Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-05-10
WORK FOR
SYLVIA
BY Joanna Single
Copyright, 1890, by +. c. PARCELS
BY Joanna Single

Looks like spring wanted 10 cit In
here, too" she remarked precariously
through the mouthfu OF pins which
she was deftly transferring 10 the
folds OF the cleaning white satin gown
draped on the lovely girl who stood pa
tlently before her. She continued:
The laycock buds IS all Dustin out,
and the wind smells good enough to
eat. but 7 can't have il blowin' your
hair into my eyes and settin' these
folds skewin' You'd have a compton
I'll Il your weddin' dress didn't set
good. and 50 would l. II would dis
grace me I've made every weddln'
dress in this village for fifteen years,
all except Mandy Buffers, which was
city made, though | don't just say that
had anything 10 do with her bein' di-
yorced lu a years time" Nelly laugh
ed a. she replied.
I'm not sure that Id know ii If IL
didn't iii. Sylvy Is II silly to be so
happy Here Harry and I've been en-
gagged only a year and our folks all
Ike H. ana now his grandfather leaves
him all that money, and everything's
perfect" She blushed with shy pleas
ure 10 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
It's silly not 10 be as happy as the
Lord Will let you be Nelly. | don't let
myself git too old TO forglt that You
and Harry be "a happy as You can and
be good There-ain't that sleeve
sweet; | got to glt 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 weddin's,
and there had ought to be another be
sides yours and Aunie'S 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 careIessly:
why. they've been engaged forever
Everybody's used TO it, / guess they
are themselves, or they'd do something
about It. | know Harry would not
wait that way for -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
RED She took the last pin from her
mouth and explained:
Its 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 Alice's IA
ther 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 10 want a 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 COrnella Jones, who
was dead In love with him and was
never married on that account, they
say" Sylvia took the soft satin care
fully OF over the girls pink shoulders.
Nelly's sympathy was aroused. AS she
dressed she made a laughing proposal.
We'll, 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 wayf 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
II ain't bad idea. 1t amt half bad
idee. and | wonder at myself for not
thinkin' Of II"
Meantime Nelly sauntered toward the
King cottage. where Johns mother
was al work among the flower beds.
The widow was "A 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 Mrs. King" The old
lady came along, with her trowel. 10
smile at the pretty girl. She was ex-
uemely fond OF any girl who was en-
gagged or net likely TO want her son
John Nelly chatted away.
"I've been for the last fitting OF my
wedding dress sylyy's genius! She's
perfectly lovely. When is-John going
60 be married, Mrs Kingf" she inquir-
ed innoceutly The old lady sttHened.
but Nelly continued. I'm SO happy
that I want everybody TO bel Sylvy
says that COruelia Jones Is setting her
cap at Allce's father. and / hope she
gets him, 50 Alice can come here with
you and John She would take the
work of your hands, and she's 80
sweet Bat III be rather sorry for Mr.
White. Cornelia Is such a desperate
old maid aud no cook or housekeeper
at all. and he's so good looking and
well of that be deserves a better wo-
man 10 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 father
when we were girls, but she didn't get
him. Oh, must you gor'
Nelly said goodby and went her way,
seemingly Unconscious OF the storm o.
wrath she awakened In the Widows
bosom Johns mother knew be would
marry some day in spite Of her, and
>he dreaded the day
Toward evening Sylvia went to see
Alice White, though she knew perfect
~ well that tho girl would be at choir
practice she fingered moment on
the porch. where AlIce's father sat
smoking lie was Il straight blue eyed
old man. Sylvia sat down on the steps
10 rest