Passaic City record., 1892-12-31

.s s';s' s'''iss Is ssIsS +; = s. s. y
patted the alpaca folds straight, the oil
woman observing this process Of adjust
ment with look Of helpless anxiety
her elbows lifted.
81 won't know thing to say" sh
argued.
s.Oh, motherl don't get to worrying
again. You won't have anything to say
He'll do the talking. You just sit uI
and listen. Here's your hemstitchee
handkerchief with the initial. I'd hold
it like this" She drew the stiff liner
into shape, hold it at the centre with ar
assumption Of carelessness.
A candle on the bureau with its rest
less brush OF fame painted in the oval
glass sketchy picture of the room, the
ceiling of which lifted like tent. A
spot of rich blue deepened in the home
spun bed cover. Yawning darkly under
the low side wall was little hide-bound
trunk, the dimensions of which were
exactly reproduced IN the creases OF the
:
alpaca skirt.
.sYou look mighty nice, " said the girl,
stepping away. She was young, with a
peachy face in the round cheeks OIL
which certain little dimples were furtive-
ly tucked. Her hair, of the faint brown
which is shot with silvery reflections,
was coiled awkwardly, as If it had only
lately been coiled at all, and still yearned
to lie in the hanging braids of girlhood.
81 hope my collar IS even," reflected
The other woman. "It isn't that i care fol
myself, Lizzie | amt cared to dress
since-your father went away.
wouldn't think it looked just right. But
Williams S NAV is rale.dressy. / saw her
once at church. And so / want to pear
just as know how Only I do hope
never'lI hev to go through with any such
doin's again! do SO.
The girl slipped out a low gurgle Of
laughter.
II don't reckon you will, = she said,
ssseeing I'm the only daughter you got.
! don't look to be asked for more than
once. Hush Oh, mother, there's him
knocking right now s!
..You better go to the door. Give
me the candle. rll light you down.
The old woman, seeming to gather
resolution of despair, stepped heavily on
the first step of the narrow stair. Lizzie
held the haring taper aloft with a shak-
ing hand. Suddenly she caught her
mothers sleeve.
aDon't say much about father. Will
knows he amt here" She hung breath
less in the shadow OF the staircase,
listening to the little hustle Of entrance
just below. A young mans voice stam-
mered out greeting.
fright cold night, he said. 'sReckon
were going to have real cold weather by
next week. I"
Lizzie, hanging against the deal cas-
ing, heard the sitting room door shut.
From within a slow murmur of talk
came. The girl, wide-eyed and flush
ing. crept down the steep stairs, slipping
into room across the bit Of entry.
A young fellow whose boyish face
Seduplicated in less delicate tone her
own pink and white tints glanced up
from book.
keep calm, Lizzie" he said, teas
ingly. "You look excited. reckon
motherll say yes. You told her to say
Jes, didn't you? Iexpect she'll be easy
on him-a nice young man like Will
Raley. Only thing is she may forget
what you told her." he drew up,
warned by the tremor Of his sisters lie
that this heart-stirring momen. was mol
: time for jest.
1t occurred to him for the first time
how little she must be to him in the
future, this pretty sister ef his whose
ways were appointing in the room across
Tie hall.
tsI'll hate to see you marry, Liz!v be
exclaimed. And mother--it'll be aw-
ful hard for her. She's only got us
two. And she's had fearful lot to put
up with. Father"
s'She wouldn't like to have you
breathe word against him, Ed = She
started as she spoke. Her mother was
Puhing at the door. a. cans ii crop
ing little.
EGO, Lizzie" she said y i6bofod
vuice. "I've give you 70 him ~ I.
'has po'rful fond O. you. He'll make
- good man.
And as the girl flung toward her i'm
f~1sively she made out to smile. Don't
you mind me, daughter. He's waitin'
= Jou-go on" Shutting the door
cpon the giri. she sat down heavily.
Don't fell 10 bad, nanny |" cried
~ young man. There's no nicer fel-
- any where than Will. Well fixed
~ ~ He could havs had his pick.