Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-11-09
A MlLl|NER'S
DAY.
By EDITH SESSIONS rurrEn.

Miss Marie Selby rustled into the
smart Fifth avenue shop, where it
was her daily custom to assist "a fash
ionable milliner to dispose of her
goods to deluded women at fabulous
prices.
Miss Marie had not the ensemble
OF working woman. Her black taf-
teta silk frock was smartly made, her
beautiful auburn hair creped and
pompadoured in the latest mode.
She possessed an air at once condos
cending and affable and was consid-
cred one of the most successful "jol-
ners" in the place.
She could wheedle more plain
women into buying hats that were
fashioned for beauties than any other
saleswoman in the shop. She had an
unexcelled knack of settling bonnet
on the head of a fright and then
stepping back and falling into a par
oxysm of rapture at the spectacle.
She cajoled dollars from pocket
books and. in consequence, was pet
Of the naughty dame whose name on
the lining OF hat was the hall mark
Of elegance and style.
Miss Marie" said the pompous in
dividuel. coming forward ablaze with
diamonds and rustling quite as loudly
as her asaistsaais,~1 would like you to
redress the window"
Miss Marie laid aside her own sly.
fish hat and fastened to display novel
and amazing CONNECTIONS upon the
simpering pink and white waxen
models in the show window. This
was work she doubly enjoyed. It
gave her an admirable opportunity to
observe what was going ON in the
street; moreover, it gave the male
passersby q rare chance to gaze at an
attractive girl.
Therefore it. must be confessed that
Miss Marie dawdled bit over her
work, from which she was finally sum-
moned to wait upon a customer.
THIS was woman with face as
long as that Of horse and hair ap-
propriately the exact shade of hay.
Miss Marie "sized her up" at a glance,
and, after seating her with a great
flourish before pier glass. brought
forward frisky turban of velvet and
lace and fur. She pitched it rakishly
over one eye of the victim and then
fell back with an exclamation of en-
chanment.
"Ah. Madam! If you could but see
the effect from the back! It's SO
swell! Just the thing for your style!"
The horses head bridled with pleas
ure. But how about the front view"
She asked. trifle anxiously, for the
mirror gave no such assurances as
did Miss Marie.
LET me tell you, Madam" re-
turned this clever young woman, that
you might look New York over, and
nowhere could you get such result"
Which was quite true.
ut certainly is sweet thing" said
the shopper, craning her neck to look
at her profile. What is the price?'
Let me see," said Miss Marie, re-
moving the hat and examining it crit
ically. THAT hat. madam, was ORR
ginally $45. It's imported and abso-
lutely novelty. But as it's so be-
coming to you, will make it $780,"
isn't that rather expensive?'
'Oh, dear me, madam, consider the
materials; consider the style" plac-
ing 1t on her own shapely head; con
slider how it becomes you."
well, I'll take it." said the wretch,
and Miss Marie winked at Miss Ethel
and Miss Gladys. who stood near
watching the transaction
did you ever see anything so aw-
ful?" asked Miss Marie, after the
shopper had been bowed out. did
you see her try to look coquettish?
declare the result was so frightful
that I closed my eyes and breathed
a prayer"
Their witticisms were instantly
hushed as a man and woman en-
tered the shop. They were plainly
from the rural district, and as plainly
bride and groom. The bride was
faded, but kittenish; the husband
proud and sheepish. Miss Marie deft.
ly placed upon the head of the bride
a structure calculated to make her
dead and gone ancestors turn uneasily
In their tombs.
Nov. how do you like that, pet?''
asked the bride, tenderly.
pet" fondled his whiskers and
looked foolish. "I'm bowed II can
see ANYTHING handsome in tkut." he
remarked.
"That settles it." sad his spouse,
quickly removing L. 81 shan't buy
no bonnet you don't like"
"Allow me-" said Miss Marie,
sweetly. She lifted the hideous and
hamboyant cartwheel and set 1t upon
her own head. She was such a
jauntily impudent vision in it that the
bridegroom stared greedily.
n FEAR" paused the little sinner.