Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-01-27
CHAPTER III.

years in which Sylvia acquired with read,
ease luxurious habits and graceful man
ners, the friendship was suddenly broker
up. For some time George had beer
away at Harrow: Annie. in her turn, wa
sent. with wardrobe tit for princess, (.
a fashionable boarding school; and at tn,
| same time the question was under dis
cussion in the Chipp domicile rs TO Syl
Was future.
The two children promised to love eacl
other always. and 10 meet every othe
Sunday. They kept their word. but. a
the young girls grew taller and older
Sylvia began 60 understand the infnit,
distance that divided them. and her dress
es seemed too plain for Mrs. Speeds
elegant rooms
When the three were alone together
their friendship made their social relations
equal, but visitors now often came; 4
scboohellow, or some tall girl richly
dressed. who was brought by her moth
ers maid TO spend tho day with Annie.
AS she watched her ascending the
steps, Sylvia felt a strong desire to run
away ut once. The stranger soon embar.
rassed her with questions.
@Where did she livel Did her mamma
keep caiflaget &c.
Hearing them talk Of their school. of
their mutual friends. Sylvia felt that she
lived in world apart, thousand miles
from theirs, and when, on her return
home. her mother spoke Of apprenticing
her to Miss Pixley--a friend of the De
Lacys-who had an establishment in a
neighboring street for the sale Of imitation
peasi-. "a s.......a - ss '---- - ,-,-a -
happiness was slipping away from her.
Florence thought well Of this plan.
.Iet her learn her trade" said the
kind hearted fellow, "and by-apd-by i
will furnish her with capital TO start Der
in business"
In fact. Miss Pixley talked Of retiring
In few years.
One dreary morning in November. her
father took Sylvia to an old householder
and dirtier than their own. On the door
was fixed small glass case. covered with
dust: within were some necklaces ot
| imitation pearls, mellowed by time. and
the Dretentious name of Arabella Pixley
surmounted the whole.
What forlorn place il was! A narrow
/ staircase aid narrower door; small rooms,
/ nll sunless and cold. and IN one an elderly
woman. with front Of false curls, and
black lace mittens, reading creased and
soiled number OF magazine, and appear
! ing somewhat out OF temper that she mao
been disturbed in this lively employment
Miss Pixley received the father and
daughter without rising; spoke at length
| of her social position, OF her father. and o.
| a faithless agent who had absconded with
their fortune. She, therefore. became ex-
tremely absorbing TO Mr.. Chip. who al
ways felt keen interest in such incidents
He tore himself away from the thrilling
narrative with difficulty, telling I'M
daughter that he would come for her a
seven in the evening.
The new apprentice was shown int
the empty workroom, and was placed be-
fore a large drawer Of pearl beads, II
which needles and scissors, bodkins. ans
! cheap novels, were thrown pell-mell.
| Sylvia had only to sort the pearls, an,
10 string them i'm little lunches Of equa
length TO sell to small shopkeepers. Th'
other Young ladies. Miss Pixlcy said, woui,
soon be there and would show her exactl!
what to do. and Miss Pixley thereupol
returned to her magazine
At nine o'clock the workwomen arrives
five tall, pale girls, faded and worn
shabbily dressed, but with their hal
Fcarefully arranged.
Two or three talked between thei
yawns, rubbing their eyes, and saying tina
they were dying for want of sleep. The
they went TO work at n long table, wher
each one had her drawer and her tools. Al
order had lust come in for some mourning
ornaments, and they must hurry. Sylvia
who had been taught her duties by tn
forewoman, began 10 string mechanicaii
1 e lilo hsaaHz
The others took no notice OF the new
conner, except by an inquisitive stare, an
were soon deep in gossip over weddin
that was Ia take place that day at
church round the corner.
.Let us co. cried one dark-eycd CIR
.It Is at n quarter 10 twelve exactly. W
shall have time"
So AT that hour the FIVE girls snatche
their shawls and rushed down the stair
like whirlwind. leaving Sylvia tn es
her dinner, which she had brought wit
her, at a corner Of the long table. II
girl thought il dreary enough, and hs
life intolerablc.
Al once the workwomen returned, nois
and gay.
.Did you notice the richness Of thi
white silk and the veil Of real point
What luck for her!"
And they continued to chatter in Il
workroom as loudly as they had done
the church, where. unawed by Il
so,emnity. they had dissected ever
costume and appraised every material.
rich marriage, jewels. and fine csothe
were the themes of their discourse. b,
their fingers few as they talked. III
wallis Of Miss Pixley's close rooms no long
bounded their horizon; their hopes Al
their wishes had overlcaped them.
IF va were rich. what would you do
said one.
.Dof Why. should live in Belgrav
square and keep six carriages"
Sylvia listened silently in her corns
handling the black heads with the delic
cy and precision Of touch she had learn'
from Dora.
When her father appeared in the eve
ing, he received many compliments ON b
I industry and skill. Henceforward O
day was like another; the only diiIeren
being that some days she worked on VIII
1 instead AZ black pearls. or she strung y
beads that looked like coral. for Miss n
!, lsy used onlv limitations and tinsels and