The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-01-31
The Dressmaker's Visitor
I'M ME-" GRIGSBY, ladies' fashion
IN able dressmaker, had thrown

IvL dDle UTeSSmdhcI, Adu IAAOWA
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 a state of indigna-
ton tempered with tears and had
gone homie 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-
ton 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 a
criminal dispoilation Of good insertion
and satin ribbon.
'These girls are absolutely worth
less," said Nine. Grigsby to herself.
"You have to take all their impertinence
as u matter of course, and II 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,
too, how long she was sitting before she
noticed that she had a visitor.
"Forty-six bust; IL waist" was Nine.
Grigsby's mental calculation as she
lose 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 q 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 a 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 1t is
quite impossible"
She had peculiar way of speaking.
Her voice was not loud, neither was 1t
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 I am ever permitted to lean
against. There must be a vista with a
peacock on beyond, and terrace" she
added, pathetically.
I'm dreadfully sorry" said the dress
maker, "but the mantelpiece is the only
marble 1 have, and I'm afrnid that
wouldn't do"
I'm afraid not" sighed the visitor.
Excuse me, madam" said the dress
maker, "but I would like to ask your
name. Your face seems strangely ia
miliar-"
'It ought to-" remarked the visitor.
"I'm Fig. No. 10 B. 1 have changed a
little in some unimportant respects
since was Fig. No. s C 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 1 have to keep
my forefnger extended in line with
It, too"
at seems to me that I recollect You
when you held 1t behind your back, "
said the dressmaker, refectively. "Let
me see; that was when you were Fall
and Winter 1884, wasn't it? I don't
like to be critical, but don't think that
black skirt goes very we'll with the
brown jacket"
That's true" assented Fig. No. 10
B, "but you see they are only very
slightly connected. To go back to the
umbrella-which isn't an umbrella at
all"
MOP" interrogated madam.
Certainly not" said Fig. No. 10 B,
with some asperity. ut is just the stick
with specially manufactured case.
What do you suppose would happen il
they gave me a real umbrella? I said
I had held it for ten years this way,
! didn't 1? Well, that's true, but, of
course, I've held it other ways, too"
AS the visitor spoke Nine. Grisby no
ticed without any particular surprise,
that her jacket had become a braided
basque and that the ostensible umbrella
was held at an angle of As degrees with
both hands.
"This style takes seven and hall
yards 90 inches wide for the skirt for q
lady Of medium size and four and halt