Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-07-25

look we'll in any modest little thing
You can lend distinction to your
clothes"
Mrs. Pfeineger looked pleased. "Its
awfully nice Of you to say So" she
said, but"
And another thing" continued
Pfeineger; i've can't afford any need
less extravaganza. We aren't destitute,
thank goodness! But it's just as we'll
to practice judicious economy. Yes, I
know you do; I'm not complaining. 1t
seems to me, though, that you have
plenty Of pretty little gowns. Where's
that brown dress with the yellow trim.
ming? l never see you wear that
now"
II ripped that up last spring and had
the skirt dyed and wore it out"
well, you've lots of others. Wear
some of them. This isn't royal visit,
and Barker is just as plain as an old
SHOE"
His wife may not be, though"
"Oh, hang her! Wear anything you
like. don't care what you wear"
Il suppose" said Mrs. Pfeineger, af-
ter short pause. II might wear that
little gray silk. but"
why, of course. What's the matter
with that? l declare, you women get
me! You buy dress and pay some
fancy price for 1t and then after you've
worn 1t once or twice you 60 to work
and rip it up or else have it altered.
Here I've been wearing the same dress
suit for five years and expect to wear
1t for five more, unless you let the
moths get into it, and it's the same
with hats. My hat"
Mrs. Pfeineger sighed. every we'll,
dear. I'll wear the gray" she said.
Barker was an old friend Of Pfeine-
ger's-a friend of his youth. He had
gone to California about ten years be-
fore and had prospered. Pfeineger
was walking along the street one at
ternoon when he was nearly knocked
down with slap on the shoulder. 1t
was the lOng-lost Barker. He had al
tered In the ten years. Pfeineger was
not quite sure that 1t had been for the
better. He was broader of girth and
redder in the face, and it seemed as IL
he was rather more boisterous In his
manner than formerly. However,
they lunched together and Pfeineger
asked his old7time friend and his wife,
who had accompanied him on his
eastern trip, to dine with him.
Il didn't hear that you had married,
Bob" said Pfeineger. II don't know
that would have believed 1t If 1 had
heard it. l always thought you were
above such weakness"
shoulder, and keeping his hand pressed
heavily there said in a husky but i'm.
pressive whisper: "My boy, she's a
corkerv'
When the Bankers made their ap-
pearance Pfeineger could not help ad-
hitting that his friends description of
his wife was not altogether inaccurate.
She was a tall woman, high colored
and with flashing black eyes-rather
too much color and rather too much
flash about her, perhaps; but she was
emphatically "corker." She was at
tired in costume Of pale green satin
deliberately trimmed, that fitted her to
perfection, and when she sat down to
dinner and the diamonds that covered
her fingers up to the knuckles sparkled
in the light Of the candles Pfeineger
could not help sneaking feeling that
poor little Mrs. Pfeineger was some
what eclipsed.
The evening was not exactly sue
cess. Mrs. Barker was vivacious
enough, even to the point of smoking a
cigarette after dinner. She played the
piano, too in dashing sort of way.
Barker talked a great deal and rather
boastfully Of himself, and his pride in
his wife was manifest.
"Yes, we're going to stop here week
or two" he said once. 1.-THE madam
here has got to buy few more trunk
fuls Of dresses. tell you, Pfeineger.
she keeps me broke about all the
time"
Later on, as Mrs. Barker was play
ing, Barker called Pfeineger's attention
to one of her rings and told him the
price.
In was in vain that Pfeineger told
himself that his guest was vulgar,
purse-proud upstart, and that he
thanked the Lord that Ms. Pfeineger
was not as Mrs. Barker He could not
keep his eyes off the lady or her gowns
or her rings.
At breakfast the next morning he
suddenly said "Mollie"
Mrs. Pfeineger started a little.
what is it, James?' she asked.
Don't you think-er.-that your
wardrobe wants looking after q lit.
tle?"
Mrs. Pfeineger is long suffering but
her tone was rather impatient as she
answered that she had been trying to
convince him Of that q few days be.
fore.
II suppose you want me to look like
the fascinating Mrs. Barker" she
added.
mot by long shot," said Pfeineger.
with rather exaggerated warmth.
"But-well, is that gray dress the best
you havew
ITS about the only thing have"
she replied.
Then" said Pfeineger, you must
go down town to good dressmaker
and get yourself fitted out. Yes, I
guess can stand the expense. I'll bet
l can match piles with Barker and top
him an inch or two for all his brag.
Don't ask me what. Get what you
want. Get plenty while you're getting
and get them good"
or course that was nice thing to
say, and Of course Mrs. Pfeineger
thanked him. but somehow she did not
feel quite as delighted as Pfeineger felt
she ought to be.-Chicago Daily News.