Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1903-03-13
The Blue Skirt

81 ESSIE GALE was ambitious, i'm.
nj moderately SO.
y Jack Gale was ambitious. too,
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 q rare apprecia-
ton 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, should say.
All this had much to do with the blue
skirt, for 1t was these psychologist
conditions that brought about the incl
dent 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 80 often, but Jessie had answered
rather fretfully that 1t was "such a
simple little affair."" Pale blue cham
Lray, made with blouse effect and
trimmed with ruffles edged with mar
row torchon. So woman would have
described 1t, but to sturdy, honest, low
ing Jack 1t was blue cloud fiecked
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
1t aside.
"I'll never wear that old thing
again." she said. II do hate to wear
things when they've grown shabby"
There was a little tremor Of sensi-
tiveness in Jacks face as the words
struck cruelty upon his ear, but he
made manful effort to suppress 1t.
His income was small, but he was do
Ing his best to increase 1t, and the In
come was sure TO come IL 1t was bit
slow. He had told Jessie SO often and
bad explained that there was some dis
position to keep the young engineers
down.
THE older fellows naturally want to
keep the best positions" he said. Try
to be patient, Jessie. am doing my
best, dear"
And Jessie was silent. She had the
interpretive nature that matches
heayy-liddsd eyes. habltually cast
down. And the habits of silence and
lntrospection were growing.
1t 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 n theatrical mana
ger was recognizing n company for
season of comic opera. A nelghbor has
told her he needed girls for the CON-
pany-"girls with looks. and with
voices, II possible. but looks always"
And Jessie had been to town and been
engaged and had come back and told
Jack.
She was little frightened by his
strange silence.
Il did 1t to help you along-becauss
the money will help us BOTH" she said
In defense. Then she burst out into a
storm against the manner of their life.
II hate the solitude here" she said.
Sometimes l feel afraid of the hills.
1t seems as though they will fall over
me ard crush me. And the silence here
is awful. | want to hear human voices.
l want to hear people laugh and sing.
| want color ard movement and sound
instead of these walls of green making
a living tomb for u.s."
Jack had talked with her very gen.
thy. and she had answered every argu-
ment with a bitter protest. He answer
ed her sadly then:
you are young, dear. l might have
known that love would not fill your life
now, When you are as old as l am
you will know that ii is all that really
matters, besides working and doing
ones duty. l win give my consent to
your going, for all live for is TO make
you happy"
Jessie Joined the company and was
acting small part in pretty, uncul-
tivated voice. She dressed with half
dozen other girls who smoked and
used slang. and in the guise Of friendli.
ness made her up" TO distort the