TOOK IT FOR AN IMPROVER.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4979, 24 December 1884, Page 1

TOOK IT FOR AN IMPROVER.

A very pretty, modest young woman .came shyly into a well-known sports depot , yesterday. Approaching the shop* man, she pointed to a wire mask used to prevent injury when practising with the foils, which was in the shop*window, and with a demiblush timidly said: "Please let me examine that." " Certainly," beamed the gallant shop, man. Then he extricated the mask from amonj; the other goods, while he whispered to a Tit-Bits reporter who was purchasing tw,o or three of the latest improved bi« cycles for his eldest children, "One of the young Browns, as I'm a tinner. I thought they had left town." The young lady turned the milk around gingerly in her daintily-gloved hands, examined it critically, and asked with a pert, upward glance: "Isn't it rather short ?" "Oh,^ no—they come in that size always," smiled the bland shopman. " I never saw one made exactly like this before—new invention, I suppose ?" ventured she. ,' Oh, Miss, no; been in use for years," said the shopman. " Indeed I how strange. Do you think they are better than these made of whale* bone?" " Undoubtedly,'' was the ready reply, though he mentally asked : " Who ever heard of a whalebone ma ski?" " And the strings ?" said she, turning it round. " Strings ?" echoed he in perpelexity. "That is, the straps—the fasteners— how is one keep it on ?" "Let me show," said the shopman, politely reaching for it. "Oh, don't trouble yourself," cried she, with a half scream, and she turned pale as death while he took the mask into hia hands. As he stood loosening the straps preparatory to adjusting the affair, the customer seemed paralysed with deep emotion, and on the verge of a dead faint. But when the man pulled the mask over his face the color returned. She gasped for breath, opened wide her eyes, and panted : " Why, what in the world is it ?" •• Why a mask to protect the face when fencing, to be sure ; didn't you know?" smiled he through tbe wires. "I—no—that is—l thougl tit was a oh dear !" and her prostrate form was laid upon the counter.