Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-02-09

MISS ALTHEA's RUBBERs.

"THB il the best Of bleaching weather
I expected you'd have az much as two webb
o cloth out by this time. Either you ain'l
gOing to have another wcddin' this fall, OF
neb6e the sheets and pillow-cases are all
made" said Miss Althca Pratt, sliding in
q our south door, in halfway manner
peculiar to her, as if she could never fully
commit herself to anybody's company.
"Three weddings in three years ought to
lAst long time, said mother, not without
. dash Of pride In the matter.
This is such q dreadful marrying fami-
y. ] thought you might have found some
body for Sylvie by this time"
II really haven't thought to look for
anybody. The other girls slid into mar
rage, and homes 81 their own, almost be-
fore knew IT,"
So 6ylvie amt quite ready for her
slide: may be she needs little pushing. l
thought I'd just drop in TO tell you that
It's the fashion TO make pillow cases rather
skimpin', and then have great square COW
orst rylf1ied all round, and big letter
worked in the middle. You have to take
'cm of, and fold 'em up very carefully, be-
fore you 20 to bed. When was In Bos-
ton, brother Liphalet's wife had EN- with
big p In the middle; it might have stood
for Pratt or pillow, | couldn't say, for
surety, which, and wouldn't ask her for
NO money"
Miss Althea is perfectly aware that /,
otherwise Sylvie, am standing at the pam
try window, out Of her sight, but within
hearing Of every word she says She
knows, too, that Steven Frazar Is leaning
against the window-sill, outside, taking
sSegfrom my hands as pass cut to him
half dozenat a time. He always takes
cur eggs TO market with those from his
own farm, because mother is a widow, and
has to depend on neighborly kindness for
such small lifts toward living.
Steven Is very serious and busincss-like
over counting the eggs, but his lips culver
. little with merriment over Miss Althea's
pillow cases. He is truly very handsome.
Dh9ve tried for years to convince myself
mat he has the commonplace look OF all
the other men / know-my sisters hus-
bonds az we'll as the rest--Inen that don't
care to look at twice, but can never do
il. Stevens eyes have q shining depth,
his features mobility, and. a storytelling
auality that ] can find In no other face.
think Miss Althea is funny, too, and why
can't he look up and share his apprecia-
ton with mcg But he never does look up
or look down when expect 1t; he Is the
most disappointing of men.
"Hylvie," said Miss Althca, putting her
Head into the pantry like some long
nocked bird, ~ forget just where you
come in the family. Is 1t you or Sophie
that's twenty FLYER"
"Neithcr," said /, with a needless snap
IN my voice. "Sophie il the eldest of us
Ill, and she Is just twenty -four"
"Well, to be sure, you have all such a
mature look, so settled down like, that it's
hard to guess your ages"
A little gust Of wind banged the door in
Hiss Althea's face Just at this point of her
disCourse, and she seemed to recognize the
hand of fate, for she suffered 1t to remain
shut. tes@s7 sv4aE
"By the way" said Steven, looking up
when he had laid the last egg carefully IN
The basket, "when shall we have our wed.
ding, Sylvies" ...s
A great lump rose In my throat, the row
Of milk pans swan before my eyes.
mot till we have had the wooing, II
you please" / managed to say, In steady
voice, and rushed into the kitchen without
looking back. -
I heard his wagon. wheels sound faint
and fainter in the distance with crushing
sense Of disappointment, though could
not In reason expect him to leap In ct the
pantry window, and insist on better an
swer to his question, In the face and eyes
Of Miss Althea. ~ Sc IS "a
10 tell the truth, there was very little
reason In the matter, anyway, when you
come to sift 1t.
IN you will believe II, Steven had never
sp0ken a word of love to me In his life
md then sprung that merciless question
IN me. all at once, about our wedding. 4
knew him well enough to be certain thai
II was thoroughly in earnest.
II was the condensed crystal of many
thoughts that he had uncovered before my
eyes 40 suddenly.
You didn't keep him long," said Miss
Althea. ~ guess it was the wind after
al that shut the pantry door In my face.
didn't know but you might have done 1t
with q long. handled skinner or some.
thin. SOS to have crack with Steven, but
could have told you twant no use.
There's no palaver about him. A gals .
/ N to him, and nOthin, else" "a
Ap.insass on u. The ,iysss 3 s s;%, is q
As na i r Rs'n nSssin Sa no e e'n
Imuttered under my breath. see
whats thatY, said Miss Althea, II
sin't deaf, only You talk 70 quick a
A bit Of poetry, .that's I'll"
oh, / thought you'd heard about them
Primrose girls; they do sayi Chat Steven
Trazar 10 Kind Of hankering after Livy.
Hhe took the first premium, ten dollar, for
~ hntter. &C the last cattle show, and she
40 III her own gowns and b0nnets."
aThey look sol" said I, spitefully, for