The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-05-31

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
tiently before her. She continued.
The layeock buds is all Dustin out,
and the wind smells good enough to
eat, but | can't have it BLOWN your
hair into my eyes and settin' these
folds skewiu You'd have a conniption
fit if your weddin dress didn't set
good. and so would |. 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:
I'm not sure that I'd know 1t If 1t
-
happy? Here Harry and I've been en-
gagged only year and our folks all
like 1t, 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 wlthered little splnster dress
maker sighed. Her only love had In
onOap arriad onothar u,opnop ot,1 Ind
been unhappy till his early death.
ITS silly not to be as happy as the
Lord Will let you be. Nelly. l 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 I can git at Annie
Paine's. Her weddin's in June too It's
the Lords own month for weddln's
and there had ought to be another be-
sides yours and Annes in this vii
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 careessly:
"Why they've been engaged forever
Everybody's used to ii. | 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
ten years engagement, but Sylvia
fkat
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 if Alce'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 a daughterln-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 Off 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 a chair.
"She beats timer she muttered. But
1t amt bad idea. 1t amt half bad
idee, and I 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.
i ue NIuOW WIS tuil, SIllI Olu lhdy,
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. 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.
1--WE been for the last fitting of my
wedding dress sylvy's genius! She's
perfectly lovely! When is-John going
to be married, Mrs. Klng?" she inquir
ed innocently. The old lady stlffened.
but Nelly continued: I'm 80 happy
that l want everybody to be! Sylvy |
sava that Cornelia Jones Is setting her !