The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-01-07

girl IN Deaut1ful evening apparel,
seated in a box at the theater.
Gainesville disapproved Of incon-
sistencies; it disapproved Of mystery,
SO the inmate Of the brown house was
left to herself. Helen-Marie. an ac-
cepted town authority on social mat
tiers, shrugged disdainful shoulders.
Later, when she met the girl, her win
some face aglow as she walked at
Jack Hamilton's side, Helen-Marie
unreasonably resented her presence,
"Why did she come here?" she asked
herself.
She questioned Jack contemptuously,
concerning his new acquaintance. j,
Jack. who had been en-Marie's
dominated property, flushed con-
fusedly as he murmured his reply. He
had come upon the girl on the long
drive one day, it had been raining hard
and he had offered to drive her home.
The woman who lived with her was
some sort of relative, he explained.
She called the gin "Tessa." Jack
could tell no more a
Helen-Marie's resentment deepened
as days passed and she found Jack en-
joying more and more the strange girls
companionship. Sometimes she saw
them seated on the cross bench on the
bridge, smiling into each others eyes !;
sometimes the two came swinging
down the road from long country
walk. Helen-Marie bowel to Jack
coldly. It was not HIS assertion alone
which. CALLED. but the. humiliation Of
his preference. This girl This nm
known humble girl! Was Helen-Marie
not. the towns Idol, their social lead
er, exhibited musician and authority
on fashions? Was II not Jack Hamil-
toms aristocratic mother who had
planned and encouraged their friend
ship? Who but Helen Marie might be
worthy OF her son with his assured
future? -
The strange girl sat on the brown
house verahda, when Helen Marie
passed. and then paused thonghtfully.
The girl wa. sewing upon some lovely
flimsy stun. AS Helen still hesitated,
the girl held the material up with .
shy smile. i...
{ ''PrettyT' she asked. &
"very," Helen-Marie replied. =
"You make your own clothes?"
The girl raised her brown eyes.
II make-other peoples" she an
swered slowly. II am Tessa, modesto
So that was It. elen-Marie. went
briskly up the walk. When dressmak-
ers came to town, with herself rested
always the decision Of their capabili-
ties. If, as usually happened, an anx-
ious seamstress failed to find favor in
her eyes, the seamstress might well
prepare to seek other fields. g,
II should like you to make frock
for me-" said Helen. ...- I.
Tessa considered, then she laughed
softly.
"They tell me-" she replied, "that
Miss Helen Marie Terry has always
her own way. Therefore. may as
well agree"
Helen.Marie went on to see Jacks
mother. rs .a
"Your sons new friend, the dress
maker, Is sewing for me-" she said.
When the white frock was finished,
Helen-Marie regarded her own mir
rored figure in reluctant admiration.
1T is not" she said at last sharply,
"at all as should have wished. am
afraid that I will not be able to rec
ommend you to my friends. However,
my bill?"
There is no BILL" little Tessa an
swered quietly, "when garment fails
to give satisfaction"
Helen-Marie placed q bill upon the
table. It was a small recompense> in.
deed. "That will at least pay for your
time" she said and departed.
Jacks mother, descending from her
automobile, met Helen-M at the
brown house door.
II must warn YOU" Helen instantly
advised, shat the girls work il i'm.
possible. t1f''.SsS Iii
II am coming" Mrs. Hamilton said
slowly, "to make a friendly call at my
sons request. HE'S going to marry
the girl-you see. It was love at first
sight with them both, that day in the
Rad. All Jack knew OF her was the
name she gave-Tessa Modiste.
my dear! Can you conceive that
this young creature is 'Therese' Of New
York and London? You know OF
course, the significance Of Therese'
label. The girl does her own design
ing, and she came to this quiet place
for q rest" ........ ..... ,.....1
Mrs. Hamilton looked back over heri
shoulder. j
II am glad, Helen-Marie," she said,
that you never really cared"