Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-04-28
A TALE OF A SALE.
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N0 RS. MASON is what we call in
JMl in CIR village "a character,
S and as such 1 dearly love a
chat with her when she is in the hui
NOR to be drawn out. The other af-
ternoon | called to remind her of the
annual rummage sale. She is regu-
lar purchaser, but priding herself on
possession of judicial mind, she does
not feel at all called upon to approve
in the abstract of institutions in whose
benefits she IS quite ready to partici-
pate.
"Roomage sales? I don't hold with
'em! / call 1t a-nisultin' of the Al
mighty. the gentry offering Him their
cast-off clothes and what notp' she
said tartly. "Teck my word for 4,
the gentry gets their fun out O them
sales same as bazars. and times they
gets the best bargains. too"
Il don't see how that can be-" l said;
1.-THE gentry don't buy at rummage
sales"
Don't they?" she chuckIed. Much
you know about It, The best bargain
everN seed was got at rummage
saie. Sit zee down. and donnut fidget
wi yer chair. and I'll tell zee how it
cum about Twas worth half-a-sov-
erelgn to me.
II was slip of girl, in sarvice at
Squoire Hargreayes, at the hall. Well
they had a guyerness there for the
children: tall, handsome lass she was,
,orc,,1 ne oh yx-ac a duoboSc
Her father had been what they call
a millionaire. but he lost all his money,
and the daughter, who had been to
college and was great schollard, went
ont to help earn living for the family.
BEFORE that she'd been engaged TO be
married, but it was broken off when her
father lost his money.
"Well, one day was cleaning the
outside windows of the schoolroom
when Mrs. Hargreaves comes in, and,
Miss Alwyn.' says she. L want you to
help the wears daughter, Miss Rogers,
at the roomage sale So Miss Alwyn
said she would.
ION the days OF the sale. Mary, the
housemaid, told me she'd asked Miss
Alwyn for any of her old things to send
to the parish hall. Miss Alwyn Just
looked up, and said:
Very well, Mary, you can take
what's hanging on the end peg in my
room; | nave nothing else l could
spare"
There was a pink frock as fitted
Mary and a lavender muslin gown.
Mary l said, there's mistake.
Miss Alwyn's always kept that put by
so careful in her drawer. with sprigs
OF rosemary between; she don't mean
that
But Mary wouldn't listen. Shed set
her heart on the lavender gown and
took II down TO the parish hall herself.
for we two servants had holiday for
the afternoon.
Mary took the dresses TO Miss Rog-
ers' stall and got them priced. She
bought the pink one. but the lavender
was too dear I can't think saws Miss
Rogers. how anyone comes to send if
It's quite a Partisan creation
s.There was Mr. Bartram as was
STAYING with the vicar standing by. and
he laughed. Let's see the creation he
said: and then he looked startled
Where did that come from@ he says.
shortlixe: and Miss Rogers said. from
Mrs. Hargreayes.' 'HargreaveSi l don't
know such a name. But 1t Is-it must
be the same gown he muttered. Then
] knew that he was Miss Alwyn's for
mer young gentleman and what Mary
had done
mir. Bartram tried TO turn of all the
seriousness of the joke. Look herer he
says. that's too smart a gown Tor your
village folk In the interests OF paro-
chial morality. l want TO buy it,
$50 he paid the price and went or
without seeing the other stalls.
Presently Miss Rogers. as was keep
ing the stall. wanted to so away for
something. and asked me TO keep an
eve on things. Miss Alwan had sold
her lot. and came round To see how we
was gettin' on.
In moment she catches sight Of
the gown. snd-'Ohr she cries NV
lavender dress, How came thar heras
I must have II back: there has been :
rnistaker So l told Mary. miss saws
I: but now it's sold 'SohI. she cries
with her face as white as my apron,
No matter, ! VIII buy II again. How
much was givenT Two sovereigns
saws /. She seemed bit set back M
that. bit she pulled out her purse.
fortunately have rs much she said.
Make il right for me. Betty And not
STAYING for a BY your leaver she
catches up the gown and offs with il
hanging over her arm. ran after her
TO wrap II up. but. lor' bless you. she