The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-09-07
a CHANCE WORD.

A CHANCE WORD.
Myra Sydney was sitting in the win
dow of her little parlor watching the
slow rising of a storm over the opposite
sky. Even city streets have their,oppor-
tunitios. This street in which Miss
Sydney dwelt was in the outskirts of
suburb, where building plots were still
generously measured. It ran along the
ridge of a slope, and Miss Sydney,s
house had the further advantage of
standing opposite q group of vacant
lots, beyond which, above the roofs and
chlmneys on the lower streets, line of
blue hills was visible, toppedwith woods
and dappled with cloud shadows.
Many an autumn sunset had she
watched from her front windows; many
a soft spring rain and whirling snow
storm. To some natures there are both
companionship and compensation in the
changeful aspects of nature. Myra was
one OF these. She would not have ex-
changed her little house with its wide
view for any other, however magnificent,
whose boundaries were brick walls
alone; and sky, and sun, and hill, made
for the leisure moments Of her busy life
perpetual and unwearying feast.
The room in which Miss Sydney sat
expressed its owner as rooms will,
whether meant to do so or not. In no
respect of size or shape did it differ
from No. IL on one side, or No.
IL on the other, yet its aspect was
anything rather than commonplace.
The prevailing tint ON the wall and
floor was a soft olive, which made a
background for brighter eolored things;
for the old Indian shawl, which did
duty as portiere; for q couple of deep
hued Eastern rugs; for pictures of vari-
GUS kinds and values, and sprinkling
of bric-a-brac, odd rather than valuable,
but so chosen as to bein thorough har-
mony with it's surroundings.
Everything had a use. No pitfalls
yawned for unwary guests in the shape
of minute tables, Queen Anne or other
wise, laden with trumpery. biscuit OF
Sevres, and ready to upset with atouch.
A couple of short, old-fashioned sofas
thanked the Fireplace on either side,
two or three easy-chairs and a firm
set low table, laden with books and pc
riodicals, completed q sort of circle
where ten or a dozen persons could
group themselves around the blaze.
Miss Sydney herself, slight, vivid and
very simply dressed, but without an I'M
graceful point or fold, was in accord
ance with her room.
The clock struck seven. The black
cloud had crept to the zenith, and now
a strong gust of wind swept from be-
meath it, bringing on its wings the first
drop of rain. Miss Sydney rose and shut
the window. AT that moment the door
bell rang.
ITS two. girls with a parcel, Mis-
Myra, said Esther, the parlor-maid.
They'd like to speak with you, they
say"
Miss Sydney went out into her little
entry. The girls, about the same age,
were of the unmistakable shop-oirl
type. "You are from Snow & Asher's,
l thinkP'' she said, in her courteous
voice.
"Yes'm, Mr.. Snow said he wasn't
sure which of the under-waists it was
that you took, SO he sent both kinds,
and will you try 'em on, pleaseP',
Certainly. Are you to wait for
themP'
''Yes'm."
Miss Sydney made what haste she
could but before she returned the
rain was falling in torrents 'sYou must
wait till it slacRens,n she said. "You'll
be very wet if you don't. Have you far
to goP"
"She has," replied one of the girls,
with an embarrassed giggle. "Tm
pretty near by, and the horse-car runs
Just in front of the door. But Cary has
to walk quite long way, and her shoes
are thin, too She'd better wait, / guess,
but must go, anyway"
Miss Sydney glanced at the shoes
cheap, paper-soled, boots, with dusty,
velvet bow sewed on the toe of each,
and she, too, concluded that by all
means Gary" must wait.
"Come in here" she said, leading the
way into the parlor. Esther had now
lighted the lamp. A little fire sparkled
ON the hearth. Myra drew an easy
chair close to it. {'Sit down and have
thorough warming, she said. 1T is
a chilly evening"
''Yes'm.n
The girl thrust the velyet-bowed
shoes, which CAPPED for lack of buttons.
out to the fire, and, half from embar-
rassment, held up a hand to shade her
face. twas small hand. with an am
biguous red gem on the forefnger. The
nails were all bitten to the quick, Miss
Sydney noticed.
The face shaded by the hand was not
unpretty. The brown eyes had a
straightforward, honest glance, the
mouth was rather sweet, there was that
deiieacy of modelling, just bordering on
fragility, which gives to the early youth
OF SO many American women 1ieeting
charm. 1t was face which softly
banded hair and low knot would
suit; but, with the bad taste of her
class, Gary had adopted the style of
couture which became her least. All
the front hair was an unkempt tangle of
chang" At the back was a mass Of
jute switches, braided and surmounted
with gilt comb, and on top Of the
erection was perched straw hat lined
with blue and ornamented with be-
draggled cock'g tail, The dress, Of