Posted September 21, 2021
Emeline watched as Barnabas headed for 'Wigfalls', wondering just how many of that name there could be, and how they couldn't possibly all be related, which caused her a brief pang of sympathy for her husband as she hoped that the tailor had no connection to the odd assortment of Wigfalls back home.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a young woman whose eyes were covered by a cloth, an odd thing that the child should be alone if she wasn't able to see.
"Excuse me, Ma'm. Did I hear you say you are from Kalispell? Kalispell in the territories?"
"Oh, yes, we just came from there," Emeline explained, then smiled. "My husband and I are on a honeymoon." Then, to Miss Eleanor, "Please, see to the young lady, I can wait."
"Very well." Eleanore turned her attention to the child. "Are you lost, dear? Do you need help?" The words were kind, but there was a hint of condescending in the tone.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted September 21, 2021
"Lulu's? A fine establishment." Charles nodded approval, then gestured to Pike. "This way, I'll need to get some measurements. Would you like some bourbon to ease the process." The man chuckled, knowing that most men weren't thrilled with everything that went into assembling a new ensemble.
"Is there a color you prefer, for the shirts, vest, ties, that sort of thing? And will you need full formal tails?" So many things to consider, but Charles was in his element!
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows" - Helen Keller
Posted September 21, 2021
"Excuse me, Ma'm. Did I hear you say you are from Kalispell? Kalispell in the territories?"
"Oh, yes, we just came from there," Emeline explained, then smiled. "My husband and I are on a honeymoon."
"Congratulations!" smiled the blind girl, warmly.
Then, to Miss Eleanor, "Please, see to the young lady, I can wait."
"Very well." Eleanore turned her attention to the child. "Are you lost, dear? Do you need help?" The words were kind, but there was a hint of condescending in the tone.
Oh, the store lady was there. Good. A polite young lady would never think of jumping the line like this, but to get by in the outside world, Frances had to do a few things that weren't quite polite. She couldn't afford luxury goods: and politeness sometimes fell into that category.
"Miss Grimes, I have a package to collect." she announced to the room. Yeah, the woman's store wasn't so upmarket that they didn't do mending. She'd spoken to the assistant when she had come in, who wasn't half so hoity-toity.
With Eleanor gone, Frances held out her hand toward where Emeline's voice had come from.
"Please take my hand." she said, half request, half command.
"My name is Frances Grimes, I am on my way to Kalispell with my brother who has been found a job there by an old associate of his, a Mr Lorenzo Crabbe. Do you know that gentleman? I fear that my brother's associates are not always of the best: if this job falls through I shall have to work for the both of us. I am blind and my skills are consequently limited: I can play music, tune pianos and teach the embossed writing to blind people: do you believe that there are any opportunities of that nature in Kalispell?" she asked.
It was quite a raft of information and questions, but the information would be important to her, if Frank's fortunes took their usual turn in this new place.
Posted September 21, 2021
Not much of a drinker, a little bourbon might just go a long ways as they went through the measurement process. Having done this before, he knew what was in store. "Believe I will, then we'll sort out what's what color wise. I'll be wantin' a gray an' a black suit. No need of no frilly vests, nor ruffled shirts, never cared much for 'em. White works jest fine."
He stood as the man took the measurements, carefully writing them down as he went. Pike was always amazed at how they would take those numbers and turn out a fine looking suit of clothes. Those days on the Comstock he had dressed in both fashion trends, that of cotton duck, and of broadcloth depending. As a deputy he wore a uniform like they did in the big cities. All of this did bring back the memory of Julia Dey, and he hoped that she would have approved of he and Em, but no matter, it was the way of it. They were happy together and soon he would have her on the Comstock to see the wonders of it.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted September 22, 2021
Charles poured a measure of bourbon for the man, then set about taking the necessary measurements, and it wasn't until he was finished that he got to specifics.
"So, sir, did you want something custom or ready made? There'd have to be some alterations regardless, so it just depends on how much time you have." Because, of course, tailored would take much longer, but ultimately fit better.
Posted September 22, 2021
"Please take my hand."
"Yes, of course." Emeline reached for the girl's hand, steering her toward a sofa. "Let's sit a moment." She was impressed that the child seemed so fearless as she navigated a sightless world. Emeline was certain she wouldn't go anywhere without an escort should something happen to her eyes!
"My name is Frances Grimes, I am on my way to Kalispell with my brother who has been found a job there by an old associate of his, a Mr Lorenzo Crabbe. Do you know that gentleman? I fear that my brother's associates are not always of the best: if this job falls through I shall have to work for the both of us. I am blind and my skills are consequently limited: I can play music, tune pianos and teach the embossed writing to blind people: do you believe that there are any opportunities of that nature in Kalispell?" she asked.
