Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-04

Tor OF these years OF sewing was 20
strong upon her thnt some expression Of
it was always likely 20 break in upon
her general conversation.
In this first tete-a te,e she interrupted
the story she had begun about her first
acquaintance with Mr.. Wetherby BY
exclaiming: but when I say I'D been
doing dressmaking for years. that don't
tell you anything. You don't know any
thing about il. You don't know any.
| thing about it,"
Then with a sort Of solemn retro
spective desperation she went on: Miss
AddinE;on, / never learned dressnlak-
| ing. 1 always hated 20 sew worse than
anything in this world. but wGs handy
at it, and / liked TO make my own
clothes look nice, because / couldn't af-
ford TO have any one else do IL for me.
But it's one thing TO make your own
clothes and undetermined j; is anoth.
er-to make other peoples never did
understand any sure way TO make fit
nothing about lots of things real dress
makers know. had taste; that was all.
l could do things others couldn't and
make things lcok like pfctures-when I
had any luck. You ask any one that ev.
er saw my work. That was the only
reason ever got anything to 90
II never cut into a fine piece of goods
that l wasn't SO giddy with fear that
thought / should faint. I'm absent
minded, and l get mixed up so easy,
ard srch awful accidents can happen in
dressmakinr, ard it wasn't only cutting
into it, il was the whole time any hand.
some thing was around I never drew a
breath but in fear. That's way to live.
| isn't il? You don't know anything
abcut il. / cut two side cores once for
the same side. and it was brown brocaded
velvet, and we never could match il.
| But l don't want to think about il.
| Yes. CT course, that's what every one
said-leaTn system, learn 4 system
and I've nothing to say back that doesn't
sound silly, but after all ones own WAY
Is best for oneself sometimes, or il IL
isn't best it's all you can do. I've triod
to make Florence see that when she
finds fault with NE. You see, / never
could have learned system so that it
wouldn't have upset me more than
was upset. OF course learned lot OF
things as Invent along. bat nothing ever
could make RE sure. because never was
meant to do that work. / could have
designed things, just that. real well,
but there wasn't any chance for my get
ting "a place to work like that. Then
and you II think this was terribly fool
ish, but il was the only way kept alive
all those years. was always pretend
ing to myself that something was going
20 happen, that [ shouldn't have to sew
next year. If I'd given up playing that
way to myself, I'd have died or gone
mad, and there was Florence. Then I
sold the lot. 1t was little lot bought
once with $50 outside Chicago. when
they said the place, the village. was 60
ing 10 have a boom. u didn't, Of course,
but at last, after ten years, il did a lit
tie, and 1t had been growing some all
the time, and I sold the lot for $500,
and then stepped. Icorldn't have done
another stitch. The doctor said it would
kill me to run the machine any more
anyhow. l hoped il would il ] had to,
though I'm afraid il was wicked to feel
so.
Then / said TO myself I'd 20 on the
stage. You can't think, Miss Adding
ton. how well and young and happy il
made me feel for n minute just to say
that over to myself. though, Of course,
felt bad enough that il should worry
Florence so.
II always was wild about tho stage.
Even when l had Florence at boarding
school, and the bills We're awful, I'd
stint myself on tbings-I didn't care il
it was fooa--and get n cheap seat once in
a great while and go to the theater.
That gave me such a rest it gave me
new beart. l forgot everything while |
was there, arf then / could GO on
awhile again. Then 7 met Cassius, as |
told you, and I've was all alone in the
world, and so was /, except for Florence,
but Florence was so against everything
about the stage, and she was so afraid
her pupils would hear about me. and o,
course that was right, but Cassius was
wild about the theater, and he was sc
kind to me. He'd go my errands, and
as long rs he was in that house where
had my rooms he'd build my fire for
me Geld mornings; he would do il. He
was so good every way, ard we Just
talked our hearts ont about PLAYS and
actors and dramatic things. He said i,
was son / needed, and he'd try &c
make out TO be a nephew anyhow. He
began to call me Aunt Maggie. and
we've managed our plans together ever
since l suppose people wouldn't think
could have 4 real friend in n boy like
that, but if ever there was a friendship
we have it, and it's been such a comfort
TO me you can't think. I've always been
so lonely. And try to take an interest
in all he cares about, and I give him
lots Of good advice. but we never worry
trying to make each other different. and
that's so pleasant. We've played -four
engagements, counting this ono, and it s
only year ard half we've been try
ing. OF course the stage isn't nice every
way, but l think it's lovely more ways.
I'm ailirg good deal, and the cars are
hard On me, but then. you see, now we're
not in the cars much.'
This talk was not exactly the mono.
logue have taken the liberty to rerre.
q E,.N