The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-03-31
A Double
Love Story
BY I MATHER.
Copyright

(Copyright.)
It had taken Tessie a long time to
save twenty-five dollars, and the sum
seemed more than twice this amount
to her. Twenty-Five dollars, Tessie
thought, should be enough to buy the
finest coat, and she vas in need Of a
coat. Indeed, the thins little suit
which had been her last years pur-
chase was all insufficient against win
try winds, and neither indoors nor
out did poor Tessie know the luxury
of warmth.
So the girl was now alone in the
world, alone that is, except for Fred
erick. Frederick hoped to marry her
when his salary should be raised, and
1t was especially because of Freder-
lex that Tessie longed for the tan coat
with, the fur collar. Frederick ad-
mired this coat in the store window,
when he and Tessie fingered on their
walks. Frederick would buy her a
coat like that some day, he said, and
she would 'look like a princess" in 1t.
Tessie wished to look like a princess
now, that her lover might be proud Of
her; so painstakingly and self-sacri-
f1cingly she saved the twenty-five dol
lars. There was no price tag on the
cloak in the window, and Tessie knew
many discouraging fears, but on the
night Of the biting snow storm she
turned resolutely into the store; she
yo,rak houo eoroo IJl~A - 1ook - ~,oro
even If her hope was to be destroyed.
The desired coat had become to- her
almost an obsession, she gloried in
dreams Of its lining. And when the
radiator in her upper bedroom re-
manned as cold as her own hands. Tes-
sic would draw the old wooden shawl
about her shoulders and think Of that
warm fur collar. She felt strangely
abashed as she entered the carpeted
cloak department in the presence of
the stately modish young woman who
seemed almost pityiagly to await her
demands. Tessie's faded little suit
glared out It's shabbiness in all that
grandeur Of newness. Courageously,
she approached o n Of the attendant
|. young women. II would like" she
said frankly, ito see a tan cloak with
a fur collar, I can only pay twenty
five dollars"
The young woman continued her
work of asserting cloaks.
"We have nothing like that for
$780,, she answered %brusquely. .
"But there was a coat in the win
dow" Tessie began, she could not
so easily dispose of her hope. With a
shake of her head, the young woman
moved on to a more promising Gus
toner. Then, as Tessie stood hesitat-
ing and detected, a second young wom-
an came around the display table. The
dress she wore was black and simply
made her soft brown hair waved
naturally over her ears, she had the
same calmly superior manne of the
others, which had inspired Tessie with
uncomfortable 1--WE But the face Of
this young woman who accosted her
with a pleasant question, was pale
and tired, Tessie thought, and her
dark eyes showed sympathetic inter-
est. Quickly Tessie responded to that
interest. Perhaps" she suggested,
"you might be able to find a warm
tan coat for me-, with a fur collar
like the n in the window. I can only
pay twenty-five dollars. You see, Il
have saved-that much"
49, "But twenty-five dollars. Is a good
deal for a coat. isn't it?"
Sometimes" the pale faced young
woman answered gently, twenty-five
dollars is a good deal. If you will sit
down for a few moments I will see
about the coat in the window"
The sparkles came back again to
Tessie's eyes, the kindly voice was 50
~reassuring. And presently the young
woman returned with a man bearing
the, coveted cloak on his arm, and
when the man found that the cloak
fitted perfectly Tessie's slight figure,
he carried 1t away only long enough
to fold 1t in a square-box, and the
purchase was made for twenty-five
dollars. AS Tessie was lovingly bear
ing her burden toward the elevator
she turned with a sudden impulse
back to the young woman of the SYM
pathetic eyes.
I'm so grateful to YOU" Tessie
said, "for taking the trouble" The
tiredness Of the young woman's face
seemed to vanish in her smile.
1T has been a pleasure to be able
to do 1t for you," she said. Then as
Tessfe went happily on her way to
TOOK like a princess for Frederick,
the young woman slipped back into a
dressing room strewn with fur trimmed
dresses, and here she regained the
hat which she had left there when
she tried the dresses on, and when
she emerged again out into the cloak
room, a big mar gravely faced her.
"And so, Marion" he said, "this Is
really you whom T meet for the first
time tonight. AS you came 60 the as
sistance Of that shabby little creature
| sat waiting for you just behind the
mirror. had called nj vour horna