The Cairo bulletin., 1909-08-24
A BIT OF SHOPPING.

A BIT OF SHOPPING.
When young Mrs, Palmer went
, forth to buy Friday specials AID
| remnants OF things. she invariably
| had her husband to accompany her
Palmer did not like to go and ri
ways had some futile excuse about a
lame ankle, business engagement
or the dou5ie-header with Chicago
But just as invariably the excuse was
, declared invalid and poor Palmer
walked for three hours through the
fashion marts carrying dozens of
packages and praying that his friends
might not see.
Consequently Mrs. Palmer was al.
most shocked when her husband
calmly announced at the breakfast
table that she must go shopping with
him.
Mrs. Palmer's curiosity was arous-
ed and it required very little effort
to induce her to make the trip
The first place where they stopped
was the Owl cigar store Il want a
dozen empty cigar boxes" answered
Palmer.
When the clerk brought the boxes
tied into cumbrous bundle. Palmer
handed them TO his wife You may
carry these, please. dear" he said
The next stop was at the Queen de,
pariment store. Palmer made for the
toilet goods counter. II want 10 look
al some soap" he directed.
What kind OF soap?" asked the
sale sgirl
Every kind you have. please" an.
swered Palmer.
The girl stacked % kinds upon the
glass case.
Il see three more kinds behind the
counter" indicated Palmer. Bring
those out, too, please"
Wonderingly, the young lady pac.
ed the three additional brands upon
the counter. while Palmer eagerly
fumbled and messed them about. Mrs
Palmer looked at him as If he were
insane.
What is the price OF the scent
kinds?" asked Palmer.
Five cents informed the girl.
Not on Friday, surely" objected
Palmer, DO you mind my biting
one of the cakes?"
The girl giggled.
II don't think any OF these will do
said Palmer. ''You see | want a tint
that will match my right little fng
eTw'
With that he raced madly over tc.
the grocery department and purchas.
ed :i5 boxes OF matches, which, BY
liberal tipping. he sutceeded,. in hav
ing wrapped into. Is. separat, pack
ages.
Il believe you're crag," declared
pretty Mrs Palmer.
"Oh. no indeed" denied Palmer.
You wait here a minute, precious
heart"
He was gone for an hour. while
Mrs Palmer held the cigar boxes and
the match boxes and nearly cried
When he returned they went out in.
to the street and Palmer stood for 2G
in front of a show window
of smiling wax models clad in fire
sale 1898 blue serge spring suits. On
the next block he successfully bought
a sack OF potatoes, a Turkish water
pipe, a bird cage, a fishing rod,
"A ha1 huf 10 IF oil
of which he loaded upon the fatigued
Mrs. Palmer
do you think I'm a camel?" she
snapped.
A furnishing goods store was neal
and he conducted Mrs Palmer with
in. Il wish to look at some neck
ties" he announced. The 25-cent
kind. please"
Then he stood BEFORE the mirror f,
and tried on a pink tie, and after
that a lavender. white. a green and
finally several speckled patterns. He
looked sideways al himself. walked
back piece and looked over his
shoulder, then held his arms akimbo
and pesped through the opening He
was in the act of trying on all the
ties at once for final rainbowish
when the clerks elected
him from the store as a dangerous
unatic. /
1T has been lovely shopping
said Palmer, when they reached the
Ventura apartments. I'VE will &C
nut again tomorrow"
Never again." declared Mrs Palm
ar. Il shop by myself after this
And Palmer smiled.-Stuart B
Stone.