Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-21

Again she busted herself with the waist
while Mercy hesitated. aCome!"
This was command. and, although Mer-
cy made gesture of dissent, she did as
she was told with no more words; but she
glanced neryouslyl toward the open win
dows, although the screen of climbing rose
vines would have prevented her from seeing
much through them, even had there been
with the pleasant Jersey farming country
stretching back beyond it and the blue
hills on the western sky1lin She took of
her waist and stood facing the dressmaker,
posing stiffly; every woman does when she
confronts her acknowledged ruler.
Betsey looked her over contemplatively.
and when she spoke her enunciation was
interrupted by tho presence of many pins
between her lips. !. Q
Now. turn round she said.
Mercy Whirled slowly about so that her
companion could gaze at her from all
points of view. There was a rocking chair,
with a fluffy, calico-covered cushion on 1t.
just behind her. She ordered Mercy to
walk up and down slowly and swing the
one arm which had the sleeve upon 1t, SO
that she could see If the motion" of the
garment was just right. AS the girl did so
her critic eyed her approvinglys from the
rapidly swinging chair. When Betsey Bob
bin rocked she rocked
There amt no use in jest being polite In
a rockin' CHAIR" she would say In expiana-
ton. Il sometimes Jest wish / could get
hold or one that would turn clean over
without spillin' of me out Like to put
some energy into my life, 1 do"
But were wastin' time" she said.
There was that about Betsey Bobbin
winch made most people do the things she
told them to. 1t was not an unpleasant
characteristic. 1t was merely compelling.
Betsey said of herself that she tried to be
always up and a-comin', like a chicken to
dough DISH" and jest couldn't help 1t.
That was the way she was made. 1t was
her energy effervescing but never evapor-
har nyryar q a.
hold And Mercy moved slowly toward
her.
when am I goin' to make weddin'
dress for you, Mercy?" she asked.
She looked up, seriously, into Mercy
face.
The girl was surprised and lifted her head
quickly.
"a wedding dressr' she exclaimed
If you look at me like that and wiggle
I'll prick you with another pin,'' said Bet
sey.
Eyes, weddin dress" she said. Cant
fool me. | know when things is gon' to
happen and when they amt a-gon' to hap
pen. So do you. All women do. God made
us so. You needn't think that 1 amt no.
t1ced what reilly painful state Jack Sell
kinks mind is in"
She shipped her scissors here and there
and chuckled.
But know it amt got that far yit. It
Will, though. You know it, too. You can't
fool Betsey Bobbin. I amt been country
uiesSildhef I'LL tneSe years not TO De able
to read signs when they're painted on the
fences
She paused.
"Pll bet you'll have to ask him, though"
she continued. He's as scaret when you're
around as a chicken thief with two hens
buttoned in his vest when he feels 'em swell
to squawk and the farmer comm On a
rum
She did some small trick to the waist.
Now step off there a little"
Mercy. whose cheeks had Snrnny into a
vivid blush at the mention of Jack Sell
kirk, did as she was told, and did not
speak. The dressmaker eyed her with
much gravity.
WELL" she said that's pretty good"
She put in few more pins.
There, now" she said. and as she did so
pulled the waist off quickly. Now take off
your skirt" -
Mercy looked at her with evaporation
written on her face. and there was determi-
nation In 1t, too, as she replied. moving
away: -
II simply wont--not here. Some one
might come In"
Il Jest wish somebody would come along"
said Betsey.
And before the words had fairly left her
lips Jack Selkirk entered
Cro be continl1ed)