The Detroit times., 1915-12-10

window with her crochet work
looked up as a little. tripping WON
an went by. The little. tripping
woman bowed and smiled and Al
mira responded graciously. As the
woman passed down the street Al
mira snubbed her nose against the
pane to gaze after her. A sound be
hind her made her turn with a start
and there stood her next door neigh
Dor. Mrs. Seeley, who had run in
with her crochet work.
Whom are you watching" asked
Mrs. Ceeley. selecting a chair with
view to comfort and beginning TO
crochet so ms to lose no time.
Lou Chittenden. Have you seen
her new gray coat?' Almira also
began to crochet.
Mercy, yes. She's been out air
ing II every day since she got II a
week ago. She got II at Goulds.'
ITS exactly like coat | was
looking at and wanted" said Al
mira shortly II shant buy II now
that she's got one"
That's the trouble In a place OF
this size" consoled Mrs. Seeley,
what you have is like everybody
else's. I bought a pattern of ging.
ham last summer to make Anna q
dress out OF and before got II
made up three Of those Luscomb
girls came out in dresses or the
same piece. | said TO myself that
my daughter wasn't going TO be
matched up with SIM Luscomb's
kids that way. so | gave the ging.
ham TO Lisbeth Shorter She won't
mind what tbs 10 longs its a dress
What YOU going % do about the
coat now Louis got the one you
wanted?"
IL shall go TO the city and get me
coat" replied Almira, looking
very decided.
81 don't blame you one atom,
Mrs. Seeley said admiringly
Course. you can buy where you want
10. Mr.. Spooner Is \ salaried man
and PAYS his bills as he goes. But
with me it's different" she sighed
Were connections Of Gould and
feel under obligation. wouldn't
dast hardly buy anything else"
We'll, | dast and | shall AT
frmed Almira.
: Until she had spoken she had
never dreamed OF going ont OF town
for her coat But now that she had
spoken she felt she could not very
we'll draw back Mrs. Seeley would
tell every body that she was going
to the city TO get her coat and
every body would be looking for htr
10 do so. Besides. she really wished
TO have coat different from any
she had seen. especially from that
of Lou Chittenden. to wnom she bore
grudge OF long standing. The
thought Of Lou Chittenden stimulat
ed her. She knew Lou thoroughly
knew how easily turned and dissat
isficd she, was. Pleasantly she pic
turcd to herself LOUIS dismay wher
she. Almira. marched into church
Sunday morning arrayed in the lat
est city style.
Almiras next move was TO APP
proach her husband on the money
question.
AL Spooner was "a close az the
uroverbial bark on the tree, but a
legacy OF $4,000 recently acquired
had done much toward loosening NJ
his purse strings However. hf
growled considerably before hC
handed out three $40 bills to his
wife.
"Now, don't ask me for another
cent this wipter." he admonished.
al Spooner," returned Almira
with spirit. 81 shall ask You fol
money every time I want II, and
I'll see that you give II TO me, too.
"Oh, go long" said AL. who was
no match at all for his aggressive
little helpmate.
With her three $40 bills tucked
safely away, and arrayed In last
summers suit. her new hat and a
fresh, VEIL Almira took the early
morning train TO the city. Not unit
she was fairly on her way did hei
high spirits begin to flag Their
she realized with miserable little
inward quake that she was doinf
an adventuresome thing She had
scarcely ever been out Of Westmore
in her life and here was startine
alone for the city How had abe
ever come to do II? I'm afraid,
she thought penitently. that I'm a
great hand to speak hastily. But
when I've said a thing ] won't go
/.