"Mr. Crabbe? I've heard of him, yes, but I'm afraid I don't know him personally. I own a cafe there, and he's been in a time or two, but he's pretty new to the town." She wished she could be of more help. "Oh, and I'm Emeline Pike. I'm certain you'll find some sort of employ there. You can even speak to the young lady running the cafe, Clara Connolly, she could likely use help with the dished and such." She chuckled, "You see, my husband, Barnabas, was our dishwasher, and here I've stolen him away for a honeymoon!"
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows" - Helen Keller
Posted September 22, 2021
"Mr. Crabbe? I've heard of him, yes, but I'm afraid I don't know him personally. I own a cafe there, and he's been in a time or two, but he's pretty new to the town." She wished she could be of more help.
"Oh dear." Frances sighed "He does sound like the sort of feckless, drifting person that Frank associates with. I fear that this will be Virginia City all over again."
"Oh, and I'm Emeline Pike. I'm certain you'll find some sort of employ there. You can even speak to the young lady running the cafe, Clara Connolly, she could likely use help with the dished and such."
"Oh, really?" the blind girl exclaimed with excitement. It was hardly the sort of work she desired, of course, but she would do anything short of begging to keep the pair of them fed and sheltered: although Frank had often suggested that she could make him them a hat-full of dollars by 'sittin' dressed in rags with a sign sayin' pity the poor blind and lettin' 'em see them horrible crazy eyes rollin' around in your head!'
"I shall remember the name: Clara Connolly, Clara Connolly. I shall certainly look her up when I arrive, and send greeting from Mrs Pike!" she smiled. She repeated the names to remember them, for a memorandum tablet was of no use to her.
She chuckled, "You see, my husband, Barnabas, was our dishwasher, and here I've stolen him away for a honeymoon!"
"Oh, Mrs Pike, when I get married, my poor husband will have enough to do looking after me: I don't think I could bear to make him wash the dishes, too." she smiled and squeezed Emeline's hand, which she still had hold of. You could do that with another woman; with a man, he might get the wrong idea. One day she would meet a man, though, she was sure, whom she would want to get that idea, but it hadn't happened yet.
"Mr Pike must be a wonderful gentleman, and very lucky one, too, in his choice of bride. You see, I have learned to judge people very quickly by their voice and the feel of their hands; I know it sounds mad! But I have never found myself to be wrong: and there is such a warm sunny tone to your voice, Mrs Pike, and such a gentleness to your grip: I hope we can become fast friends when you return to Kalispell."
Posted September 22, 2021
"Now time could be a problem, how long are we talkin'?" He asked. Not bothering to mention the steam ship schedule, which he knew nothing about. "We could try a couple ready-made suits, an' see how the fit is." The plan for the moment was to have something to wear where he would fit in aboard the streamer then of course, have others made in San Francisco, b\y what were considered the best tailors of the period.
Suddenly it dawned on him, the folly of his current thinking. Why have clothes made here and then again in San Francisco? What kind of sense did that make? None! "So, let's see here. I'll need at least two, maybe three suits, with vests, shirts, maybe half a dozen, plus a new pair a boots and underthings. Like a top hat as well."
"Oh, Mrs Pike, when I get married, my poor husband will have enough to do looking after me: I don't think I could bear to make him wash the dishes, too."
"He was my employee," Emeline chuckled, "when he wasn't working at his job as a deputy. And I've no doubt there is a fine man who will take care of you, although you seem to be pretty self-sufficient, and once you are settled in your own home, you'll do well." After all, once she learned her way around an area that didn't change, it should be fairly easy to find her function.
"Mr Pike must be a wonderful gentleman, and very lucky one, too, in his choice of bride. You see, I have learned to judge people very quickly by their voice and the feel of their hands; I know it sounds mad! But I have never found myself to be wrong: and there is such a warm sunny tone to your voice, Mrs Pike, and such a gentleness to your grip: I hope we can become fast friends when you return to Kalispell."
Returning the girl's squeeze, Emeline smiled. "I'm the one who is lucky, I think. I had no plan to marry again, but then he came into my life...sometimes these things just happen without you knowing it until you do."[/i] The best kind of love, she supposed, when you were friends and it took time to realize you were more.
"And I'm certain we'll be great friends, I look forward to it." By the time they were back in Kalispell, Miss Frances and her brother should be well-settled. "Tell me about Virginia City, is it a nice place?"
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted September 22, 2021
"Top hat, too?" Charles raised an eyebrow. "Silk plush or beaver pelt, although the beaver is getting to be quite expensive." He glanced at his notes, then added, "Let me see what we have, shirts shouldn't be a problem, alterations on ready-made would likely take two to three days, custom made, upwards of a week."
At least the man didn't have any unusual measurements, so fitting him shouldn't be a problem.