A SHOPPING TRIP FOR TWO

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5474, 31 December 1904, Page 11

A SHOPPING TRIP FOR TWO

(By Eva M. Scribner.) “‘Fred, dear,” said Mrs Finlay, “I wish, you would go up town with me this evening, as I have a little shopping to do. Just think, dear, we have been married over six months, and you have not gone shopping with me yet.” “Certainly I’ll go, Olive,” replied her husband, getting his hat. It was one of those extremely warm nights, and Mr [Finlay rather wished there was some of getting out of it; “but Alice has only a few articles to purchase,” ho thought, “so wo won’t bo long.” Their first place of stopping was the millinery department. "Oh! See, Fred,” she cried, “what perfect dreams of hats.” “Bo you intend getting a hat tonight?” he asked, as he jostled through the crowd. . t( l must look at these,” sho said, half hearing his remark. She then immediately removed her own hat, and proceeded to try on the others. The first she spied was a very elaborate affair. She turned to her husband, asked his opinion, but on seeing the tag handing to it, marked £5, he said that it was too Urge. When she had thus donned a few other “dreams,” her husband, almost insane from the heat and effort to keep pace with her, leaned against a counter muttering to himself—Mrs Finlay being at tile other end of the department by this time—“l’m not going to play tag with any woman .on such a night as this.” After he had stood there for some few minutes, or hours, as he thought, he saw a woman struggling through tho crowd, with a hat held high above her head, and as she advanced, all smiles, ho knew it to bo his wife. “Fred, I just wanted you to see this hat on me. Isn’t it perfect?” “You’d better buy it,” he muttered between his teeth. “Thank God,” he said, as sho hastened away from him, “that she’s got what she wants now, and as soon as I get outside this store, au revoir to shopping. Another hat had taken her fancy, which accounted for her sudden departure from her husband. He then glanced up to see if she had received her hat and change, and turned pale, as he behold his wife, with this other affair on smiling at her reflection in the mirror, evidently pleased' with the whole effect. It would hardly b© fair to write what he then said, as he was always considered a good man. After what seemed like eternity, he again saw her coming, this time wearing her own hat. “I’ve decided not to get a hat to-night,” she said, with a sweet smile which was enough to melt the heart of a lion, but Mr Fred Finlay’s countenance was rigid. “You look tired, dear,’’ she continued, noticing the forlorn appearance of her husband, “and after I get some ribbon to match what I’ve got, I think w© will go home, as it is rather a warm night for shopping. Ho followed her like one in a dream, too disgusted for words. Remember, ho was only married six months. He was Costing at another counter, looking •about for a door or window where he could get a breath of air, when ho again hoard his wife’s voice. “Fred, please come hero a moment.” He advanced toward her with anything but a pleased expression, but Olive Was “shopping,” and, therefore, fortunately did not notice it. “Do you think the ribbon matches well?” she asked as she produced l two pieces of blue ribbon‘Yes,’’ he replied, hardly seeing the colour; “you’d better take it before tho store closes.” “Oh, they are open until 11 to-night,’’ she innocently answered. “This is a pretty shade of pink, for hat trimming,” she sweetly remarked, as she discovered a piece of pink ribbon. He groaned at the mention of “hat” and smothered a sigh, as his “little wife” held up a piece of green ribbon. “Going to celebrate St. Patrick’s day?” he almost hissed. At last, desperate, ho. burst forth: “Olive, are you going to buy any ribbon?” His words startled her, and she said sho knew he was tired, and called a saleslady to wait upon her. “How much did you say, madame?” inquired the saleslady. “Half a yard,’’ promptly replied'Mrs Finlay, as Mr Finlay made his way to the door, groaning for the tenth time.