The Washington times., 1895-06-02

MT Denim look II
frequent for me TO escort shoplifters up
stairs, and theE wait politely outside un-
IL our Mrs. Tripp-a good sharp woman
she is-has searched them. could tell
some good stories about the tricks that
] have known these light-fingered ladies
play. But this is a different anecdote.
Vel, the call was rung in from the lace
counter. and went there. The saleswoman
is a friend OF mine; in fact, she is the
incest girl in the world, and one of these
days-but that isn't the anecdote either.
Lucy was white around the lips, and no
wonder. For the only customer at the lace
counter was Mrs. Willett, the widow of
old Caleb Willett; so respectable ana dig
nified and wealthy that it was like adver-
tising a variety show TO play in Grace
Church to mention any sort of misbehavior
in the same breath with her name.
Either this is a case of a sudden at
tack OF kleptomania or Lucy has made
a bad blunder, and / hope 1t may not
lose my girl her place" said to myself.
"A handkerchief OF point de Bruxelles,"
Iaid Lucy.
was uncertain what / ought TO do. Mrs.
WiIlett turned to me. Her face look'S
gray and drawn, and her eyes had a
strange expression. When she spoke her
voice was not only husky, but suffocated,
] thought.
sT shall make no trouble" she told
me. Il viii go where you please"
So I took her up TO our Mrs. Tripp.
Mr. Denim saw the procession OF two
Mrs. WiIlett walking like a queen and I
Jneaking behind her, as il IL were ] who
had been caught shopufting. He fob
lowed US, for he could not believe that the
thing Wes true. Once In a while we have
had TO apologize to innocence, but ninety
nine times out OF a hundred We are right.
And then the thieves either are sent up
10 the island OF else they cry and plead that
they never did so before and never will
steal again, and we let them off and send
IN the biz to their husbands-and ] have
the most charity for those who go away
IN the Black Maria instead of their OWN
carriages.
When our Mrs. Tripp was ready TO search
Mrs. Wiilett. one sign OF the hand OF the
lady was enough to keep her at a distance.
you shall not touch me-" Mrs. Willett
told her And you, young man, need not
leave the room. Mr.. Denim, here is the
lace"
she let her muff fall from her hands.
Mr. Denim took 1T mp from the floor,
and, sure enough, there was the handker-
chief, marked $50 in plain figures. Mrs.
Wllett's cheeks were flushed by this time,
q round, red blot on each, and she coughed
a 6ut " dc TIT AGDucDntSb NAtd-
ture-for her age, that is-that ever saw;
tail and rigid, like a stone statue. Her
pride really seemed to take the place Of
uprightness. She might be a thief. but
she looked as if she came from some world
where plain virtues don't count.
Let me go 10 my house, she said.
IF necessary, this young man can ac-
company me-can be my guest. But
have something TO do there, something
which nlu st be done. Let me go home"
or course, 1t wasn't regular, but Mr..
Denim or any other man would not have
dared to refuse her. So away / went
with my lady, taking great care OF my
manners, not TO cut across her feelings, as
72ar as could guess at them. 1t seemed
z long drive before we reached her house,
somewhere in Washington Square. Her
laid came out to meet her and carry in her
wraps, q French girl that made me think
OF skirt dancer brought up by Shakers.
guessshe came from p aris number of years
ago, and had been In the WiIlett's house
ever since.
"Delphine said her m istress ''this
young gentleman, the son Of q school friend
Of mine, iscome to visit me for few days" +"
Poor lady, she spoke hoarser than before,
and yet with sharp note which didn't tbelong
to her voice.
s'Ihope, madame, that you have not taken
g cold. That would be pity when this
monsieur Is just arrived 10 make the
house little gay for you, after so long
eime that II Is triste )" said the French girl
lean tell you was badly scared to have
co sit down to dinner With that great lady,
and yet, after got the run OF the different
forks and wine glasses, / wished that
Lucy could be mouse In the wall for a few
minutes, to see me in the Four Hundred
And she could have told you better than
lean what Mrs. WiIlett wore. 1t was gray
velvet, with smoky yellow lace thing
oD her shoulders, that, no doubt, was
worth enough money to set Lucy and me up
fn bousekeeping, IL We had so much. The
bodice wascut Squares she had magnificent
figure for her age, had Mrs. Willett.
Thert was Close Decdace Set with great
yohies aroupd her throat i hated TO look
ct e, foy &c appeared es II her head bad
bee6 ptt or, and showed the red line
of dfhpe Of blood. But she was as
Rap6seSs IL Gus Of those heathen god
desses at the r1seEm.
= Artef anpsf shS tailed great deal.
eibhoden shs waf very hoarse, and she
kffeh put htF hand 70 her chest. as II