The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-07-11
AN INCIDENT OF SHOPPING.


The other day friend of Beliuda's
gave her beautiful pocket book. It
was really handsome thing, but Be
linda has pocket-books galore. and
she needs stationary very much co
the thought occurred to her, since the
purse came from very smart sta
toner's, that she might have it ex-
changed for writing paper.
She didn't want to have if exchano-
ed herself, for it is not considered
courteous to look gift horse in the
mouth to the extent of finally taking
1t back. Fearing that she would be b
recognized, therefore, Belinda asked
her sister to do the exchanging for
her.
Perhaps it is not generally known,
c6ary about exchanging purchases.
Why will never appear, but at all
events they are sometimes opposed to
allowing women the pleasure of
changing their minds. Suspecting
this might be one of these unreasona-
BILE firms, Belinda coaxed her sister
as to what to say.
"Tell him that you bought the
pocket-book there last week and that
you have decided now that you would
rather have stationary, and ask him
to exchange it," said Belinda, and
her sister went away to do her bid
ding.
First she went to the shop where
Belinda usually gets her stationary
and asked for the die which is used in
stamping the writing paper.
There was a good deal of red tape
about getting this. She had to sign
for it and explain that Belinda was
not at all dissatisfied with the goods
to be had there, but that she had had
a lot of stationary given her else
where.
Then she proceeded to the other
shop. ''Here, !" said Belinda's S sister,
talking rapidly and little confused,
"here's pocket-book, I got it here
a week ago, and / want to exchange
it for some writing paper"
1--WE don't usually exchange arti-
cles of this sort, said the clerk.
"But I bought this only week
age" returned Belinda's sister, tell
ing her fib falteringly.
"I'll see what 1 can do" said the
clerk, carrying away the parcel.
Then Belinda saw her having a
conference with the manager of the
store, and with another clerk. and
with another clerk, and they all look
ed at the pocket-book, and Belinda's
sister thought they were admiring it.
Presently the clerk came back. "I
recognize the pocket-book +" she said.
"It was bought here last December.
The name of the person who bought
il is inside on a card ;,
haSn' much presence OF mind. When
she was safely around the corner she
looked in the pocket-book, and there,
sure enough, was the visiting card of
the person who had given the purse
to Belinda and written on it was
For dear Belinda, with Mary's
love-"
Relations are strained between Be-
linda and her sister now, for the lat
ter young woman says that she was
caught in most reprehensive fb,
and it was all Belinda's fault for be-
ing so careless as to leave the card
of the giver in the purse, and Belin-
da, in exculpation, says that she had
no right to know the purse was
bought so long ago when it was only
given to her lately, and that if her
sister had had the foresight to look
in it, as she should have done, there
would have been no trouble.
But both of them are hoping that
the giver will never hear that Belinda
tried to change her beautiful present.