The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-24
NO TRUST THERE.
The Methods That Young Lady of Property
Deemed lnexpIicable.
From the Washington Star.

From the Washington Star.
Scene-Washingto Postoffice.
Lady at Stamp Window-"Give me 80
cents in stamps, please. Thank you" (Be-
gins to stamp letters; drops purse, muf
and handkerchief in the operation. Stout
gentleman in the rear picks them up for
herr
She-"Oh, thank you'll" quits handker-
chief in her muff, drops purse. Stout gen.
bad to trouble you" To clerk: "Oh, L
haven't paid you" Oooks in purse and
discovers cents; gasps slightly) why,
good gracious! If L haven't spent all my
money! Did you ever! Never mind though.
I'll come down tomorrow and pay you.'
(Contiues to stamp letters camlyD
p. o. Clerk (mildly, but firmly)-"Nery
sorry, madam, but you will have to return
the stamps if you haven't the money. It's
against the rules.
She Qn astonished voice)-"Return the
stampsi Why, didn't tell you L will come
down tomorrow and pay you? 1 have to
go home and get the money. don't 1?'
Clerk-"Yes but you can't take the
stamps with you"
She Qndignantly)-"Th idea! of course
l can. Do you suppose L want to steal the
| stamps?"
| Clerk (politely)-"We don't doubt your in
| tegrity, madam but it's against our rules.
| Government business isn't run that way"
| SHE WI ell, can tell you you never Will
! do any business the way you run 1t. 1t S
the greatest piece of impertinence 1 ever
knew. 1 little thought 1 should have to
come to the postoffice to be insulted."
| Clerk (smiling feeby)-"Not at all. You
can get your stamps up town as you go
| home and drop your letters in the nearest
box"
She-'That is none of your affairs. / am
| quite capable of posting my own letters.
| That is just what I want the stamps for.
| But, of course. if you absolutely need the
| money at once" with great scorn), 81 can
send the servant girl back with it as soon
as l get home"
! Clerk-"No. madam, very sorry to dis
obige you, but you have to pay here"
| Uooks hopelessly at stout gentleman in
| the rear, who is waiting to get to the win
| dow-also line of people behind him.
She-"Do you mean to tell me that l am
| not to be allowed to stamp my own let
| tiers? And with my sister In Chicago wait
ing to hear from me by every mail about
! the parlor curtains! It's the most out
rageous thing I ever knew 1 shall tell my
| husband about it," (Stout gentleman
smiles broadly; clerk coughs) "He will
be in a pretty rage. I can tell you. It's
| only because I'm here a defenseless wo-
| man that you dare to talk to me like that.
| TIL have you know that my husband is
worth hundred thousand dollars and that
| l can get credit this minute in any shop
| In this town.
Clerk-'ThiS is not a shop madam, and
| we don't keep running accounts. This is
| the government postoffice"
| Shelves; and nice kind of govern
| ment it must be! I'm glad don't belong
| to it! When / think what my father was
| and what my husband is today, able to
give me everything on earth l want and
| here / am, actually refused a miserable
50 cents worth of stamps Why, it makes
| my blood boil!'
| Clerk. interrupting-"There are people be-
| hind you, madam, waiting. l shall have
to trouble you for the stamps"
| Oady hesitates and then hands them to
him, purple with indignation)
She-"Very well. shall not say another
| word. But you will be sorry for this It's
to your interest, If you only knew it, to
be polite to me- AS it is, I shall never
enter these doors again or buy another
stamp from you as long as 1 liver (Glares
maiestically around her and sweeps out.)
Apopletic amusement of stout gentle
man and great relief of the line.