The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-01-16


years since I've seen folks at any kind
| of doin's, and it would be won
derful treat. There's the last buggy
now, and 1 do believe it's Billy Buxton's
| folks in the old rockaway. What a
| turnout it is, and who would ever
| thought of me watching her funeral go
| up the hill, she that was in here yester-
day week, well and hearty, and me ly-
ing here Is years! 1 wonder why the
Lord took her and left me, when she
was so good and useful. But l don't
question His wisdom. Yes, it would be
a comfort to get things ready, and sort
of enjoy it myself. You will see to it,
Lyddy?"
"Jane, I shall go to the store the
| first thing tomorrow morning and get
your dress. I've got the money laid
by ready. You be thinking tonight
what you want"
Il have thought, Lyddy, long ago.
want a gray henrietta, light gray,
like Mary's wedding dress. l thought
that was the prettiest thing, and l
don't want shroud. 1 want it made
up pretty and in style, with white chif-
fon around the neck, and-Ive won
dered how it would do to have-to
have-big sleeves!"
The long-dormant femininity stir
ring to life within her had frightened
her eyes and tinted her transparent
| cheeks as nothing else had done in
| years.
why, it will be just lovely, and you
shall plan it yourself and have it just
as you like" said Lydia, heartily.
and, Lyddy, you'll promise me, sa-
cred, one thing" begged the eager
voice.
"Of course, dear, anything you
want"
"Then promise me, sure, to crimp
my hair the way you do yours on those
patent pins. I've wondered if it
wouldn't look as pretty as yours does
that way; you know, it wasn't in style
when 1 was taken down. Now, you
won't forget, dear?"
Indeed 1 won't" said the sister,
suddenly realizing an unthoughtofp ri-
walton in this patient life.
81 will make you look as pretty as
a bride. l tell you, Janey, if you can
stand it, we'll try on your dress as
soon as it is done, and fix you all up
just as you are to be, and let you see
yourself in the big glass. Would you
like that?"
''Oh, l should like it above all things
l do believe, Lyddy, that's the kindest
thing you've ever thought of in all
these years that you've been so good
TO mel"
A few days later the minister stopped
at the gate of the sisters home with an
anxious look on his youthful face.
81 hope Miss Jane is not worse, Mrs.
Birney," he said II came as soon as l
got the word. 7 was not at home when
you sent for me-"
Lydia leaned her mop against the
door frame, and quickly unpinned her
Topped up skirts. mo, she's not par
ticularly worse, but she wants to see
you again about her funeral. That was
why she sent for you. She thought it
over after she talked with you, and now
she's got a new idea. Come right in,
if you don't mind the wet steps. i
ought to have scrubbed them earlier"
There was a pleasant air of prepare
ton il Mrs. Birney's sittingroom,
quite unusual to the quiet house. A
dressmaker sat by the front window,
with shimmering, pearly-gray dress
in her lap, into which she was sewing
shirred yoke of softest chiffon. A
package containing white silk stock
ings and lace handkerchief lay open
on the table, and pair of dainty white
slippers lay beside it.
Come right into Janey's room, Mr..
Howard" said Lydia, leading the way.
"Janey, here is Mr.. Howard. You can
talk to him about your idea yourself,
! and see what he thinks"
at isn't much" said the invalid, dep
recatingly, as the young man took her
slim hand. when 1 come to tell you
I'm afraid you'll think it's dreadful
foolish. You talked so kind about my
funeral the other day, and picked out
such a beautiful text, I've been think
| ing since that-that--if it wouldn't be
any harm, I'd kind of like-to have tt
to have it-before I'm gone. It's all 60
ing to be so beautiful, and all about
me, and I'd enjoy it so much. Lyddy,
she thinks it might make talk, but 1
don't s'pose folks would say much; do
you think they would?"
"Do you mean that you wish the SER
mon that we talked of preached while
you are still with us?"
81 would like everything; to have
the folks come, and the singing and the
sermon and all, and when they walk
around to take leave l could see them.
And Lyddy would put on my dress and
fix me up. You see, / never had an
event in my life, a wedding, nor even
party. ] thought cnce-I began to
think-but then was taken down. and
it never could be. I've never amounted
to anything, and if folks think enough
to come and see me once more it would
be great comfort"
No such kindly, sympathetic eyes as
those looking into Janey's could resist
| tho nlaa6ino of har uiStfu1 fona Tho