The Sneedville news. (Sneedville, Tenn.) 191?-19??, 1922-05-19
THEIR DEBT
BY MOllIE MATHER

Tess had. In the village home VIII cl
her aunt had bequeathed to her. 1
sunshiny studio, where she drew Won
derful pictures for the magazines. Ant
in depicting the radiance of love IN the
faces of her illustrations, love itseli
had In some inexplicable way passet
Tess by.
She looked up from her sketcline
one morning to see the forlorn figure
Of small boy standing In the stldk
doorway. The child introduced him
self.
II am Tommy" lie said. MAY
come in to see your pictures? Our
Mary says you make picture books. y
"Did you come alone? And will your
mother not be anxious about your
Tess asked.
Tommy shook his head. Mother has
new book" he replied, land she
likes me TO be away, SO she can
read. l bother"
"But your daddy" Tess suggested,
''he will miss YOU"
Again Tommy shook his head.
Daddy works in the city, and when
he comes home he has to look after
mother"
Impulsively Tess took the lonely
child In her arms.
where does the tot come fromf"
she asked the privileged Hannah.
Hannah, a resident, had been per-
suaded to keep house for Tessa
Thayer.
They are new people out from the
city," Hannah, the overwhelmed,
told her. "They say the mother has
lung trouble. and came for her health"
Late In the afternoon Tess took the
little boy home. Ii was the new pretty
bungalow that the family had rented,
and the young mother recllned ON q
couch on veranda.
You are kind TO take care of Tom
my she thanked Tessa Thayer.
IL will be glad to help you In any
neighborly way that may" Tess Of
fered alphabetically.
''rhen may Tommy go often to your
the mother asked.
II ought not To have married %
early in life," she ingenlously con-
fessed, "it means too much RESPONSE
bility, but then" her merry laugA
rlppled, my husband Paul, is good !
here he comes now"
The tail man Fastening up the walk, \
stopped TO kiss the boy, then turned
m anxious gaze upon his pretty Wis
Did you bring the cherry cAocc
ates r she asked him. Nf Ma.
Tess. raising her clear. blue evea, z
he wife spoke her name. ma -
ly those Of Paul Gordon. No.
paul IL relieved to have someouu 7
axe an interest In Tommy" EthIyn
'aid.
Thereafter Tommy spent most Of hie 1
line I'm Tessa Thayer's house, while
Paul Gordon formed habit OF calling
o fetch his young son home ut eve
ling.
Ethlyn, In her new hammock In the |
arden. was very happy and free from
are.
Then one evening when Paul, cali
ne for his son, stopped TO smile back
nto Tessa's face. she seriously re-
arded him.
II will have Ia take Tommy home
arlier after this" she said, IL ann
ding 10 be unusually busy. So, we will
at be able TO wait for you"
Tess became SO unselflshly attentive
, the little wife that Hannah was In
espair.
Then one beautiful sunshlny morn
* Mary came. white-faced. to call
ess over 10 the bungalow. She had
lrried the little wife's breakfast In
} her. and Ethlyn had neither moved
Or spoke. maybe she was asleep.
1t
Tommys mother WIS asleep. sweet
/. naturally, IL seemed. she had drift
into that sleep, but neither Tessa's
wing care. nor that Of the faithful
Isband would he needed more.
Tess took Tommy home with her
the big studio that was his palace
fairy charm. Aud Paul went far
ray upon a long deferred business
q. Winter was growing into spring
,en he came back and Tess had re
wed from him only brief aud neces-
~ notes concerning Tommy.
She was waiting In the bungalow
rden that ais homecoming might not
too desolate. Tall and straight. ms
. had seen him that first day. Paul
me down the path. the same glance
glad recognition met hers. Tess was
iiing for his question. though 10y no
ri or look had love been spoken
ween them. when. dearesty" he
led. Il need wife and Tommy
.ds n mother and In fHiihfulness
] service We have atuned
n silent answer Tess put her hand
hIs.