The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-17
THE BLUE
SKIRT.
BY Ida Pattorson.

ESSIE GALE was ambitious,
Ck Jack Gale was ambitious. but
temperately SO.
1t was because OF the varying de-
grees Of their ambition that this story
came about.
Jessie could sing. Jack could not.
He could only listen with rare appre-
citation and adore this particular singer
beyond all bounds Of her deserts. For
Jack was as gifted In the rare art Of
loving truly as Jessie was In the art
OF singing. Rather more. I should say.
All this had much to do with the
blue skirt. for 1t was these physcho-
logic conditions that brought about
the incident Of the blue skirt.
Jack had always extravagantly ad-
mired the gown of which the blue skirt
was a component part. He had told
her so often. but Jessie had answered
rather fretfully that 1t was "such a
simple little affair" Pale blue cham
bray. made with a blouse eject and
trimmed with ruffies edged with mar
row sorchon. So q woman would have
described II. but to sturdy. honest. lov-
ing Jack It was a blue cloud f!ecked
with white, from which the black eyes
and curling black hair, the red lips
and creamy skin Of his wife cleaned
forth brilliantly.
Jack never forgot the day she tossed
It aside.
"Ir never wear that old thing
again." she said. II do hate to wear
things when they've grown shabby"
There was q little tremor OF sensi-
tiveness In Jacks face as the words
struck cruelty upon his ear. but be
made q manful effort to conquer II.
His income was small. but he was
doing his best to increase 1t. and the
income was sure to come II It was bit
slow. He had told Jessie so often and
had explained that there was some dis.
position to keep the young engineers
down.
''The other fellows naturally want to
keep the best positions" he said. TRY
10 be patient. Jessie. am doing my
best. dear"
And Jessie was silent. She had the
interpretive nature that matches
heavy-lidded eyes. habituaily cast
down. And the habits Of silence and
introsoectlon were growing.
It was on the evening Of the day that
Jessie said she had thrown away "the
old blue dress" that the great change
came.
Jessie heard that a theatrical man
aser was reorSanizing a company for a
season OF comic oper. A neighbor had
told her he needed girls for the com.
pany-"glrls with looks. and with
voices. II possible. but looks anyway"
And Jessie had been to town and been
engaged and had come back and told
Jack.
She was a little frightened by his
strange silence.
II did It to help you along-because
the money Will help us both" she said
In defense. Then she burst out into q
storm against the manner Of their llv.
Ing.
:" II hate the solitude here" she said.
sSometimes ! feel afraid Of the hills.
It seems as though they will fall over
and crush me. And the silence here Is
awful. I want to hear human voices.
I want to hear people laugh and sing.
I want color and movement and sound
instead Of these walls Of green making
Q living tomb for US"
Jack had talked with her very gently,
and she had answered every argument
with bitter protest. He answered
her sadly then:
b. "You are young. dear. I might have
known that love would not al your
life now. When you are as old rs am
you win know that II In all that really
matters. besides working and doing
ones duty. viii give my consent to
your going. for all live for Is to make
you happy"
Jessie Joined heopera company. sing
Ing q small part In q pretty, unculti-
waited voice. She dressed with half
dozen other girls who smoked and used
slang. and In the guise Of friendliness
made her up" to distort the beauty Of
her dark, brooding face. She learned
the disciplinary value Of the stage. and
she learned the real hideousness Of
selhshness. But she told Jack none Of
this.
One season passed-two-she was
soon to begin her third. She was get
ting on. but slowly. One evening she
was moved by one Of those impulses
that seem to come from without rather
than within. to run home and pay Jack
q visit. The rehelrsals were over.
There was no reason why she should
not 20 home for q week. She would
surprise him.
She drove out from town in the carly
morning. The mist wells were rising
from the hill tops. melted by the burn
ing kisses of the sun. The evergreen
forests on the hill sides were 80 cool,
the great walls Of earth so restful. She
wondered why she was not afraid they
would topple upon her now. Was 1t
that she was beginning to yearn for
what they typifed, strength and fdel-
lty. the greatest and best things in
life?
The little house had been done up
She noticed as she drove up. and Jack
had coaxed the rose vines quite to the
roof by now.
The door was open. There was nc