The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-12-15
The Dressmaker's Visitor
Neeeseeeeseeeeeee

lV uDlC ulCsohahSAS AuN hAS'AA
herself wearily into the easiest chair
in her parlors. 1t had been trying day
for her, and Miss Waicot, her efficient
corps of assistants, had risen from her
sewing machine in q state Of indigna-
ton tempered with tears and had
gone home declaring before she went
that Nine. Grigsby would have to look
out for another corps-that put up
with such treatment she would not"
This was simply because the modiste,
having failed to interpret the concep-
tion Of basque according to the idea
of her best customer, and having been
severely criticised therefor by the
aforesaid customer, had in her turn
carped at the bolero waist decoration
which Miss Walcot was creating as
criminal dispoilation Of good insertion
and satin ribbon.
"These girls are absolutely worth
less" said Mime. Grigsby to herself.
"You have to take all their impertinence
as a matter of course, and if you so
much as look crosswise at them, they
flare up and talk of leaving. I'm sick
of the whole business"
She looked around the room de-
spondently, thinking of the litter of
cloth and paper scraps that Miss Wal
cot had left for her to clear up and one
of the unfinished bolero decorations
lying under the presser-foot of the ma
chine, and, as she afterward said, she
felt kind of numb. She is uncertain,
100, how long she was sitting before she
noticed that she had visitor.
"Forty-six bdst; 12waist," was Nine.
Grigsby's mental calculation as she
,ose from her seat and bowed. "A more
perfect figure never saw. Coat, brown
covert; two rows of stitching and
stitched pockets; sleeves cut full; nov
city waist. Brown felt hat, velvet pip
ing and tips"
Apart from this technical summary,
the visitor was apparently a young
| woman with face of an exact oval and
eyes that were slightly too large for
her face. Her nose could not have been
straighter. however, nor her mouth a
more perfect Cupid's bow. What ex-
preston she had was amiable; still,
there was rigid and infexible appear
| ance about her.,
wont you sit DOWN." asked the
dressmaker, politely.
II would if could" said the visitor,
"but you see for yourself that it is
quite impossible"
She had peculiar way of speaking.
| Her voice was not loud, neither was it
low; in fact, it could hardly be termed
voice at all. The person whom she
addressed simply became aware that
she had said something.
II see," observed madam; "but you
might lean against something, might
you not?"
"Not unless you happen to have an
Italian marble balustrade about the
place." replied the visitor. THAT is the
only thing l am ever permitted to lean
against. There must be a vista with
peacock on beyond, and terrace" she
added. pathetically.
"Fm dreadfully sorry" said the dress
maker. "but the mantelpiece is the only
marble ! have. and I'm afruid that
wouldn't do"
"I'm afraid not" sighed the visitor.
Excuse me. madam" said the dress
maker, "but ] would like to ask your
name. Your face seems strangely fa-
miliarS
ut ought to-" remarked the visitor.
"I'm Fig. No. 10 B. have changed
little in some unimportant respects
since was Fig. No. 8 and other Figs.
that you will doubtless recall, but my
position is the same and can't get rid
of this umbrella. I've held this um-
brella in the hollow of my arm this way
for over ten years, and have to keep
my forefnger extended In line with
II. too"
1T seems to me that I recollect you
when you held 1t behind your back"
said the dressmaker. redectively. LET
me see; that was when you were Fall