The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-20
Bought n wheel, After All.

prom the New York Commercial AdyeTtiser.)
The gown a la mode in half dozen of
the vari-colored new stuffs. made in the
most wonderful of the several remarka-
BILE ways. did not entirely destroy the
contour of her excellent rgure. The hat.
which no man would dare attempt to de-
scribe. was neatly balanced over face
that was charmingIy fresh and healthi-
ly colored, If not positively beautiful. Oi
none of these things did the bicycle sales
man take cognizance. however. Fetching
girls in bicycle shops these days are as
plentiful as American flags along Broad
way.
1t was not the fascination of the
Young person that attracted the weary
salesman; il was an all-round business
air and an apparently well-filled little
silver purse that made him stand at at
tention.
II want to get a wheel" announced
the young person.
The salesman smiled broadly and NOV
ed over toward a new ladies' model.
No" interrupted the young person; Il
want you to tell me about 1t first.
..Certainlv.'' responded the salesman.
as he braced himself against the only
post in the shop. 80.
rs yours good wheel?
I'VE think so. Miss tsill smlilng-)
us il a standard wheel"
.'Oh. yes
What is the price,"
Fifty dollars
Well. then. it can't be a standard
wheel All standard wheels are 500"
The salesman was mute.
We'll" continued the Young Person.
''I'H look at 1t. anyhow.
The model was shown. and the Young
Person immeditely lifted her hands in
holy horror.
oh that one would never do. L want
a red wheel"
The salesman fortunately had a red
wheel.
That's better" announced the Young
Person. "but there is no nickel on the
saddle"
The salesman found a saddle that had
an abundance of nickel on it. 1t was sub
stituted The Young Person was pleased
Now. that is nice she said. That
really begins to look like a handsome
wheel Now. / want lamp and bell
made entirely of brass"
The salesman sat down and wiped the
perspiration from his brow.
1--WE have not got any brass bells or
lamps. either"
why not?'
They don't come that way"
That's the reason l want them.
don't like TO be like everybody else.
How stupid of them not to make lamps
and bells of brass
1T was an oversight, l m afraid,
acknowledged the salesman.
well, if | can't get just what / want
| shall not buy a wheel" And out of the
door FASTENED the very much abused
Young Person.
Now said the salesman, turning to
the writer, some people might think that
girl did not want to buy a wheel but
she did She would have taken that
wheel surely If il had had a brass lamp
and brass bell. About one woman in a
hundred knows what she is getting when
she buys a bicycle. That wheel might
have been made of putty and it would not
have made any difference so long as 1t
was red, had plenty of nickel on the sad
die and was decorated with brass lamp
and bell
The salesman told the manager his ex-
perience. and a tinsmith not very far
from Warren Street is now very buSily
engaged making brass lamps and bells.
Just as the writer was leaving the store
the Young Person returned, her face ra-
diant.
I've been to two other Places" she an
nounced, ''and none of them have any
brass lamps or bells. In fact. one man
whom I asked for them had the audacity
TO laugh at me. Now. / have given you
a lot of trouble, so | am going to take
your wheel and let you select a lamp and
bell
Out came the little purse and In mo-
meut the Young Person was pouring bills
and silver dollars into the hands of the
trembling salesman. In a moment she
was gone but it cost the manager &C
cents worth of old Cognac to revive his
salesman.