The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-23
TIE EVENING STR Y
work for sylvia
by Joanna Single1

mere, TOO, she remarked pIecaFl0usly
through the meuthful OF pins which she
was deity transferring to the folds of
the cleaning white satin gown draped
on the lovely girl who stood patiently
before her. She continued:
1.-THE laycock buds is all Dustin out,
and the wind smells good enough to
eat, but L can't have it BLOWN your
hair into my eyes and settin' these folds
skeWin'. You'd have connlption MT II
your Weddin' dress didn't set good, ana
so would I. It would disgrace me. I've
made every weddin' dress in this VII
lage for Is years, all except Mandy
Buffers, which was city made, though
don't just say that had anything 70
do with her bein' divorced in a years
time" Nelly laughed as she replied:
I'm not sure that I'd know it II It
didn't fit, Sylvy- Is It silly TO De SO
happy? Here Harry and I've been en-
gagged only q year, and our folks all
ike it, and now his grandfather leaves
him all that money, and everything
perfect" She blushed with shy pleas
ure to the roots of her beautiful blonde
hair. The W1thered little splnster q 80 p.
maker sighed. Her only love mad IN
anger married another woman, and had
been unhappy till his early death.
TITS silly not to be as happy as the
Lord will let you be, Nelly, oon
let myself git to old to forgit that. You
and Harry be as happy as you can anu
be good. There-ain't that sleeve sweet!
I got TO git this dress of yours cone TINS
week SOS can git at Annie Falhe -
her Weddin's in June, too. It the 10Ia
own month for Weddin's and there mao
ought to be another besides yours anu
Annie's in this village. NeAys te
splendent image in the glass made her
ask absently: ~,
s'Vhat other wedding do you mean?'
John Kings and Alice White s.
Nelly considered the fit of her little
girdle before she said carelessly:
why, they've been engaged forever.
H. I'd 70 I guess
themselves, or they'd do sometnlIis
about it. I know Harry would not W.
that way for me-he-he cares TOO
much" =.
Nelly at twenty saw no romance IN
a ten years engagement, but SylEla
knew that no woman gets used TO ne
ing always engaged and never maj
ried. She took the last pin from iisr
mouth and explained
ITS his mother and her father thaS
stand in the way They are selhsn olo
coots to stand in the way OF the chli-
dren's happiness. Even II xl l; ,
father had any one to look AFTER MN MIN,
7. doubt whether Alice, VINO IS tnS
sweetest thing that ever lived, could
get along with Johns mother she d
heady old piece, If she is smart anu
handsome, and she likes her own way
TOO we'll to want 8 daughteT-in-laW 70
have first place in the house johh mas
earned and built with his own hahds:
His father was no earthly account, ana
folks do say all Mrs. King married hitn
for was to spite Cornelia Jones, VINO
was dead in love with him, and was
never married on that account, they
saw" Sylvia took the soft satin care
fully off over the girls pink shoulders,
NeIly's sympathy was aroused. AS sue
dressed she made laug pIoRose.I'
sFWell, something ought to be zone,
and it's work for you, sylvia; you Re
ALWAYS setting things straight TOT peo-
Die. why don't the old folks get them
selves out of the way? why they
might get married-they might marry
Zach ofher. You attend to itEyou've
done harder things-and I'll help you
As the girl stepped out into the sun
shine Sylvia sank into q ehalr. -
"She beats tfme!" she mutle rev
seBut it amt a bad idee. 1t amt nan
bad idee, and I wonder at myseiI Tor
not thinkin' Of 1t.
Meantime Nelly sauntered toward
the King cottage, where John noun
er was at work among the flower beds-
The widow was a tall, slim old LADY, as
neat as wax, and still handsome IN a
war-lilxe sort of way, with very black,
snappy eyes. white teeth and thick gray
hair. Nelly stopped and leaned over
the fence.
lady came along with her troWel to
smile at the pretty girl. She was ex-
tremely fond of any girl VINO was en-
gagged, or not likely to want her son
John. Nelly chatted away.
1--WE been for the last fitting OF my
wedding dress. Sylvy's a genius! She's
perfectly lovely! When is-John go
ing to be married, Mrs. King?' she in
uuired innocently. The old lady stiff
fened, but Nelly continued: m so
haDpy that I want everybody TO be!
Sylvy says that Cornelia Jones is set
ting her cap at Alice's father, and
hope she gets him, so Alice can come
here with you and John. She would
take the work off your hands, ana shess
so sweet! But I'll be rather sorry for
Mr.. White; Cornelia IS such desper-
ate old maid. and no cook or house
keeper at all. and he's SO good looking
and we'll off that he deserves better
woman to take care of things. Well,
men are queer, and she certainly must
have been awfully pretty once.
Mrs. King snOrted.
"She was never a mite pretty. to my
mind. She set her cap at Johns faith
er when we were girls, but she didn't
get him! On, must you go ??
Nelly said goodby and went her way.
seemingly unconscious Of the storm OF
wrath she had awakened in the wild
ow's bosom. Johns mother knew he
would marry some day IN spite OF her'
and she dreaded the day.
Toward evening Sylvia went to see
Alice White, though she knew perfect
~ we'll that the girl would be at choir
practice. She fingered moment on
the porch, where Alice's father sat
smoking. He was a straight, blue-eyed
old man. Sylvia sat down on the steps
Il been awful busy" she remarked. !
Folks will get married, and that
means weddin' dresses. I'm just
fnishfn' Nelly Deans. and next 1t viii
be Annie Paine's. If what I hear is |
so, perhaps it'll be your Alice's before |
long The old man scuirmed and
asked what she meant-he wanted no
though he could not OBJ |
ject to John.
half-bIind, hobb1ing old Judson is
making up to the Widow King, they
say. She's handsome, and young look /
In. and well heeled, the best cook in I
town, and economical. too. She's good /
tempered-except about Johns marry
in Alice=and I kind of hate to see her
Il -