Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-10-09

could have sold them for great deal
of money
mimi did she owe you money
Theresa?" Jerry's voice was eager.
| She should love to do that parting
kindness to the memory Of strange
Theresa-to pay her final debts.
Mimi stared at her, shook her head
| "Of course not She owed nobody any
thing. We took this house together,
but she has always borne the expense
of it, from the very first"
"Um, she would" whispered Jerry,
disappointed that she was denied that
final happiness, but understanding
Theresa with the cold but kindly hand.
ooh, that is why she said good-by.
and kissed me-" Jerry whispered
That's why she said she would-give
me present"
Mimi caught upon the words hope
fully. "a present! Theresa said it?
Come, quickly"
They ran feverishly down the hall
to Jerry's room and reached for the
button, Minis hand ahead of Jerry's.
flooding the room with light. They
saw 1t instantly, standing out vivid
and bright In the small room, propped
upon the piano against the wall. The
resa's parting gift to the one who had
most desired her-the Ocean Rider"
tumult of green and white.
Jerry stood before II, sobbing pite-
ously, twisting her hands together.
stO chn
wept And then. remembering Mimi,
she tried to stifie her emotion, to be
quiet, self-possessed. "She-she wasn't
unhappy about it," she stammered
weakly. "She was quite gay. She
laughed at me and kissed me-" Her
voice broke on the pitiful words. per
haps-she is really getting-rested, as
she said"
"Come on back" said Mimi 1T
makes me nervous / never liked that
picture. There is something So
defiant-about It,"
They sat down opposite each other
stiffiy, Jerry in the great chair, Mimi
lighting another cigarette as she lay
tense and rigid on the chaise Tongue.
Looking at her suddenly Jerry realized
that the painted woman in the trailing
silken gown was broken-hearted, suf-
fering things indescribable that her
very thoughts were bleeding.
mimi, you loved Theresa, didn't
your"
That curious, clinging friendship be-
tween the young girl with her terrific
energy, and the frivolous, light-hearted
woman was the greatest mystery Jerry
had touched upon in the great city.
Mimi smoked passionately, twisting
the cigarette between her lips. Sud-
-enly she tossed 1t into the fireplace.
lit another Her fingers were blue.
"You didn't know that / am There
sa's mother, did you, Jerry? don't
suppose she told you"
That was more than Jerry could
bear. She broke into high, hysterical
laughter.
mimi Don'tl"
Mimi nodded again. "She was my
daughter" She began to explain with
nervous intensity. "She called me
Mudder when she was a little baby,
but she grew up into such funny.
long-legged monster of child! And
l had-my admirers, my career. In
the profession they want you always
to remain young, unmarried and free.
1t was absurd to lay claim to youth
with great girl like Theresa BRAN
dishing my past in my face. So we
fell into the way of using Mimi and
Theresa. Lots VI them do, on the
stage. She liked it-Theresa liked it,"
Jerry said nothing, could say moth
ing. Poor Theresa! She thought of
the terrible, tragic loneliness of the
brilliant young artist. Her mother
she had sacrificed to youth and beauty.
her love she had given up for Art
Now she was dead, glad of her free
dom from life which shad only tired
her. Jerry shuddered. She sat mo-
tionless, shocked beyond words.
"Oh, you are blaming mel" Mimi
cried suddenly. "You do not under
stand l tell you it is often done in
the profession. We think nothing Of
it. You have never understood me-
nor Theresa-none of us! You were
never one of u.s.
mo. / was never really one of
you" Jerry did not resent it. She
was glad.
Theresa didn't mind She liked It,
From the time she was baby she
wanted to be free, TO be left alone.
She didn't like fuss made over her."
Jerry shook her head. not grasping
1t. "Children-they never know what
lthey want. But you. Mimi, didn't you
want people to know? You should
have been so proud Of Theresa. My
mother-why. she is even proud Of
mel She-when she meets people j
have known she likes to Introduce her
self that way-just, I am Jerry's
mother.'r
dI xuac nroud of ThoroSa foeictod