The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-12-08
ousin Emma : S
Fault


When Mrs. Cox returned from Che
seashore her two trunks were full of
mussed-up hats and soiled dresses.
She unpacked her things witlisa set
look Of dfstaste and heaved a Sigh Of
relief when the last pair OF satin
slippers had been sponged OH with
gasoline and the last chiffon veil had
been folded away in its particular
sateen-covered box in the top bureau
drawer. Mrs. Cox is a fastidious
young person and no article of her
personal apparel ever strays from its
proper place. That night she was
very tired.
THE seashore," she explained to
her husband, after dinner, "is fatal
to ones wardrobe. have packed
away my straw hats to make over for
next summer-you've no idea how di.
lapidated they look-and simply ev.
erything else l own had to be bundled
of to the laundry or the cleaners.
I'll not be able to go out anywhere
for week"
"Of course" went on his wife "they
all ought to either wash or clean.
The only thing I'm uneasy about is
my bathing suit. It did seem SO
ridiculous to send a bathing suit to
be dry cleaned, 80 I let 1t go with
the laundry things. but somehow
don't feel sure they will do 1t right"
Three days later. on the return of
the laundry box. the worst fears of
Mrs. Cox were realized. The bathing
suit was . wreck!
The dark blue material was q sickly
purple and the stripes that had once
been white were a clouded gray.
Mrs. Cox regarded 1t with disgust.
II knew It," she said to herself,
dismally.
When Cox came home two nights
later he found his wife on her knees
In the middle Of the sitting room
surrounded by a disorder of scissors
spools and dark blue serge.
William" she said before he could
greet her. they simply ruined my
bathing suit, as knew they would
They boiled It! And 1t was such an
expensive one that felt that posi-
lively couldn't afford to lose 1t alto
gether. So put an advertisement in
yesterdays paper and today I had
; an answer"
THAT so?" said Cox.
."She called me up on the phone"
Mrs. Cox explained "and asked me
what kind of suit 1t was and de-
scribed the thing to her and was quite
truthful about the fading and shrink
ing part OF course had to tell her
that, but she said she was small her
self and as she was only going for
| little trip south. quite Unexpectedly
she wasn't 30 particular as she other
wise would be about the appearance,
| Her husband is in the real estate
business and has some land down in
Florida that he is obliged to 20 and
see. 20 she decided that she. would
60, too; and her sister is coming to
take care Of the children and run the
house."
do you-er-know herr" asked
COX. looking daZed.
"Why. no." said his wife. II don't
know her. exactly. but We discovered
that she used to live in Sandtown and
that she and Cousin Emma always
went to the same dressmaker. told
her that had paid good deal Of
money for my bathing suit in the
first place. but that considering how
much it was faded would let her
have 1t for 50. She said very we'll
she'd pay that II I'd send 1t out by
messenger. 50 she could pack to-
night"
Then" inquired Cox, mildly, why
didn't you send it,"
WELL" said Mrs. Cox. you see
when came to look 1t over again /
discovered tear right in the front
gore and the braid ON the bottom Of
the skirt had turned green in the
wash instead of purple like the cloth,
and then remembered what pretty
clothes Cousin Emma always, has, and
II this woman went to the same dress.
maker-why. don't you see, was
ashamed to send that braid.
80 went downtown and matched
the serge for new front breadth
Ind got new braid. and it's taken the
whole Afternoon to sew it on. The
serge cost $1.25 and the braid was
20 cents. But coui1a:..e hAve aer tell
tng Cousin Emma that had cheated
her. you know.
"Just step to the telephone, dear,
and have them send messenger.
And. wait minute. Here's the, ad.
dress; ask them what they will
charge" ~,
'tT's