Evening star., 1896-01-11
PECULIAR SHOPPERS.
The Cranky Old Gentleman and the
Selfish Lady.

From the New York Tribune.
I'VE have some queer characters come
here; people who do such odd things that to
tell them sounds like exaggeration."
The salesman shut with a snap the jewel
case he held, a smile of amusement played
about his mouth, as he reached into the
showcase and set straight a row of glitter
ing rings that had gotten out Of order.
'See this brooch?' pointnr small
gold leaf with vivid, glowing berries. I'VE
sold one like it to a middle-aged lady who
lives not a hundred blocks from here. and
enjoys the reputation of being wealthy. II
those berries were rubies it would be
costly brooch, but being garnets, 1t il
worth only $40. The day after the brooch
was sent home tall, austere-looking gen.
tleman came in and addressed himself to
me.
You sold this brooch to my wife, I
believe he said. producing the brooch.
told him that was the case.
want You to take it back and refund
the money
Is there anything wrong about itr I
inquired.
"'No; but my wife had no right to come
to an expensive store like this to buy Jew
eiry There are plenty of other places she
could have gone to-
Il explained that the sale was made that
the lady had paid for the article, and that
the firm did not take back goods under such
conditions. He got into passion, argued
the question at sCme length, and finally,
when convinced that we would not comply
with his demands, pitched the case out
through the open door into the middle OF
the street and took himself off"
And did the lady lose her purchaser
mo; one of the boys ran out and picked
the case up from under the very feet of a
cab horse. We packed IL carefully in a
new case and sent it round to her ad-
dress"
What do you suppose led the husband to
act like that?"
Simply crankiness. He is one of the sort
who objects to his wife's making any dis
posal of his money without consulting him.
He is close-fisted.
That was a cranky man; now. how
about this for woman? Two days before
Christmas, just in our busiest time when
the store was packed with shoppers, lady
came in and asked to look at novelties also
silverware. She was interested in only the
expensive goods, and / took great pains to
show her our best line. Several people
whom 1 am accustomed to serve were in
the store during her stay, but let others
wait on them and devoted my time her.
After inspecting everything and taking
| up an hour OF the busiest time of the day
| she coolly remarked that she had a son who
was at present in the south on a hunting
expedition. He expects to be an usher for
! a wedding in June she went on; Il will
write him about the articles I have seen.
and doubtless when he comes back he will
look in at them himself
Il could hardly believe my own ears
" In June, madam" 1 gasped. Are YOU
looking at these things now for a wedding
in June, and all these people waiting here
TO ger things for the day after tomorrow
why, yes she answered, not the slight
est bit embarrassed; 1 thought all your
prettiest things would be on exhibition now,
and 1t was good time to get suggestions
=" Suggestions for a June wedding I
whispered to one of the men as NV GUS
TONER swept out to her carriage, and then
| the laugh was on me, because all had ex-
pected to hear of an $500 sale. at least I
| counted up, and found that / had lost lust
! $1,000 worth Of sales while that inconsider.
! ate woman was in the store"