Morris tribune., 1895-06-19
m S'Ise So. = TfllfS
PHILURY'S BLACK SILK.
BY MARY r.. p. HATCH.


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 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 a sense of du-
ties properly fulfilled, said, soothingly:
'We're 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.
81 was jest goin' totrip out the back
breadths, though I didn't mean to let
you knowyit till afterward. 'Tain't
customary to say nothin' to the rela-
tives, but we alwuz do it. 1t dooz seem
sech pity ito bury up good, rich silk
like that. Even when. Mis- Crowley
died over to, the Center (she was a
Spencer aforea she, married), took out
the back breadths of her best brocade
silk to lay, her out in. And when was
a-doin' of itvJanet Spencer come in jest
as you did She, serter turned away
her head and madeo. b'lieve as if she
didn't see what, 7 was a-doin' of, but
passed out 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 it
for yourself or for Ellen to trim with,
or you could match it for dress"
81 amt going to match it for
dress. nor Ellen sha'n't have't, tell
you. Put down them scissors. l 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
q 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 loving touch. ''P'r'aps 'Lizy1l
want to put the dress on herself. Some
do, you know" -
"Yes, I'd huff to. I'd huff to put that
black silk on Philury; for if there is
sech a thing as the spirit coming to
earth hern will be sure to come"
"She never wore it, did she?" whis-
pered Mrs. Dollard. 5
''No; that's the worst ont; and that's |
why dissent take any of it from her |
now-not if l was tempted to, which |
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 ave the money |
way three times; she was so denying |
of herself that she wouldn't spend
That's what she called it,
buying black silks, spending fool
ishly.'
=" You don't know, Lily says she to
me, how want one But I 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. /
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;
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 chair, and said to Mrs.
Dollard:
''You put the dress on, and Tll stand /
ready to help; but feel as weak as
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
a dozen nights more with Philury and
never felt it. You must get we'll
says ArCo injury, W wear your DlaCk
silk I 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.
T The dress was soon put on the still
statuesque form, the frills of lace neat
~ 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.
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'nl 'leven.
Wall, twas her set 'Philury to thinking
about "a black SILK. Every one
'd'oughters have q 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! 81, you amt nothin' but a
little girl L shall be sixteen in five