Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-02-19
5IE!SSA MODISTE
~ NELL ApAiR.


lcopyriEht. ls3s. wsstsrn Newspaper Unisn,
She moved into the little brown
house by the mill, with only an old
woman for company. She was 4 girl.
lsh LITTLE creature, with brown Ques-
tiOning eyes. and tam-o.shanter cap
pulled over herwaylng Clark locks. Shsl
wore unusually short skirts Of woolenI
stun and a norfolk Jacket Of manyI
pockets, and trampsd through thsl
woods. whistling boyishly when no onsI
was near. She was at once the small
towns enigma and annoyance. An-I
noylng. in that she kept reselutely teI
herself, relieving In no way the natl
ural curiosity. and an enigma. In that
she constantly furnished surprises.
Old Doctor Wcrthlngton had An1
ished telling Of being called one night
to attend the sick child Of Italians inI
the town. and Of finding the STRANGE
girl there relieving their distresses.
Once the doctors son, returning from,
the city. brought information that ne
had seen this same quiet brown-eyed
girl in beautiful evening apparel.
seated In 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-
copied 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-Maris
unreaspnably resented her presence.
"why did she come herer" she asked
herself.
She questioned Jack contemptuousiy,
concerning his new acquaintance.
Jack, who had been Helen-Marie's
dominated property, flushed con-
fusedly as he murmured his reply. He
had come upon the girl on the long
drive one day, 1t 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 girl "Tessa." Jack
could tell no more.
Helen-Maries 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 bowed to Jack
coldly. 1t was not his desertion alone
which CALLED, but the humiliation OF
his preference. This girl This I'M
II known humble girl! Was Helen-Marie
I not the towns idol, their social lead
er, exhibited musician and authority
on fashions? Was 1t not Jack Hamil-
: toms aristocratic mother who had
planned and encouraged their friend.
8 ship? Who but Helen-Marie might be
3 worthy Ot her son with his assured
y future?
q The strange slrl sat on the brown
: house yeranda, when Helen-Marit
= passed, and then paused thoush:fully
4 The girl was sewing upon some lovely
4 fiimsy stuff. As Helen still hesitated
4 the girl held the material up with Z
shy smile. -
II "Pretty?" she asked. -
u every" Helen.Marie replied.
81 "You make your own clothes!"
II The girl raised her brown eyes.
n II make-other peoples" she an
swered slowly. II am Tessa, nodiste.
= So that was 1t. Hslen-Marle wen
n briskly up the walk. When dressmzi;
4 ers came to town, with herself reste'
4 always the decision OF their capabili
4 ties. II, as usually happened, an ann
a lous seamstress failed to find favor Il
Il her eyes, the seamstress might vel
81 prepare to seek other fields.
"A IT should like you to make frOcl
n for me-" said Helen.
Tessa considered, then she laughe'
softly.
"A "They tell me-" she replied, "tha
n Miss Helen Marie Terry has Away
y her own way, Therefore, I may q
81 well agree"
~ Helen-Marie went on to see Jack
"a mother.
"Your sons new friend, the dresI
81 maker, Is sewing for me-" she said.
III When the white frock was nnishet
" Helen-Marie regarded her own mil
" rored figure in reluctant admiration.
ut is not" she said at last sharpl!
"at all as should have wished. ] >,
a afraid that will not be able to re-
a ommend you to my friends. Hewsye
n my billT
N "There is no BILL" little Tessa y
II swered quietly, "when garment fell
~ to give satisfaction"
NI Helen Marie placed bill upon ii
~ table. It was small recompenRe 4
~ deed. "That will at least pay for yot
"a time" she said and departed.
III Jacks mother. descending from b
"A automobile, met Helen-Marie at u
- brown house door.
~ II must warn you," Helen instant