The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27
REVENGE or A MEEK MAN.
An Experience In Candy buying at the Sig
of the Lndies.

An Experience In Candy Buying at the Sign
OF the HauEhty Ladies.
1T took me some time he said. ito learn
how to get along in the candy store at the Sign
OF the Naughty Ladies' | am n meek man. not
given to Boosting. and uncertain sometimes in
the hour Of seeming victory. So / rarely talk
of my successes. But / believe l did astontsh
one Of the naughty Indies into something like a
tenn porary accommodatinZ mood.
II had been used to the sort OF treatment
everybody gets there. l had received over the
soda water counter that stare colder than the
hardest clot OF ice cream that ever dropped into
the glass. But all this time q scheme had
slowly been forming itself In my mind. After q
while i had n chance to test it / dropped in
the Sign OF the Naughty Ladies' late ono
afternoon. Few people wero there. stepped
up to q counter. behind which stood one Of the
proudest OF the ladies. She was talking to q
friend. and they both became intensely inter-
ested In tho crowd passing up and down Broad
way as soon as l appeared. They looked out Of
the window in a far-off way and talked in I'M
dertones. l thought of giving 1t up. as 1 had
done before, and beating n retreat. But the
recollection OF my scheme came into my head.
I took courage and spoke.
Will you be kind enough to give me two
pounds OF mixed 2 | said with the utmost polite
ness. almost with obsequiousness.
Nobody ever would have thought either Of
them had heard me except for n quick. sharp
look which the two girls gave me. Then one OF
them turned her back and began to look for a
two-pound box. Ali the time she kept on talk
ing to her friend. After a while she found the
box. carefully fitted 1t with creased paper. and
then, turning toward me, seized II pair OF tongs
aud slid open the glass case which contained the
candies. Then for the first time she looked me
squarely in the face.
Chocolates? she asked as savagely as
though she were compelled by superior force to
part with her own most valuable possessions.
But | was prepared for her. l was going to try
on my scheme.
"'1hank you very much / said. i should
really be extremely Indebted If you would Dc
nice always in n mixed box
She put them in rapidly, but not before she
ssasa cast a qIlcK and searching Eiance at me.
no impression. as ] could plainly see whom she
closed the case with a bang and stopped long
"'MGrshmallowsY She jerked the word out
as though a syllable more would have choked
Yes. Il you please responded with tho
same melting politeness Of tone, ~ it isn't too
OF your time. / hate to detain you. so just put
in as many az You have the time to. Don't
trouble yourself too much. A few will do
Again she dhrted a questioning glance at
me, and again ,she slammed TO tho door OF the
case with a vicious bang. thought she took
NV " II" ihbth UNI 4 hcdlu tHe uODT OF tnO
case so to with such an unnecessary expenditure
Of force. But there was something like concilia-
ton in her tone when she said:
Burnt RlmondsT
Her voice sounded almost sympathetic. l
answered her with increasing pOliteness. Half
Il dozen times responded with the same sac
charine. excessive courtesy. was defereutiaL
subservient, almost crlnging. BY the time wa
reached caramels her tone was tender. She
handed the box over tie counter. aud actually
pushed II in my direction. Usually they merely
hold. 1t somewhere approximately toward you
and look over your head at tho soda fountain op-
posite. She was undoubtedly conquered, butt
WAS relentless. | was determined TO force my
scheme to the end. took tho box and paid.
~ regret more than | can tell YOU | said,
that circumstances have placed it within my
power 10 walk into this store and disturb you
simply because ] happen TO want to buy some
candy. ! suppose I'm a brute to do 1t. Maybe
n man oughn't to take such an advantage OF n
defenceless woman. especially after she's been
worried nil day by customers of her own sex.
But ! promised my wife that ! would bring her
home a box. 80 came in here and disturbed you.'
She gave mo n look that contained the most
complete contempt knd offended dignity | have
over seen. Then she sailed toward the back OF
the store. and the expression of her shoulders
overwhelmed me. ! grabbed my box and fed"
" Did IL do any good tho next time you went
back ~ asked q man who had never had the
courage or originality to devise such n scheme.
1T didn't," tho speaker said reRretfully.
THE next time i went back none OF them
would look at me. ! waited twenty minutes
aud then got out"