Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-03-10
The Privilege of the Day.
BY HELEN FonREsr GRAVES.

time; never do. Now just look how
this bias fold is puckered! If you
young women weren't cackling and
chattering all the time, these things
wouldn't happen. Valentines day,
indeed! Who was that talking about
st. Valentines day? And what is st.
Valentines day to you working girls,
I'd like to know? It's only ladies that
have time to think of such things"
Miss Deborah Daffodil, somewhat
faded maiden of five-and-thirty frost
bitten autumns, was the Burnville
dressmaker, and the four girls in her
dingy back parlor were her assistants,
whom she paid as little and scolded
as much as possible.
''But, Miss Daffodil, reasoned ANA
bel Archer, rosy, dark -browed bru-
nette, with limpid brown eyes and a
rich crimson flush on her cheek, "why
shouldn't we talk about ST. Valentines s
day? It's always lucky day in our
family. Uncle Job sent mamma a
cheque for $40 year ago st Valen-
tines day, and two years ago, on that
very anniversary, my sister Effie met
the man that she afterward married.
And who knows what dawn of good
fortune it may bring for me?"
Married." shrilly repeated Miss
Daffodil, tapping her thimble- finger
on the table. '"There it is, again! I
believe you girls think of nothing
else."
"Well," said Amabel, thoughtfully,
''it does mean good deal in girl $
life. If 1 supposed that had got to
sit here and sew always
81 only hope no worse lot will ever
befall you" said Miss Daffodil, sourly.
"But 1 never knew girl who
was always curling her hair and
thinking of her complexion who came
to any good end. F"
Amabel crimsoned.
''Do you mean me, Miss Daffodil?'
said she.
The spinster tossed her head.
''Them as the cap fits, let 'em wear
it," said she. "And Til trouble you
all, young women, to leave off chatter
ing silly, ,superstitious nonsense about
heathenish old saints that never ex-
listed at all"
At this there was a general outcry.
Not even from the lips of their vine
gar-tongued employer would the girls
listen to any derogation from the dar-
ling patron saint of girlhood good
saint to whom all maidens render low
ing homage-St. Valentine!
"Well, if he did exist, it was a long
time ago." said Miss Daffodil; "and
you've none of you nothing to do with
him now. And Miss Chickering' s
bridal outfit is to be packed on Mon
day, aud here it isn't half finished.
What's that, Amabel Archer? You
want to get away early this evening?
You're going for moonlight sleigh
ride with Captain Juniper? Let me
tell you, miss, that you will do moth
ing of the kind" said Miss Daffodil,
speaking with added rancor. 'It
isn't decent nor proper for young
girl like you to go cutter riding
around the country with every gentle
man in town."
'You went riding with Captain Ju-
niper yourself, last week, Miss Daf-
fodil," said Amabel, all else forgotten
in her rising Indignation.
"That's quite a different thing
said the dressmaker, simpering. ''Cap-
tain Juniper and 1 are very particular
friends"
''Oh, Miss Daffodil" cried out Bar
bara Dayton. you're not engaged
TO him? Oh, do tell us!'
Barbara, will you attend to your
work?" said Miss Daffodil. Though,
all the same. if such reports do get
abroad, consider it my duty neither
to deny nor confirm them"
But Miss Daffodil did not consider
it her duty to tell the girls that she
had run half dozen yards through the
deep snow after Captain jumpers
cutter, to ask him ''if he would just
as lief as not take her as far as the
village to match some lapis-lazuli but
tons for Mrs. Gregg's Dress" and that
the gallant captain was too chivalrous
to refuse to aid lady in distress.
And thereupon Miss Deborah DAT
fodil had based great hopes.
ne IcW years younger tHau
am, to be sure" said she; "but if ever
devotion was expressed in human
eye, it was in his when he handed me
out the card of buttons that wanted
to match and told me to be careful
not to slip down on the frosted curb
stone. And when I invited him tc
call he thanked me and said he should
be very happy And don't see how
any man could have said more thar
thatt'
So that, when she heard of Amabe
Archer's invitations a very natural jeal
ousy stirred her heart.
.sThat mink" said she, ''shall sta,
home and mind her business, or II
know the reason why! Sleigh riding
indeed! By moonlight! Not if
know it!''
''No, Miss Archer, she said, firmly
81 have promised Miss Waterson tina
she shall have her plum-colored sill
tomorrow morning"
Cant Barbara Dayton finish it?'