Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-03-09
MY W|FE'S FUR CAPE.
BY EMMA w. WISE.

The man with the red mustache nod
ded in friendly manner to the meek
looking passenger on the front plat
form.
"There Is strong affinity between
that man and myself" he said. II sup
pose it was the circumstances under
which we became acquainted that unit
ed us in ties of brotherly love. We
were both sufferers in the same cause
and consequently were in position to
sympathize with each other. The cause
of our trouble was a fur cape. Four
years ago this winter my wife took 4
notion that she wanted n cape of Per-
sian lamb. She wasn't as reasonable
in financial matters then as she now is,
and when | intimated that | couldn't
afford that luxury she poutcd and
showed a disposition to be generally
ugly.
81 haven't had anything new for a
good while, she said. I've skimped
along and saved and worried and
pinched all summer, and l don't think
it looks right to act stingy with me
now. l worried through last winter,
too, with next to nothing, and really
think deserve the cape.
"That was her parting shot as l left
the breakfast table, and all the morn
ing it ranklcd in a vital spot. l could
not be Oblivious to the fact that the
dear woman had indeed got through
the last year with limited wardrobe,
and made up my mind to strain q
point and see if | couldn't make the
rifle in regard to the coveted cape.
went up town that afternoon fully de-
termined that il could get good gar
ment at Il reasonable figure l would
buy it at once, even though the pur-
chase might entail the sacrifice of a
number of little luXuricS had counted
on laying in for my own use in the
near future. Finally l came to a win
dow in which Il number of apparently
supcrtinc fur wraps were on cXhibi-
tion. The store was pawnshOp, but
on the impulse of the moment l step
ped in and asked the proprietor if he
had any capcs in Persian lamb.
"I haf.' said he-1 haf Won of de
ferry vinest cabcs in dis down, und 1
am Citing him away dire cheab.'
"The fellow ransackcd around in an
inner room for few minutes and at
length returned with garment which
even my uncritical eye could tell at a
glance was the real thing.
81 vas abOud to send id to de aug
tion shop he said. IF id is a cabe you
want, you haf yoost in time come. This
cabe is maEnccticcnt-lCngth, 21 inch
es; sweep. 12G inches. Id vas broughd
in here by man who promised to re-
deem id ride away soon, bud now more
as year haf passed, und he not show
up, so shall sell de cabe. How much
you dink id worth?
allow much do you think? ! asked.
"Nell,' said he, id is easy worth 5000,
but l sell id cheab. let you haf de
cabe for $50 cash.
81 examined the garment carefully.
The fur, as far as l could see, was in
excellent condition. The lining was
without flaw, and there We're Il tone
and style to the cut that would, l felt
sure, bring joy to the heart of my fas-
tidiOus wife. With all the cape's mer-
its, | was not ready to swear that the
5000 valuation was correct, but l was
positive that it was worth $50, and
rashly closed the bargain then and
there. ! carried the cape down to my
office myself. | had there large pa
per box bearing the address of relia-
bic furricr. and in this | packed the
wrap and gave it to n messenger boy,
with instructions to be sure to deliver
the package at my house before
O'Clock. That evening when got home
my wife was fairly etfervescing with
happiness and affection.
"'It was so lovely of you, Donald'
she said. Are you really sure you
could afford it? After you were gone
this morning | felt awfully ashamed
Of myself for having been so cross.
know you always do the very best you
can by me. hope, dear, that you
didn't skimp yourself in any way in or
der to buy this lovely wrap. Are you
sure it was wise to buy it at Sellers ?
They are so high priced. How much
did you pay for this, Donald, dear?
"My wife's unstintcd praise of my
generosity fed my vanity and made me
desirous to maintain high standard
in her estimation, and | said coolly,
two hundred dollars
"FOr two months after the advent
of the Persian lamb cape into our
household we were superlatively hap
py. But all the while clouds were gath
ering on the domestic horizon unper-
ceived by me. and one day the storm
burst. We were dining in popular
restaurant when the deluge came. The
woman who sat at the small table at
our right pulled out the stopper and
preclpitated the catastrophe. She
watched my wife closely as she remov-
ed her fur cape and spread it out on
The back of her chair She said moth