The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-05-15
WORK FOR
SYLVIA
BY Joanna Single
Copyright lsos. by x. @. PAroells

Copyright, 1908. by K. O. Paroells
oAssssasA~sessssaNNAAeA
Sylvia Maine stretched out a gaunt
arm and slammed down the window OF
her little dressmaking shop.
Looks like spring wanted to git In
here. too" she remarked precariously
through the mouthful of pins which
she was deftly transferring to the
folds Of the cleaning white satin gown
draped on the lovely girl who stood pa
uently before her. She continued:
The laycock buds Is all Dustin out,
and the wind smells good enough to
eat, but can't have 1t BLOWN your
hair into my eyes and settin' these
folds skewin'. You'd have a compton
at II your weddin' dress didn't set
good, and so would 1. 1t would dis
grace me. I've made every weddin'
dress in this village for fifteen years,
all except Mandy Buffers, which was
city made, though don't just say that
had anything to do with her bein' d.
vorced In a years time" Nelly laugh
ed as she replied:
''Pm not sure that I'd know It II II
didn't ut, Sylvy. Is 1t silly to be so
happy? Here Harry and I've been en-
gagged only a year. and our folks all
like 1t. and now bis 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 spinster dress
maker sighed. Her only love had In
anger married another woman and had
been unhappy till his early death.
IT'S 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
sweet2 I 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-
sides yours and Annie's In this vii
lage." Nelly's Respondent image In
the glass made her ask absently:
What other wedding do you mean r.
."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 l guess they
are themselves, or they'd do something
about It. know Harry would not
wait that way for me-he-he cares too
much"
Nelly at twenty saw no romance In a
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 explained:
TITS his mother and her father that
stand in the way They are selfish old
coots to stand in the way Of the chill
dren's happiness. Even II Alice's ia
Their had any one to look after him
doubt whether Alice who is the sweet.
est thing that ever lived, could get
along with Johns mother, She's
heady old piece If she Is smart and
handsome, and she likes her own way
too well to want daughter-in-law to
have first place In the house John has
earned and built with his 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 or over the girls pink shoulders.
Nelly's sympathy was aroused. As she
dressed she made laughing proposal.
well, 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 other! You attend to 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 timer she muttered. But
1t amt bad idea It amt half bad
idee, and wonder at myself for not
thinkin' Of It."
Meantime Nelly sauntered toward the
King cottage, where Johns mother
was at work among the flower beds.
The widow was a tall, slim old lady.
as neat as wax and still handsome In
q wariike sort Of way, with very black.
snappy eyes. white teeth and thick
gray hair. Nelly stopped and leaned
over the fence.
Good morning. Mrs 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.
I've been for the last fitting of nv
wedding dress. Sylvy's genius! She's
perfectly lovely! When is-John going
to be married, Mrs. KingT she inauir-
ed innocently. The old lady stiffened,
but Nelly continued: Pm SO happy
that want everybody to bel Sylyy
says that Cornelia Jones is setting her
cap at Alice's father, and hone she
gets him, so Alice can come here with |
you and John. She would take the
work off your hands. and she's SO
sweet, But I'll be rather sorry for Mr.
White. Cornella Is such a desperate
DID maid and no cook or housekeeper
At all, and he's so good looking and |
well on that he deserves a better, wo-
nan to take care of things Well men
IRE 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 father
When we were girls. but she didn's get
nm. Oh, must you goT'
Nelly said goodby and went her way.
seemingly unconscious of the storm OF
vrath she awakened in the widows
osom. Johns mother knew he woui0
marry some day In spite OF her. and
be dreaded the day. III
Toward evening Sylvia went to see
iica White though she knAx -pagfsctA