club.
Louise put ON her bonnet and went to
Mrs. Kynaston's house.
Katie, - she cried as her friend well
coined her at the door, .I'm to have
bloomers. -
And then she told the story Of the
manner IN which her husband had been
induced to change his mind.
And sho said IN conclusion, 81
bought the bIoomsrs yesterday, and III
wear them tomorrow.
lyon really cried, did your asked
Mrs. Kynaston. '.Weli. Louise, If you