The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-08-03
PHILURY'S BLACK SILK.
by MARY r. p. HATCH.

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 woman's sister, her sharp voice
was unmoderated; but a suspicion of
moisture softened the keen black eyes
turned upon the others. 1t was plain
to be seen that they were slightly
afraid of her, for the bravest one an
swered while the others shrunk back
somewhat Mrs. Dollard-or Sileny
Dollard, as she was called in the neigh
borhood-buoyed up by sense of du-
ties properly fulfilled. said, soothingly:
"We're lsyin' of FER out, Mis- Bean"
"But what DO you doing with that
black silk of hcrn?" touching the black
folds and then glancing at the gleam-
ing scissors in Sileny's hand.
II was jest goin' to rip out the back
breadths, though 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
a-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 ont through the door slow and
solemn. She used the silk afterwards
to trim dress with. There was three
good yards of it, and there will
be Of this, Mis- Bean. You can use 1t
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. / amt
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. "'Tain't fur me to contradict. i
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
. fuss"
"Never mind, Sileny," said one of the
other women, motioning her to look at
Mrs. Bean, as she sinoothed the thin
face turned sideways on the pillow
with loving touch. "Pr'aps 'Lizy1l
want to put the dress on herself. Some
do, you know"
Yes, I'd luff to. I'd huff to put that
black silk on Philury; for if there is
secli thing as the spirit coming to
earth hern will be sure to come"
'She never wore it, did she?" whis-
pered Mrs. Dollard.
mo; that's the worst ont; and that's
why dassen't take any of it from her
now-not If was tempted to, which /
hain't. Philury wanted black silk
ever sence she was a little girl, and at
last when she did get it she died. She
might a had 1t, 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 aid; for
I'd heard her talk of it ever sence Miss
Virgins came up to spend the summer
ut fathers when we was children. /
rec1ec' 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 set to 'em as if |
she want morn sixteen. Philury was
a queer, still thing, with kinder visit
full baby face that looked as if she was |
ready to cry; and she used to set and |
drink in Miss Virgins 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 q chair, and said to Mrs.
Dollard:
"You put the dress on, and I'll stand |
ready to help; but 1 feel as weak as a |
rag when / 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 |
dozen nights more with Philury and
never felt it. You must get WELL |
says to Philury, to wear yonr black I
silk sha'n't never wear it, Lily
says she; and she didn't. But she's
go'n'ter wear it now, the whole ont"
starting up with fierce energy.
The dress was soon put on the still |
statuesque form, the frills of lace heat
ly adjusted about the neck and wrist,
and then, with a last loving touch of
the brown hair thiclkly streaked with
white, the four women left the room
for an adjoining one, taking care to
leave the door ajar.
II don't seem to rec'lec' Miss Wig
gins" began Mrs. Dollard, as they sat
down together.
No. presume not. Like enough it
was before you moved here. Les see,
Philury couldn't "a been more'n leyen.
Wall, twas her set Philury to thinking
about black silk. Every one