The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-15
OF A CLEVER WOMAN.


They entered the street car en- route to
the matinee with a swish of silk petit
coats and happy in the possession of the
latest creations in French millinery and
this seasons models in feather muffs and
boas.
What do you think of my skirt?" ask
ed one of them, glancing down at an af-
fair in fancy novelty OF the latest cut
which she wore.
"A dream. replied her compaion. 81
have been admiring it all along You
are certainly growing extravagant. dear"
y look of satisfaction spread over the
other woman's face. She lowered her
voice impressively. but not enough to
prevent the other passengers in that end
of the car from hearing. cit didn't cost
me cent" she said
"A present. You lucky mortal / wish
l had half a dozen sisters, cousins and
aunts to give me lovely things once in
awhile,
Not a present, either. Just the luck
lest chance in the world" replied the
owner of the skirt with increasing salts
iAction in her voice. az You see. I went
out last Monday to buy skirt. / wanted
something like this, in fact: bnt l had
been so liberal with my other clothes
that 1 really didn't see how l could af-
foru one. i spent the entire morning try
ing TO pick up bargain. and finally I
went to Jones & Smiths. l have an ac-
count there, you know. Well, | couldn
find thing 1 would look at for less than
twice what 1 was able to give, and as it
was ! o'clock and l was cross and wor-
ried and worn out l decided 10 go into
their lunch room and treat myself to
something dainty an refreshing, just to
cneer me up.
well. my dear, it was too fortunate.
1t had looked like rain that morning. and
/ had put on that old green skirt-you
remember, part OF the suit l had made 20
order last autumn.
well. as luck would have it. it was
a new waitress who took my order. She
was awkward and nervous. and as she
was placing my tea on the table she
stumbled and spilled the whole thing. cup
and all. right into my lap
II didn't even wait TO eat the lunch ]
went right down to the Office and COM
planned. The men were extremely polite
when lntS iOullo tiidt baN al siSSSe'e
there. Besides. they could see that the
skirt was of expensive material and
somehow-Tm sure ] didn't say so-bnt
somehow they seemed to be under the
impression that il had been made last
spring. Anyhow. told them that / con-
sidered it good for another season 5
wear-which was true. If only l hadn't
been seen in il a whole season already
: and that it belonged TO a suit which had
cost me $50. and that l thought they
should 1T least make ii good 10 me with
another skirt Ard it ended with my go
ing back and getting this dream Of a
skirt for nothing What do you think OF
that for luck?''
But. pc. eSted the other woman.
whose face had grown grave as she list
ened, didn't the poor girl have 10 stand
the cost OF that skirt?
..oh-hm-wen. now. l never thought OF
that. Perhaps she did have to pay some
thing. but o. course they would never
have charged her with The whole price Of
that skirt And then, I, was entirely her
own awkwardness.
of course II she spoiled your skirt.
her friend began. thoughtful.
..Oh. my dear. that was the best part OF
it, exclaimed the piece OF seifishness in
csrnate. with jubilant laugh. The
other skirt wasn't spoiled q, all You
see. IL was only tea. And after il was
spoased of and pressed one could never
.au th., ufffere nce-N. Y. Herald.