She Brought It Back

Last week un up town woman bought ttu umbrella. It was a beivjrtiful ambrelH And the hesrt of the woman was glad aa -lic paid out $4.98 and ordered her purchasent home. When it arrivés, she slips oiï the cover to gloat over her treasure. She turna it over and over, admiring and rejoicing, when suddenly a biemish meets her eye. On the handle, midway between the slide whicb opens it and the polished sphere of bluo . so satisfying, ave two scratches j cleep enough to penétrate the blue enatnel ■md lay l.;.retvvo dull gray spots of ■ are not large, to be sure, but the; there, and the spirit of the woman arises in revolt. She has been imposed upon, but she will have redress. Early the next day she takes her umbrella and burries to the shop where she bought t and straight to the department preaided aver by tl. at suave and deceiving salesman. He is there, still suave and evidently aasuspicious. "You remember selling me this umbrells yesterday?'' she begins. "Yes, madam." "I find that it is damaged, and I wish to return it." "Daniaged, madam?" "Yes, here on the handle," and the two spots are shown. "Oh, 1 see." A pause. "It's not verj serioBs, madam." "Sufficiently however, to make rue wisb to exchange it fora perfect oue." "Certainly, madam." He takes the umbrella and begins to hand down gereral from behind him. "I wisb a blue one," says the wcman. "These are black." "There are no more blue ones iu that lot, madam. You remember there were only two, and the other is gone. I sold it yesterday afternoon." The woman had not remembered. "Then," ftrmly, "I shall have to havemy money retunden." "Certainly, rnadarn." "Aud you will see that the next purchaser of the ambrolla kuows that it 13 damai;ed?" Tuis with au air of high principie. "Undoubtedly, madam. I hope you'understand that I did not perceive the defect wben I sold it to you." "I think it may have escaped your notice," with amiable condescension. "And Dow, my money, pitase, as I am in a hurry." "Do you wisb cash or credit?" "Cash. I have no other purchases to inake." "Very well, madam." lie filis out an order and beckon a floorwalker. That lified oflicial approaohee. Tbe situation is ixplaineil to hirn and the order submitted tor bis signatura. "The umbrella is from bhia special lot, you know. Mr. Smith," idds the salesiiian, "which we can never luplicate." "Certainly, certainly," indorses the floorwalker. "We are most willing to take it back.' The order is sent to the desk to be cashed. The wotnau waits. After a moment she says: "I Deed au umbrella badly. I will look over your stock again. Show me that one." "This is a very fine one," the salesman says. "Thesilk is the same as that in the oue you bousjht. The finish of the handle is somewhat better." "It is uot 80 pretty. How much is it?" "Eiht sixiy live." "Oh, that ís too hi.nh. There's a pretty i one." "Yes, madam. " Takes it down. "ïïiue tweuty-five." ".Worse yet. Yon oubt to make a cession to niy disappointment." "It is impossible, madam, in these oods. They are marked very close." The stock is looked over and over. The cheap ones are not blue, and the blue ones are not cheap. The clerk is most courteously attentive. At length the woman picks up the umbrella nhe has brought back. "If I should take this agaiu, it seems rieht that I should have a reduetion for the lef eet." "Ordinarily, madam, we would be glad o give it. But that uiubrella damaged is A'orth considerably more than it.s price." "But it was sold to me as perfect at that irice." "Still, madftm, it is so litr.le short of per ', fect that its remarkable value is not affect id. I can sell that umbrella today forW.'JS rt-ith the defect carefully pointed out." The money arrivés f rom the. desk. It is counted out to the woman. Slie opens her purae and is about to put it in. Then she lays it down. "I believe, after all." she Baya, without embarrassment, "I will take this umbrelln aRain." And picking it up she walks ly