Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-06-21
Copyright, 1906, by E. c. PARCELS

all except Mandy Buffers, which was
city made, though 1 don't just say that
had anything to do with her bein' di-
vorced in a years time" Nelly laugh
ed as she replied
I'm not sure that I'd know 1t If 1t
didn't fit, Sylvy Is II silly to be so
happy? Here Harry and I've been en-
gagged only a year, and our folks all
like it, and now his grandfather leaves
him all that money, and everything's
perfect" She blushed with shy pleas
ure to the roots of her beautiful blond
hair The withered little splnster dress
maker sighed. Her only love had in
anger married another woman and had
been unhappy till his early death.
Its silly not to be as happy as the
Lord will let you be, Nelly. don't let
myself git too old to forgit that. You
and Harry be as happy as you can and
be good. There-ain't that sleeve
sweet? l got to git this dress of yours
done this week SOS can git at Annie
Paine's. Her weddin's in June too. It's
the Lords own month for weddin's.
and there had ought to be another be-
lage." Nelly's resplendent image in
the glass made her ask absently:
"What other wedding do you mean"
"John Kings and Alice Whites"
Nelly considered the fit of her little
girdle before she said carelessly:
'.Why, they've been engaged forever.
Everybody's used TO It, | guess they
are themselves, or they'd do something
about 1t. I know Harry would not
wait that way for me-he-he cares too
much"
Nelly at twenty saw no romance In
ten years engagement, but Sylvia
knew that no woman gets used to be-
ing always engaged and never mar
ried. She took the last pin from her
mouth and explainedl
'It's his mother and her father that
stand In the way. They are selfish old
co.'s to stand in the way of the chill
dren's happiness. Even II Alice's fa-
ther had any one TO look after him I
doubt whether Alice. who is the sweet
est thing that ever lived, could get
along with Johns motaer. She's a
heady old piece IL she is smart and
handsome, and she likes her own way
too we'll to want q daughter-in law to
have first place in the house John has
earned and built with bis own hands.
His father was no earthly account, and
folks do say all Mrs. King married him
for was to spite Cornelia Jones, who
was dead in love with him and was
never married on that account, they
say" Sylvia took the soft satin care
fully off over the girls pink shoulders.
Nclly's sympathy was aroused. AS she
dressed she made laughing proposal.
"Weli. something ought to be done,
and it's work for you, Sylvy. You're
always setting things straight for peo-
pie. Why don't the old folks get them
selves out of the way? Why, they
might get married-they might marry
each otherl You attend 10 it-you've
done harder things-and I'll help you
out"
AS the girl stepped out into the sun
shine Sylvia sank into chair.
"She beats timew she muttered But
4
idee, and I wonder at myself for not
thinkin, of Iia
Meantime Nelly sauntered toward the
King cottage, where Johns mother
was at work among tho flower beds.
The widow was tall slim old lady,
as neat as wax and still handsome in
a warlIke sort of way, with very black,
snappy eyes, white teeth and thick
gray hair. Nelly stopped and leaned
over the fence.
Good morning. Airs. King" The old
lady came along, with her trowel, to
smile at the pretty girl. She was ex-
tremely fond of any girl who was en-
gagged or not likely TO want her son
John. Nelly chatted away
"Ive been far the last fitting of my
wedding dress. Sylvy's genlusI She's
perfectly lovely When is-John going
to be married, Mrs. KingT" she inquir-
cd innocently. The old lady stiffened,
but Nelly continued: I'm so happy
that / want everybody to be. Sylvy
says that Cornelia Jones Is setting ber
cap at Alice's father and l hope she
gets him, so Alice can come here with
you and John. She would take the
wogk off your hands. and she's so
sweet! But I'll be rather sorry for Mr..
White. Cornella Is such desperate
old maid and no cook or housekeeper
at all. and he's so good looking and
well Off that he deserves a better wo-
man to take fSts 9f things. Well, men
are queer, and she certainly must have
been awfully pretty once"
Mrs. King snorted
"She was meyer mite pretty, to Tay
mind. She set her cap at Johns father
when we We're girls, hut she didn't get
him. oh, must you goY'
Nelly said goodby and went her way,
seemingly unconscious or the storm or
wrath she awakened In the Widows
bosom. Johns mother knew he would
marry some day in spite or 1ey. and
she dreaded the AaY, 80
coward evening Sylvia went TO see
Alice White, though she knew perfect
ly well that the girl would be at choir
practice. She fingered II moment on
the porch, where Alice's fataoe sat
smoking IIe was straight blue eyed
old man. Sylvia sat down OH the steps
to rest
II been awful busy" she remarked
"Folks will get married, and that
means Weddin' dresses. I'm just fin
ishin' Nelly Deans, and next 1t will be
Annie Paine's. II what hear Is SO,
perhaps it'll be your Alico's before
long" The old man squlrmed and
asked what she meant. He wanted no
son-in-law, though he could not object
to John.
"Why, you won't believe II, but that
half blind, hobbling old Judson Is mak:
Ing up 70 the Widow King, they say.
| She's handsome aud young lookin' and
well heeled, the best cook In town and
economical too. She's good tempered,
except about Johns marryin' Alice,