Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1914-12-04

"a n.stons of Mrs. Emma McChes-
the ioO'D DoIing saleswoman for the T.
psy, s r Featherloom Petticoat COM
= D' Tow York. 1t had started with
EalS noeks' illness endured in the dis
ST. rt of a stuffy little hotel bed
c0nl.O ~ Glen Rock, MINI. By August
l eo was back in New York. attending
~ ont-of-town buyers.
20 o W. friendly middle western per-
bowed dismay at her pale, hol-
son' ored appearance. They spoke to
og', ~ olive oil taken thrice a day, OF
y, ,U NJ air, Of cold baths, and. above
u u nf the advisability of leaving the
ab and taking an inside position. At
'Url rroma McChesney always showed
l a.. - If unmistakable irritation.
-" IN september her son, Jock McChes-
~ inst turned eighteen, went blithe-
=, WY If to college, disguised as mil
n.noira,s son in a blue Norfolk, silk
, roaa aat.heeled shoes, correctly
u,, walrus bag, and next-weeks
e l4 in fall hats. AS the train glided
0rt Of the great shed Emma McChes-
vav had waved her handkerchief, smil-
,Dg like fury and seeing nothing but
&c ;ndistinct blur as the observation
nl.tform slipped around the curve.
In October it was plain that spring
stirts instead of being full as pre-
Sctod we're as scant and plaitless as
over That spelled gloom for the pet
tOoat business. 1t was necessary to
ssl three of the present absurd style
to make the profit that had come from
tbe sale of one skirt five years before.
The last week in November, tragedy
ctalked upon the scene in the death at
NarieDbad of old T. A. Buck, Mrs. Nc
Cbespey's stanch friend and beloved
employer
They had understood each other,
those two, from the time that Emma
NcChesney, divorced, penniless, refus-
ing support from the man she had
married eight years before, had found
work in the office of the T. A. Buck
Featberloom Petticoat company.
Old Buck had watched her rise from
stenographer to head stenographer
from head stenographer to inside
saesWoman, from that to a minor road
territory, and finally to the position OF
travelling representative through the
coveted middle western territory.
Old T. A. Buck, gruff, grim, direct
farseeing, kindly, shrewd-he had
known Emma McChesney for what she
was worth. Once, when she had been
disclosing to him a clever business
scheme which might be turned into
good advertising material, old Buck
had slapped his knee with one broad
thick palm and had said:
Emma McChesney, you ought tC
have been a man. With that head on
amans shoulders you could put us out
OF business"
IcOuld do it anyway" Mrs. McChes
ney had retorted.
Old Buck had regarded her mo
ment over his tortoise-shen trimmed
classes. Then, Il believe you could
he had said quietly and thoughtfully
That brings her up to December. Tt
some few millions of people De
ce-m-b-e-r spells Christmas But tt
Emma McChesney it spelled the dread
ed spring trip. 1t spelled trains stalled
IN snowdrifts, baggage delayed, colo
aotel bedrooms, harassed, irritable
buyers
IL was just six o'clock on the eve
mig Of December 9th when Mrs. En-
ma NcChesney swung off the train a.
NOlum6uS, O.. five hours late.
Columbus. Ohio, was Featherloon
'0Vn Emma McChesney had fond
NeSS Tor it, with its half rustic, hal
aVuopoIltan air. Sometimes she
"Aehed it % a country girl in a velye
soTn' and sometimes to city girl il
"aile muslin and blue sash. Singer
french always had a Featherloon
widow twice a year.
HE hotel lobby wore a strangely de
serted look. December is a slacl
~Ol'n Tor actors and travelling men
Iis' McChesney registered automatic
sI!' received her mail, exchanged
S'se1ings with the affable clerk.
send my trunks up to my sample
,vUm as soon as they get in. Three o.
1.-Two sample-trunks and my per
.UIal trunk. And l want to see a por
VI ABOUT putting up some extra tables
w, w see I'm two days late now. l ex
F'n TWO buyers tomorrow morning.
Seua EN- right up, Mrs. McChes
~, the clerk assured her. "Joll at
as NV 10 those tables. Too bad abou
~ 49,, DUCK. How's the skirt business 2
O, NAlrts? There is no such thing.
~ C.iected Emma McChesney, gently
1cIsase-casings business, you mean.
r.. eueSs you're right, at that. BY thu
~ ~ Aows that handsome youngstel
This trip" ~ VIZ
prIe came a wonderful glow int
U =, NcChesney's tired face!
n. 'Uch S at college. Coming home fol
d. nOiidays- We're going to have {
ssa = :, week in New York I'm wild t.
~" nose three months of college
besr.,u one anything to him, bless hi,