Gilpin observer., 1910-12-08
Cousin Emma S
Fault

When Mrs. Cox returned from the
seashore her two trunks were full Of
mussed-up hats and soiled dresses.
| She unpacked her things with a set
look of distaste and heaved a sigh Of
relief when the last pair of satin
slippers had been sponged of with
gasoline and the last chiffon veil had
been folded away in it's 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 own had to be bundled
| of to the laundry or the cleaners.
I'll not be able to go out anywhere
for a week"
Cox nodded with vague sympathy.
"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. SO I let 1t 60 with
the laundry things. but somehow
don't feel sure they will do 1t right"
Three days later. on tho return Of
the laundry box. the worst fears Of
Mrs. Cox we're realized. The bathing
suit was wreck!
The dark blue material was a 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 l knew they would
They boiled It! And it was such an
expensive one that I felt that I posi-
lively couldn't AFFORD to lose 1t alto
gether. So I put an advertisement in
yesterdays paper and today had
| an answer"
That sol" said Cox.
She called me up on the phone
Mrs. Cox explained. "and asked me
what kind Of suit It was and I de-
scribed the thing to her and was quite
truthful about the fading and shrink
ing part. OF course l had to tell her
that. but she said she was small her
eeak and a. she was only going for
little trip south. quite Unexpectedly
she wasn't SO particular a. 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 10 obliged to 90 and
see. 30 she decided that she would
go. too; and her sister 10 coming to
take care Of the children and run the
house"
do you-er-know her?" asked
Cox. looking dazed.
why. no." said his wife. II don't
that she used to live in Sandtown and
that she and Cousin Emma always
went to the same dressmaker. told
her that had paid a good deal oi
money for my bathing suit in the
drst place. but that considering how
much It was faded I would let hel
have It for $3. She said very we'll
she'd pay that II I'd send It out BY
messenger. 30 she could pack to
night"
Then" inquired Cox. mildly. why
didn't you send IT."
We'll" said Mrs. Cox. you SEQ
when I came to look It over again
discovered tear right in the from,
gore and the braid on the bottom oi
the skirt had turned green in the
wash instead Of purple like the cloth
and then I remembered what pretty
clothes Cousin Emma always has, ant
II this woman went to the same dress
maker-why. don't you sec, wal
ashamed to send that braid.
80 I went downtown and matched
the serge for q new front breadth
and got new braid. and it's taken the
whole afternoon to sew It ON. The
serge cost Sl.25 and the braid wal
30 cents. But I couldn't have her tell
ing Cousin Emma that I 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 viii
charge"
Cox did ~ he was requested and
returned presently with his hands n
his pockets and q grin on his fsce.
The messenger" he informed hii
wife. ''is going to cost you $3.50. The
woman lives out on the north shore