The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-06
A Chance Word.

A Chance Word.
Myra Sydney was sitting in the window
of her little parlor, watching the slow
rising of storm over the opposite sky.
Even city streets have their opportunities.
This street, in which Miss Sydney dwelt,
was in the outskirts of suburb, where
building.plots we're still generously meas
ured. It ran along the ridge of slope,
and Miss Sydney's house had the further
advantage of standing opposite group
of vacant lots, beyond which, above the
roofs and chimneys on the lower streets,
line of blue hills was visible, topped with
woods and dsppled 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 are brick walls alone
and sky and sun and hill made for the
leisure moments of her busy life a per-
petual and unwearying feast.
Inc TOOm III WulCu thlbb ONuucy odI
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 II on one side or No. Is on the other,
yet its aspect was anything rather than
commonplace. The prevailing tint on
wall and floor was soft olive, which
made background for brighter-colored
things-for the old Indian shawl which did
duty as portiere; for couple of deep
hued eastern rugs for pictures of various
kinds and values, and sprinkling of
bric.a-brac, odd rather than valuable, but
so chosen as to be in thorough harmony
with its surroundings.
Everything had use. No pitfalls
yawned for unwary guests in the shape of
minute tables, Queen Anne or otherwise,
laden with trumpery biscuit or Seures,
and ready to upset with touch. A couple
of short, old-fashioned sofas fanked the
fireplace on either side, two or three easy
chairs and firm set low table, laden with
books and periodicals., completed sort of
circle where ten or dozen persons could
group themselves round the blaze. Miss
Sydney herself, slight, vivid, simply
dressed, but without an ungraceful point
or fold, was in accordance with her room.
The clock struck seven. The black
cloud had crept to the zenith, and now
strong gust of wind swept from beneath
it, bringing on its wings the first drops
of rain. Miss Sydney rose and shut the
window. At that moment the door. bell
rang.
"It's two girls with parcel, Miss
Myra," said Esther, the parlor.maid.
They'd like to speak with you, they
say"
Miss Sydney went out into her little en-
try. The girls, about the same age, were
of the unmistakable shop-girl type. You
are from Snow & Asher's, think ?" she
said, in her courteous voice.
"Yes'm. MIR. Snow said he wasn't sure
which of the underwaists it was that you
took, so he sent both kinds, and will you
try 'em on, please ?"
"Certainly. Are you to wait for them?"
"Yes'm."
Miss Sydney made what haste she could,
but before she returned the rain was fall
ing in torrents. You must wait till it
slackens," she said. You'll be very wet
if you don't. Have you far to go ?"
"She has," replied one of the girls,
with an embarrassed giggle. "I'm pretty
near by, and the horse car runs just in
front Of the door. But Cary has to walk
quite way, and her shoes is thin, too.
She'd better wait, guess, but l must 60,
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 Cary
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. est down and
have thorough warming" she said. =" 1t
is chilly evening"
"Yes'm."
The girl thrust the velvet-bowed boots,
which gsped for lack of buttons, out to
the fire, and, half from embarrassment
held up hand to shade her face. 1t was
small hand, with an ambiguous red gem
on the forefnger. The nails were all bit
ten to the quick, Miss Sydney observed.
The face shaded by the hand was moi
unpretty. The brown eyes had straight
forward, honest glance, the mouth was
rather sweet, there was that deicacy OF
modelling, just bordering on fragility
which gives to the early youth of 80 many
American women heeting charm. /,
was face which softly banded hair anG
low knot would have suited; but, with
the bad taste of her class, Cary bac
adopted the style of couture which be
came her least. All the front hair was al
unkempt tangle of bang" At the bach
was mass Of jute switches, braided, ant
surmounted with a gilt comb, and OF
top of the erection was perched straw
hat lined with blue, and ornamented with
bedrsggled cocks tail The dress, o
cheap material, was blue also, and wa
frilled and flounced into caricature o
the prevailing fashion. A rufie of soilet
lace surrounded the girls neck, beneath
which, over a not overclean muslin tie
hung smart locket of yellow metal
very yellow. Bangles clinked around tn
slender wrists. Beneath the pulled ant
ruffied skirt a shabby petticoat of gra.
cotton peeped out Though the weathe
was chill, the girl wore no wrap. Mis-
Sydney noted these details in half tn
time it has taken to describe them, and
stirred with pity which was half indie
nation, said, "My child, how could 20
think of coming out on such day as thi
without shawl Z"
81 haven't any shawl"
swell, jacket, then"