Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-01-22

Are you making u rag carpet! Wnas
is it you want me to do for you? II it's
to clean up. all this mess here, shall
refuse, for have some work to do ne
week. "
NO." she said. laughing, IL don't
want you to clean up the mess, and In
not making rag carpet I'm making
q bicycle dress, which l must have early
tomorrow morning, and want you tc
let me drape the skirt on You so that II
will hang all right.
But. Louise" he objected, 'I've
got to go out to that dinner at 8 So'clock.
and it's now nearly z. won't have
time. Let the dress 60 for tonight.
II can't let it GO for / must have II
tomorrow morning." she insisted.
You've promised to do what l 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 a
pattern in one hand and an unfinished
dress in tho other, and looked as though
she were about to burst into tears
"Oh, come now, Louise" he urged
impatiently. 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
II think it's mean, she sobbed.
lyon promised to do anything 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 a. much i'm
portance as your old dinner"
Mr.. Cranston looked grave. He did not
want TO lose that dinner, and he didn :,
want to break his promise.
How long will this fitting business
last?" he questioned after several mo-
men.s' silence. broken only by the sob
bing of his wife.
About half an hour" she replied,
frightening mp little.
well, then, hurry up" said Mr..
Cranston. throwing of his coat and
standing erect Bring the thing here. y
And so the gown was put ON Mr..
Cranston, and Louise dropped on one
knee and began pinniDg the draperies
i'm hurried manner.
"You see. Tom," she said as she
tucked up the first fold and surveyed j,
with n critical eye, this Is Of the
greatest Importance to me, and know
you will help me out. "
"Um. was the only answer her hus-
band made. He was looking straight at
the clock and wondering how it was
that tho 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 1880 O'Clock.
"Are you anywhere near through!" he
asked impa,iently.
She shook her head and turned her
attention to the dress Tom fumed as
ho noticed that il was now 7:i5. "Have
you any idea how soon you will be
through" he asked, with forced calm
ness.
mot the slightest, she replied in a
voice that was either muitied with pirs
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, tho 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, Il thought you were
going 20 call for me If you left down
town first? You know you told me SC
and said il l got ready first was to
come here and walk right in- Are you
going TO the dinner"
This will be all over the exchange
tomorrow. groaned Tom inwardly.
"Yes, I'm going to the dinner IL 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, III
you'll call my promise of, you may
have the bloomers or anything else you
want
"Oh, you dear good boy'' cried Lou
ise, with well feigned surprise go to
your dinner Now hurry. or you'll be
late"
Then Tom, after kissing her goodby,
rushed off to the club
Louise put on her bonnet and went to
Mrs. Kynaston's house.
Katie" she cried as her friend vel
coined her Mt the door. I'm to have
bloomers. 4"
And then she told the story Of the
manner in which her husband had been
induced to change his mind.
And she said in conclusion, IL
bought the bloomers yesterday. and I'll
wear them tomorrow.
lyon really cried. did you?' asked
Mrs. Kynaston. well, Louise, IL you
went in for woman suffrage we would
have il In "a hours Talk about men s
executive ability! Why, | believe you
could make your husband wear bloom
ers himself New York Sun.