The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-09-11
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ALICIA'S PURSE

- Sforistfe

There is an appearance OF sweet
simplicity about Alicia. an ingenious
ness OF expression. an innocent, halt-
inquiring. half-wondering look IN her
big blue eyes and an artlessness IN
her observations on things in general
that render her friends very anxious
on her account | am anXions myself
very anxious.
| am afraid that one OF these fine
days some designing yonih with
padded shoulders and pointed shoes
will persuade Alicia 10 matrimonial
engagement There are many such
young impostors dangling around her.
aud IL Is rather remarkable that MOTH
ing OF the sort has happened. Not
that Il is anything TO me personally,
only | should hate 10 see Alicia i'm
posed upon.
Sometimes. though. | catch myself
wondering il Alicia is really as guile
less as she seems ! wondered when
she told me about losing her purse on
shopping expedition yesterday. Il
was dreadfuliy worried about it, she
said. 1T seemed SO careless OF me. |
don't suppose men ever do lose thelr
purses. do they"
Never replied. or almost
never"
"Papa never does said Alicia. II
heard him tell mamma that he never
did. That was when mamma lost hers.
He saws il is so foolish tor women 10
carry their pocketbooks around IN
their hands. but I'm sure don't know
how else they could carry them I'M
less they balanced them on their
heads Besides. when | have mine in
my hand always know it's there II
isn't as If had il in pocket where
ia never be sure that somebody
hadn't picked IT,"
"Of course not | agreed But II
you carried yours in your hand how
dii Won happen TO lose it,"
Il laid il down Of course. was
looking al embroideries az Spoonder-
by's and YOU can't look at embroid-
cries with one hand
Il wanted the embroidery for a
guimpe." said Alicia.
For a what"
"Oh. never mind Anyway. | must
have gone away and left my purse ~
ing on the counter | know That |
must have done so. but ! didn't think
Of IL at the time II must have been
an hour before missed a. | had got
through with my shopping AT Spoon
/ derbys and | was in RaNtrells
You hadn't bought much then"
What makes you think so?"
Il just guessed"
Il wanted a sample Of albaross
and
Did you say You were in RaNtrelI 5
or Lincoln Park?"
"Albatross is a cloth. silly" said
\ Alicia 4 had sample of II in my
purse that | wanted 10 match and
Z when | went TO look for II found. OF
course. thar I hadn't got il"
You looked for II in your hand.
suppose. and TO your great surprise
your hand was empty
Yes" said Alicia. simply. My first
thought was that must have dropped
il somewhere on the floor and be
gan 10 look around for il. Just then a
voice al my elbow said. i beg pardon,
but have YOU lost anything
What kind Of a voice" ssked
IT was very musical voice" re-
Piled Alicia. rich and deep and pen
etrating. with an indescribable qual
ity in II. you know what | mean.
| a lqulNltN
Not exactly a liquidity. No There
was a sort OF sympathetic timbre. But
you don't know what mean. You are
Just laughing at me-
Il assure YOU | was not. Was il q
mans voice or a wonpns?
why. a mans. Of course, said
Alicia. widening her eyes. How coult
a man speak in a woman's voice. An.
he was Just splendid Tall and darl
and with the loveliest little silk blact
moustache.
II wish I had been there" | said.
I'm sure | don't know why yol
should. because he was perfectly re
spectful | think he said. Have yol
lost anything. madam?
"Oh. one of the fioorwalkers.
He was nothing OF the kind. III
didn't look in the least like n floor
walker: most Of them are bald ant
middle-aged. They are az RaXtrell
There are some young ones al Spoon
derbys. There is one in the ribbol
department who is per
Never mind. what did you do
Did YOU freeze him.
OF course know that the idea o
Alicia's freezing anybody is quite pre-
mysterious You should have don
So" I said.
II told him that / had lost my purs
and ne was most polite and concerned
lie didn't thy To be silly as some pee
pie do
What people"
Never mind. lie asked me 10 d.
scribe the purse and looked all aroun
under the counter and stools and e'
ervwhere. but we couldn't find II. an
{ then told him that I'd probably lei
z II AZ the embroidery counter in Spoor
derby's and he offered 10 20 bac
> there with me.
Alicia" said severely I'm goin
. 10 speak 10 your mother and ask he
/ not to let YOU go shopping alone. TIL
/ idea of walking around the stores vii
! sfranger-a Young man YOU kno'