The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-04-08
STORY OF
A MUFF
BY EDITH TURNER

lady stood beside herr looking at some
other laees. The mutt lay between
them. Presently Mrs. Munger looked
up and saw the lady resting one hand
on her (Mrs. Mnnger's) muff. Mrs.
Munger reached out for the muff. The
lady, not noticing her-being apparent
ly intent on the laces-Mrs. Munger at
tempted gently to draw the muff to-
ward her The lady looked up and,
seeing some one about to appropriate
the muff, placed it ON her other side.
BEG pardon" said Mrs. Munger,
'you have mistaken my muff for your
own"
II beg your pardon, have done no
such thing"
81 insist upon 1t that you have"
"And insist upon it thatl have not.
IL you persist In insulting me ! shall
call for a member of the firm. J. have
an account here and am well known"
Mrs. Munger was astonished. Turn
ing to the clerk behind the counter, she
said:
did you not see me bring that muff
and lay 1t down on the counter when
asked to see lacesT
Indeed, madam, l was very busy
waiting on another lady when you
came, and didn't notice whether you
had a muff or not"
"Call for a fioorwalker." said Mrs.
Munger.
A fioorwalker was called and listened
to the story. He sent for one OF the
firm. When that gentleman came he,
too, listened to the difficulty between
the women, and she who had appro-
prlated the muff said to him: Il am
Mrs. Sunderland. / have had an &C
count here for years. Please tell this
lady that am not a thief"
II can bear the lady out in her state
ment," said the man, ''and, more, !
know her social standisg to be excel
lent"
Good morning" said the muff taker
with toss of the head, and she swept |
away with the captured article.
Il am sorry, madam" said the mer-
chant, that the difficulty should have
arisen in my store. Ii you viii go to
the muff department and pick out a |
muff similar to the one the lady took I
away with her you shall have it In ex-
change--that is. with the understand /
ing that the matter be dropped"
Without waiting for reply he led
the way to the fur department, and
Mrs. Munger followed him mechanical
Iy. She was so upset that she scarcely
knew what she did.
There is a muff," said the merchant.
clerk. ''of exactly the same quality as
me one you hare lost"
and finer" said Mrs. Munger.
smothering it with hand. Nov, /
wish you to tell me why you do this"
Under promise OF secrecyT
Eyes"
"That lady is fashionable woman
in the most exclusive circles.
Her account with US is now $500 to
her debit IL / had decided in your
favor we should have been put to
much trouble % collect it"
And you believe the muff was
miner"
The gentleman smiled. with that
I have nothing to do"
Mrs. Munger was new to the city
and its social circle. Nevertheless she
was admitted to the swim and was
likely to meet Mrs. Sunderland. If
she ever should-well-
CIT L. -
afternoon tea. All the ladies wore
heir finest afternoon costumes. Mrs. {
wore hers and looked SO fine
hat Mrs Sunderland didn't remem-
Der having seen her before. But Mrs.
remembered Mrs. Sunderland
The former managed to get near the
after and slipped her own portemon-
1aie containing visiting cards as well {
IS bills into Mrs. Sunderland's muff-
'ather it was Mrs. Munger's-that lay
IN chair. Then Mrs. Munger began I
o hunt for the portemonnaie, and |
when she had attracted the attention
II those about her, thrust her hand
INTO the muff, took out the portemon- /
laie and proved property by showing (
Ter own cards. Then, having taken {
he names of several ladies present for
witnesses, she walked to the telephone /
ind called for an officer.
AS soon as the hostess heard of tn
natter she begged Mrs Munger to de-
list from making the matter public. g
She was obdurate. Then Mrs. Sun r
lerland sent handsome offer to hush q
III the matter on account of the host I
SIS. Mrs. Munger remained firm s
When the officer arrived she charged n
Yrs. Sunderland with theft t
The next morning Mrs Munger ap y
reared against her, and she was oblig t
d to give security for her appear f
nee the next morning In court. When n
Ter accuser stepped forth Mrs. sun
erland recognized for the first time
be woman whose muff she had APP
ropriated and saw In the iady's eve b
terrible revenge The prisoner sent
er lawyer to Mrs. Munger to offer to v
1ake such terms as the latter would b
INSIST on. Mrs Munger offered to
the charge on the return of t
certain muff in Mrs. Sunderland's ii
ossesslon and a donation to the fund
( a certain hospital of which she was
directress of $1,000.
Since this was the only way to keen b
ne scandal from becoming newspa. II
err property the terms were accepted. 81
ut even this did not save Mrs. Sun. u
erland her position in society. :