Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1921-02-04

A Double
Love Story
BY mOLLiE MAThER.
(COpyHght.)

tCopyright)
1t had taken Tessie 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 was in need of
coat. Indeed, the thin little suiv
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
it 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 princess" in it.
Tessie wished to look like princess
now, that her lover might be proud Of
her; 50 painstakingly and self-sacri-
ficingly 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 res0lutely into the store; she
must have some kind of coat at once,
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 pityingly to await her
demands. Tessie's faded little suit
glared out its shabbiness in all that
grandeur of newness. Courageously,
she approached one Of the attendant
young women. Il would like she
said frankly, ito see tan cloak with
fur collar. can only pay twenty
five dollars -
The young woman continued her
work Of asserting cloaks. 1As -
I'VE 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
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 manner Of the
others, which had inspired Tessie with
uncomfortable awe: But the face of
this young woman who accosted her
with 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 one in the window. I can only
pay twenty-five dollars. You see, l
have saved-that much"
'But twenty-five dollars is a good
deal for coat. isn't it?''
"Sometimes," the pale faced young
woman answered gently, twenty-five
dollars Is good deal. If you will sit
down for a few moments I win see
about the coat in the window"
The sparkles came back again to
Tessie's eyes, the kindly voice was 80
reassuring. And presently the young
woman returned with man bearing
the coveted cloak on his arm, and
when the man found that the. cloak
fitted perfectly Tessie's slight figure.
he carried it away only long enough
to fold it 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 80 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 q pleasure to be able
to do it for you.'' she said. Then as
Tessie went happily on her way to
TOOK like a princess" for Frederick,
the young woman slipped back into q
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, q big man gravely faced her.
And 50. Marion" he said, "this IL
really you whom I meet for the first
time tonight. Az you came 60 the as
sistance Of that shabby little creature
I sat waiting for you just behind the
mirror. I had called at your home
and they said should find you here.
So l heard all that passed, and realized
that you were playing the part Of a
CLERK just long enough to give to that
- ~.