The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-09

Il told you I wanted hospital corners
Tessa wayered. eurled a small red lip.
and overlooked.
Don't cry; oh. Tessa. don't cry" Miss
Marion expostulated, as the small pink
aprOned atom flung herself at full length
on the floor.
Tessa did not move
We'll, shall have 10 let Mary Bran
nigan do it." said Miss Marion
Mary Brannigan and Tessa V0toldi be-
ing sworn rivals in the affections of the
settlement teacher, the small Italian
raised a calculating eye. Mary. every
red curl bobbing, every freckle radiant.
already had hold of one corner Of the in
fnitesimal sheet.
Then Mary pulled and Tessa pulled.
Perhaps you'd better let Tessa fin
fish it, Mary" said the teacher weakly.
Mary blazed wrathfully.' Aw, she don't
know howl
"Oh. Well" Miss Marion sighed. see
If you can make it, Mary. Tessa can
watch you. and tell you If you don't do
It properly
Tessa. sobbing a soft accompaniment
10 Mary's bedmaEdng, squealed suddenly
shes gotta the hem out-a side"
oh. Mary" said Miss Marion, re-
proachfully. Il thought you could do it. 4"
An I can" said Mary, but I won't"
and straightway. like a small fury, she
tore the bed to pieces and flung the
mattress on the floor.
The twenty small girls of the Little
Housekeepers' Glass looked at the teach
er with expectant eyes.
ooh, Mary" quavered Miss Mason. She
felt unequal TO discipline It was very
hot and the room was close. and the chill
dren had been restless and fussy all the
morning
"Oh. Mary" she quaversd again, as q
young man in panama hat and round.
clerical collar poked his head in at the
window.
Cant you and the little girls come
over and have lunch with my boys in the
parish officer he asked
a sigh Of blissful anticipation issued
from twenty threats.
They nave been so naughty" Miss
Mason hesitated. Il don't know whether
I should let them"
Twenty pairs of eyes reproached her,
and the young rector said: No one ought
TO be naughty on such a day
"Well, if you will promise TO be very
good, Miss Marion finally decided and,
like lion and lamb, Tessa and Mary led
q decOrous procession
The young reCtors class in wood cary
ing were having sandwiches and cake
and lemonade, provided by the ladies Of
The parish. There was a big pitcher OF
the lemonade, and the ice tinkled de
liciously as the biggest boy filed twenty
glasses for the twenty little girls.
The young rector, beaming with en-
thusiasm, sat down beside the little set
Element teacher. It's lovely work. Miss
Mason" he said.
Marion shook her head "Oh, no, it
isn't" she said; its horTid. They are
so ungrateful. I wish I was out on 4
hotel porch. in my best linen frock, with
my hair marcelled, and with the waves
beating a soothing accompaniment to the
conversation of some intelligent mascU-
line"
With twinkle in his eye, the young
rector asked, Cant 1 masquerade as an
intelligent masculine?'
oh" Miss Mason conceded. you
might; but I'm not dressed for the part.
Shirt waists and serge skirts and tan
shoes, and dusty ones at that"-she poked
out small foot in a shabby shoe-"are
not the attire Of attractiveness. We
planted vegetables in the school garden
all the morning-beans and things-until
we We're gTubby."
u don't believe you would be really
happy on that hotel porch" asserted the
young rector, as he sat on the edge of MS
desk and looked down at her
4 should 1 want to be care-free and
friyolous-and 70 forget the problems and
the suffering and the submerged people.
I want TO go where every one is clean and
the air is pure-and where 1 can breathe
-' as she caught her breath sharply
he bent over her with a sudden tender
light in his eyes
Poor little woman" he murmured.
Don't pity me-" Miss Mason said, with
flaming cheeks; but ! do like pretty
things Why, I am a different creature
in my pink dimity. You've never seen me
in IT, have your"
He smiled down at her indulgently.
mo" he said, slowly; but I saw you
once in an old white linen that had been
torn and trampled. and you held in your
arms a little child that you had saved
and you were beautiful"
"Oh, that was Tessa," Miss Mason said,
quickly the morning the fire engine
horses ran away. 1t was q wonder We
weren't both killed"
Il saw you for the first time-and ]
knew then that I had found what had
been looking for all my life"
Her startled eyes read the meaning in
his. oh no. no." she protested. Il an
not good enough. I am vain and frivo-
lous-and I long for the fieshpots."
He went on steadily. Il have seen you
since then, every day, teaching your lit
tie girls 10 be tidy and sweet and good
and have wondered at your bravery
when you might be in luxury-cool and
comfortable"
so might YOU" she reminded him
How many men Of your talent and in
fiuence would have chosen a downtown
church?"
"Oh, that" he put it away lightly, 81
like it, and I am a man-but not many
women would do it."
Don't" she said TREMENDOUSLY; don't
praise me- and she rose. and went to
meet Tessa, who was coming toward her,
s0bbing
oh, Tessa! Crying again?"
It was discovered after some question
ing that Tessa's conscience was hurting
her. She was Sorry, she whispered. that
she had been bad IN the morning. She
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