The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-12-07
BUSY SHOPPING DAY

Refined and almost representative,
she struck me at once as being WO-
man of breeding and distinction. Yet
on the few occasions, when, as our
acquaintance ripened, | visited her at
her smart and elegantly appointed fiat,
| felt an instructive aversion to the
friends and acquaintance | met
there
Of her people she seldom spoke
her parents were dead, she told me,
and her husband was abroad, but
might be home again at any time.
She was always exquisitely dressed
in the latest fashion, and money
seemed abundant with her She was
an adept shopper, quick at knowing
| what she wanted and quicker still at
seeing it, and l was very glad she
offered to pilot me through the diff
cult mazes of the winter sales
We sat one evening arranging what
we were to buy.
st is far better to go now when
the first rush of the sales is over"
said Mrs. Vereker. Il went the first
three days myself, but the crowd was
awful, and there are still plenty Of
/ things to be had
Did you pick up many things?" |
asked.
| She laid down the list she was max
| ing and stared at me in dumb amaze
ment. Then her face cleared.
''Yes-no, not SO much. Let me
see; I bought this tea-coat and some
hats and my new gray coat-that is
all, I believe"
She continued the list, and at last
rose with a sigh of deep relief
"Ill call for you at nine tomorrow,
and We'll get Norman to lend ne his
motor"
Yes, do" she said. II love a mo-
| tOr-we can go to double the number
of shops and spend the whole morning
| looking around until we find exactly
what we want"
The next morning l called for Mrs.
Vereker and found her waiting.
won't you find that coat too hot"
! l asked as we reached the first of our
shops, and | slipped off my own heavy
motoring coat.
mo, l love it," she replied; 81 am
never too warm"
| bought my coat and selected some
| lace, and went on to-, where
chose a few modest and one or two
expensive blouses, then we went on to
third and last shop. While | was
choosing some ribbon in the multi
colored ribbon department, Mrs. Yer
| eker said to me:
Il am just going to the handker-
chiefs; l will join you in the fur de-
partment-you are going there?"
Eyes, l shan't be long"
Nor L. she answered. 81 am very
| tired l had finished by purchases
when she came back.
"Are you ready? I am feeling so
faint. Do you mind hurrying?"
I'm just ready" | said, this very
moment" and l put my hand in my
muff to get my purse. There was no
purse there, and l gave a cry of dis
may. Mrs. Vereker!-my purse!-
| it's gone-and | had G % in it. | had
it moment ago-I must have put it
down in the ribbon department"
Let me pay" she began-but I
interrupted her.
Nonsense, it can't be really gone"
| and | almost ran to the ribbon de-
partment.
| | found the shopwalker and the as
sistantAbut no one had seen it, and
baskets of ribbon were hastily
searched without result
| went back disconsolate to the fur
department.
81 am awfully sorry to have kept
you," l began.
! Pardon me, madam"
A graye-looking man in a frock coat
slid past me and laid his hand firmly
on Mrs Vereker's arm at the mo-
ment she was stepping into my motor.
| what do you mean?" she stammer-
ed. "How dare you? Cannot you see
I am ill and wish to go home at
once?"
I sprang to her side. Never mind
about the wretched purse" l said to
the man. "This lady is not well, let
| her go home, and l will come back
about the purse
+ The man took no notice of me, but
bending to Mrs. Vereker said some
thing that made her step suddenly
| back and stand by his side. Then, to
my utter amazement, shaking obvious
| ly from head to foot, and without even
| looking at me, she turned into the
| shop and I followed in bewildered
dismay.
/ It was soon over. A few minutes
in a private room and two female
searchers had taken the heavy coat,
| far heavier now with the lace and
fur and flowers and blouses that were
marvelsusly fastened in it's ample
folds. Under her cloak and attached
to her waist by firm hooks hung sew
eral furs and many pieces of costly
lace.
Mrs. Vereker, white as death, show
ed no sign of what she must be feel
| ing hut looked in front of her with a