Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1895-06-20
PHILURY'S BLACK SILK.
BY MARY Il. =. HATCH.

"What be you dOing"' asked Mrs
Bean, coming suddenly into the desc
late room where three women lowered
about the still stark form on the bed.
Despite the fact that she was the
dead womans sister, her sharp voice
was unmoderated; but a suspicion of
moisture softened the keen black eyes
turned upon the others. 1t was plain
afraid Of her, for the bravest one an
swered while the others shrunk back
somewhat. Mrs. Dollard-or Sileny
Dollard, us she was called in the neigh
borhood-buoyed up by sense Of du-
ties properly fulfilled, said, soothingly:
Were layin' of 'er out, Mis- Bean"
"But what be you doing with that
black silk of hern?" touching the black
folds and then glancing at the CLEAN
ing scissors in Sileny's hand.
II was jest goin to rip out the back
breadths, though l didn't mean to let
you know it till afterward. Tain t
customary to say nothin' to the rela-
tives, but we alwuz do it, 1t dooz seem
sech pity to bury up good, rich silk
like that. Even when Mis- Crowley
died over to the Center (she was a
Spencer afore she married), | took out
the back breadths of her best brocade
silk to lay her out in. And when was
u-doin' of it Janet Spencer come in jest
as you did. She sorter turned away
her head and made b'lieve as if she
didn't see what was a-doin' of, but
passed out through the door slow and
solemn. She used the silk afterwards
to trim a dress with. There was three
good yards of it, and there will
be of this, Mis- Bean. You can use it
for yourself or for Ellen to trim with,
or you could match it for a DRESS
II amt going to match it for a
dress. nor Ellen sha'n't have't, tell
you. Put down them scissors. / ain t
Janet Spencer. Philury shall have the
good of that black silk, poor cretur"'
looking pityingly at the pale pinched
features Of the dead.
Wall, if you say So said Mrs Dol
lard. faint fur me to contradict.
s'posed you'd be glad to have it.
laid out folks now for more'n twenty
year, and you're the first one to make
u fuss"
Never mind, Sileny," said one of the
other women, motioning her to look at
Mrs. Bean, as she smoothed the thin
face turned sideways on the pillow
with a loving touch "Pr'aps Lizy'll
want to put the dress on herself. Some
do, you know"
Yes, I'd luff to- I'd luH to put that
black silk on Philury; for if there is
no ,,i,.it 70
earth hern will be sure to come"
she never wore it, did she?" whis-
pered Mrs. Dollard.
No; that's the worst ont; and that's
why | dassen't take any of it from her
now-not if was tempted to, which l
hain't. Philury wanted a black silk
ever sence she was little girl, and at
last when she did get it she died. She
might a had it, but she gave the money
way three times; she was SO denying
of herself that she wouldn't spend
foolishly. That's what she called it.,
buying black silks, spending fool
ishly.
":You don't know, Lizy,' says she to
me, how | want one But l did; for
I'd heard her talk of it ever sence Miss
Virgins came up to spend the summer
at fathers when we was children. l
reclec' jest how she looked. She
had long, thin, yeller face, with little
punches Of curls on each side; false
they was, but dreadful black and shiny;
and her dresses had a set to 'em as if
she want NOR sixteen. Philury was
queer, still thing, with a kinder visit
f,,1 l,,J 20 hat ho
ready to cry; and she used to set and
drink in Miss Wiggins' words as if
they was pure gold. Wall, she was
good to us, Miss Virgins was, and
Philury was her favorite.
Here Mrs. Bean sank down help
lessly into chair, and said to Mrs.
DOllard
''You put the dress on, and I'll stand
ready to help; but feel as weak as a
rag when I think of her laying there
and never having no good of it,"
And you SO faithful a-watching Of
her night after night" said Mrs. Gray,
feelingly.
"'Twa'n't that. could "a watched
a dozen nights more with Philury and
never felt it. You must get we'll,
says to Philury, to wear Your black
silk / sha'n't never wear it, Lily,
saws she; and she didn't. But she's
go'n'ter wear it now, the whole ont, Is"
starting up with fierce energy.
The dress was soon put on the still
statuesque form, the frills of lace neat
ly adjusted about the neck and wrist,
and then, with last loving touch of
the brown hair thickly streaked with
white, the four women left the room
for an adjoining one, taking care to
leave the door ajar.
Il don't seem to rec'lec' Miss Wig
gins" began Mrs. Dollard, as they sat
down together.
mo, Lpresume not. Like enough it
was before you moved here. Les see,
Philury couldn't "a been more'n 'leven.
Wall, twas her set Philury to thinking
about a black silk. Every one
'd'oughter have good black silk says
she. They're good for funerals, an
good for weddings, an for church, an
everything.' Well it jest went in one
ear and out ''tother with me; but Phil
ury took it. all in an began to plan
right off how she could git one. But,
goodness!' ST, you amt nothin' but a
little girl 4 shall be sixteen in five
years. says she; AN it will take as
long as that to git the money to buy it.
Miss Virgins says it will cost jest for
the silk fifteen dollars, and you know,
'Lizy,' says Philury, L can't earn
more'n three dollars year plumming
and knitting sole feeting.'
"You see she'd got it all fggered out
and ever thing. Wall, mother didn't
fall in with the idea. She said 'twasa
dreadful foolish streak in a little girl
to plan so fur ahead. But for all