The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-08-13

ing at once III excited nlRn-pltCne0
voiCes-everybody but the buyer. and
she only listened Then she turned
to Helen with a brief I'm very sorry
that such a mistake has happened.
A suit is usually sold by the coat, but
I'll have to see the other customer"
Right in the next room" and Miss
Boyd led the way triumphantIy.
Again Helen was left alone a chok-
ing sense of thwarted Indignation in
her throat. She would not get the
suit. Everybody always took advan-
tage Of her. She could never hold her
own.
An endless wait; then Miss Walker
rushed in with a triumphant
It's yours. You see, all the marks
stock number and cost-are on the
coat ticket. That's what decided it!
Oh, she's making an awful row-she's
boiling"
What did she say?" eagerly, then
quickly ashamed of her question.
When she couldn't get the suit
she even tried to buy the skirt"
THE skirt" repeated Helen. Why,
she wouldn't want just the skirt"
"Of course not, but she's deter.
mined you shouldn't have it. She's
still arguing-hasnt taken it off yet,
but she doesn't want that. Says she'll
withdraw her account, and never
Oh" joyfully, here's the skirt now"
as Mr.. Carter handed it in.
1t was with sense of elation, Of
thrilled exultancy, that later Helen
left the shop. For once she had tri.
umphed.
Then she realized that in her ex.
element she had not even tried on
the skirt, but since it was just plain
model it could not be far wrong.
They were almost through dinner
when Emma brought IL the large box
marked special" Dropping her nap.
kin, Helen started up with an ex.
cited, "Gh, it's my suit! I'm wild to
see it,"
See here, the suit can wait-you
finish your dinner"
But already Helen had it out OF
the box and was trying on the coat.
Wait, dear, I'll put on the whole
thing-you can tell SO much better"
and gathering up the package she ran
into her room.
But her heart sank as she slipped
on the the skirt. 1t was made with a
yoke, a style she never liked, for the
line across the hips took from her
height. And the coat-somehow it
did not look quite the same! But
then she had had on her hat-per.
haps that made some difference.
Anxious for Warren's opinion, she
ran back to the dining room. AS she
turned slowly around before him, he
viewed the suit in stolid silence.
Not crazy about it. Big enough for
two of YOU"
"Oh no. it's just the skirt that's
too long-and the sleeves"
All right, if you're satisfied. You're
the one that's got to wear it."
But Helen was not satisfied. She
had Emma leave her dishes to pin
up the skirt. Then she spent the next
hour viewing it in the various mir.
rors-her discomfort growing as she
found new faults.
Take it back if you don't like it,
growled Warren, exasperated by heI
constant appeals as to what he thought
of this or that alteration.
ooh, | can't ask them to take this
back" flushing
"Why not? You're not so blamed
scrupulous about firing things back.
"Oh, but this is different-anothel
woman wanted the suit! Oh, they
had a time! They had to send for the
f1oorWalker and the buyer" AnG
then came the story with all its de
tails.
That's rich!" Warren threw back
his head and roared. "Ha-ha, TC
have given a farm to see you two
women scrapping. Butted right il
with the skirt on, did she? Regular
hair-pulling scene, eh?"
ooh, she was so insolent about it,
Indignantly.
well, can't see that you were
such perfect lady"
"Why, l simply held on to thu
coat! You certainly don't think
should have given it up to herr"
Huh, seems now you're deuced sor
ry you didn't! | should say she
got the best of that deal. Looks iikt
you're the one that's stung."
Almost in tears Helen went in tt
take off the suit. AS she hung it OF
a form in her closet, she thought O
the months it must hang there, O
the countless times she must wear 1
and always with distaste. For sht
never wore with comfort thing tina
she disliked.
1t was a bitter price for a few mo
ments Of triumph. Other people wer'
always triumphing over her-ye
neither regret nor retribution seemed
ever to come to them
With an almost vicious bang sh'
shut the closet door. 1t was Away