The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-04-16
SELECTED.
a CHANCE WORD.

| Myra Sidney was sitting In the window
OF her little parlor watching the slow ris
ing OF a storm over the opposite sky. Ev
en- city streets have their opportunities
This street in which Miss Sydney dwell
was in the outskrt. Of suberb, where
building lots were still generously meas
ured. 1t ran along the ridge of slope
and Miss Sidney's house had the further
advantage of standing opposite GROUP
of vacant lots, beyond which, above thu
roofs and chimneys on the lower streets
line of blue hills was visible, topped
with woods and dapped with cloud shad
ows.
Many an autumn sunshine had Shit
watched from her front windows; many {
soft spring rain and whirling -nowstorm
To some natures there are both compan
ionship and compensation in the change
full aspects of nature Myra was one OF
these. She would not have exchanged
her little house with its wide view for any
other, however magnificent, whose bound
aries were brick walls alone; and the sky
and sun and hill made for the leisure mo
ments of her busy life perpetual and un
wearying feast
The room in which Miss Sydney sat ex
pressed its owner, as rooms will, whether
meant to do so or not. In no respect oil
size or shape did 1t differ from No. IL Oh
one side or No. l3 on the other, yet it,
aspect was anything rather than common
place. The prevailing tint on wall anC
| floor was a soft olive, which made back
ground for brighter colored things; for
The old Indian shawl which did duty as q
portiere; for couple of deep-hued east
ern rugs; for pictures of various kinds
and values, and sprinkllng 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, Queene Ann or otherwise,
laden with trumpery biscuit or Sevres, and
ready to upset with touch. A couple OF
short old-fashioned sofas hsnkei the fire
place on either side, two or three easy
chairs and a firm st low table, laden will
| books and periodicals, completed sort OF
circle where ten or dozen people could
group themselves round the blaze. Miss
| Sidney herself, slight, yived, simply dress
ed but without an ungraceful point ol
fold, was IN accordance with her room.
| The clock struck seven. The BLACK
cloud had crept to the zenith. and now 8
strong gust of wind swept from beneath
IL, bringing on its wings the first drops OF
rain. Miss Sydney rose and shut the win.
dow. At that moment the door bell rung
"It's two girls with parcel, Miss My.
ra," said Esther, the parlor maid. They'd
like to speak with you they say"
Miss Sidney went into her little entry,
The girls about the same age, were of the
unmistakable shopgirl type. you are
from Snow & Asher's, | Think she said
in her courteous voice.
"Yes'm. Mr.. Snow said he wasn't sure
which of the under waists it was you took
so he sent both kinds and you will try EN-
on, pleaseT'
Certainly. Are you to walt for
them?'
"Yes'm."
Miss Sydney made what haste she
could. but before she returned the rain
WAS falling 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 CYCLE. "I'm pretty near
by, and the horse-car runs just 10 front of
the door. But Gary has to walk quite a
way, and her shoes is thin, too. She'd
better wait guess, but must go, any
way"
M IS Sidney glsnced at the shoes-cheap
paper-soled boots with dusty velvet bow
sewed on the top OF each, and she, too
concluded that by all means Gary"
must wait. Come n here she said
Leading the way into the parlor. Esther
mad now lighted the lamp. A little fire
sparklcd on the hearth. Myrs drew an
easy chair close to it. 'Sit down and
have thorough warming she said. at
is a chilly evening"
"Yes'm."
The girl thrust the velvet bowed boots,
which gaped for buttons, out to the fire,
aud, half from embarrassment, held up a
hand to shade sher face. l: was small
hand with an ambiguous red gem on the
forehnger. The nails were all bitten To
the quick. Miss Sydney observed.
| Tho face shaded by the hand was not
unpretty. The brown eyes had q straight
| forward, honest glance, the mouth was
| rather sweet, there WAS that delicacy of
modelling, just bordering on fragility
| which gives to the early youth Of so many
American women feeting charm. 1t was
a 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. Al
the front hair was an uukempt tangle OF
.'bang." At the back was mass of jutt
switches. braided and surmounted with s
gilt comb, and on top of the erection wa,
perched a straw hat lined with blue anc
ornamented with bedraggled cocks tail
| The dress, of cheap material, was blut
also, and was frilled and flounced into {
caricature of the prevailing fashion. A
rufile of soiled lace surrounded the girl:
neck, beneath which over q not Overclear
muslin tie, hung a smart locket Of yellow
metal--very yellow. Bangles clinkeG
round the slender wrists. Beneath tn.
pulled and ruflled skirt shabby petticos
Of gray cotton peeped out, Though tn,
weather was chill the girl wore no wrap
Miss Sidney noted these details In hall
the time 1t has taken to describe them. anC
stirred with pity which was half indig
nation, said, my child. how could you
think Of coming out on such day as this
without shawl?"
II haven't any shawl
swell, 4 jacket, then"
II haven't any jacket, either, tha
matches this Dress" glancing complacent
| ly down at the beruifled skirt.
| "But you would rather wear q JACKIE
that didn't match your dress than catch ,
cold, wouldn't your"
"Yes," admitted the girl,in q rather IN
willing tone. but the only one I've go
Is purple, and 1t looks horrid with THU
blue" Noting dissent in her companion
face, she added: 1--WE poor girls can
have wrap with every dress, like ricl
ladies' do"
"No," said Miss Sydney, gently, ="
know It. never attempt to have wral
for each dress wear. l can't Afford It
either"
"Cary" sighed. "How queer"she begal
then changed 1t to, "out you and Us ar
quite different, ma'am."
There was something wistful in the fac
which touched Myra Sydney. ut will b
time wasted, dare say, she said TO hel
self, 'still should like, just for once, I
largus oct Tie dress question with . gil
W. ~ ~ y 90 Of . great claas. ~