The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1921-05-20
GIPSY-JESS
BY MOlLlE heather.


w ME neat llNlnE-fOOm busy with
scissors and needle. Various articles
of cast-off clothing were being ripped
and repaired for the poor and needy.
while tongues flew fast as fingers.
ITS always been my opinion" said
Mrs. Rawlins that birds of feather
flock together and that's all I've got
against this newcomer. If she want
ed to get in the towns good graces,
and be taken up by respectable peo-
pie why did she pick up with
harem-scarem nobody like that Walrus
girl? See 'em together most every
place go, and they are at the movies
besIdes-chair by chair"
81 know it." answered Mrs. Cum
Minis, land evenings boys that the
school principal cant do thing with
are over there in her house singing
songs, and anyway, what's a young
strange woman mean by rentin house
alone?"
"If you mean Miss Jessie Bonnie,
who has moved into the Wolcott
house." the minister's mother said
gently, II believe she is here to rest
from her musical studies before 60
ing abroad to enter upon concert
career. And l understand that she
does not live with her folks because
she has none. The girl is alone in
the world"
Members of the sewing circle ex-
changed meaning chances. 1t had been
+nL hot ha don
Of their parish paid open attention
to the new and unwelcome stranger
He's probably trying to convert
her" Mrs. Rawlins had suggested
"but l reckon she's poor material"
'They say sumbitted lilly White
that the Walrus girl and them boys
are calling her Gypsy; that is when
they amt calling her Jess. But I'll
admit she's not far from lookin' a
gypsy with her dark eyes and tangled
curly hair. And them red beads and
dangling things that she wears did
You notice 'em?"
81 thought" the young pastors
mother said patiently, that Miss Bon
ME was bright, pretty creature, and
IFS natural for the young to like pref
ty things. | thought that it might be
good thing for us to befriend the
girl. and"
"She's chosen her friends Mrs.
Cummns sharply remarked. did
that Walrus girl ever want to come in
among us? And could we ever bride
those rolicking young men into our
entertainments? No they'd rather he
on the streets. It's plain the Gypsy
person amt our kind"
The pastors mother sewed on
vaguely troubled Were they right
after all? Well, she knew her fine,
honest son, his interest In this gay
little stranger was deeper than 9TH
read that interest in the tone Of his
dear voice, the shine of his eyes.
The success of Paul's life and call
ing meant much to her. She and the
father gone had sacrificed for it
through many years. An outer door
opened into lilly Whites sitting
room and girls piquant face
showed SlnliliiSiy.
Il did not knock" said the girl, "for
| knew you were busily assembled.
could see You through the window. |
came" she paused abashed before
the forbidding silence.
Gypsy Jess" calculated Tilly
White, unCOnsciOusly.
Then the girl laughed.
You have learned my nickname,
see" She said young town people
are great with nicknames. Well then,
| am introduced. But what l called
about, was this
She threw back her dark cloak dis
closing its crimson silk lining, the
girls jaunty little turban was Grim
son, TOO.
This" she continued, and placed
on the table.
ITS my old winter coat" she ex-
planned, but almost new. | really
did not need another, and bought this.
| think, because of it's pretty lining.
Don't you asked Gypsy generally,
love pretty things3 They are So
CHEEKY. Please give my old cloak to
someone who needs it
II was just week later that the
small town was shaken to its depths
by startling announcement Their
beloved and admired young pastor was
married. He had gone to the city to
have that ceremony performed, and his
mother had accompanied him. His
bride WAS Gypsy Jess.
1t was unbelievable ii was-alarm-
ing And the pastors mother, when
she returned welcomed no sympathy.
When you know my sons wife" she
said happily, you will love her, as
all do. You have to get in touch with
people If you want to help them Jcs-
sic told me one day, and | guess
that's her secret She has given up II
promising musical career for love of
my boy"
But when the pastors wife took her
humble place before the old piano
near the pulpit, there was no smile
of greeting on the disappearing faces
of the congregation. For the Walrus
girl stood in the choir, and back in the
seat near the wall stood a row of
shutfling boys. But when Gipsy's
L..