The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-11-06
Saint and Simmer
BIZ ANNE AUSTIN

During the week that followed,
Cherry was in a fever of excite
ment over her prodigal shopping.
On Wednesday two huge wardrobe
trunks, a steamer trunk, two patent
leather hat boxes. and two magnifi-
cent calfskin suitcases were de-
livered to the little Myrtle st. house,
but Faith began to wonder helpless
ly how five times as many pieces OF
luggage could hold the vast ward
robe that Cherry was accommodating.
On Thursday an expensive seam
stress. whose cards proclaimed that
she was Madame Denise, Modiste
Parisienne," arrived with a stopped.
humble little old sewing woman, and
regally took charge of the Lane es.
tablishment. The pier glass was
transferred to Cherry's bedroom.
which beloved and frothed and over
flowed with exotic silks, satins and
laces.
Madame Denise" who confessed
to Faith on Friday that her real
name was Nora Dennis, spent most
of her time manicuring her pointed
nails and posing before the pier
glass. admiring the effect of her
marcelled, hennaed hair, but she
managed somehow, miraculously, 1t
seemed to Faith, to design and SUI
pervice the construction Of half a
dozen amazingly becoming gowns
and q great stack of chiffon, georg-
cite and crepe undergarments, de-
lirious with lace, ribbons and touches
of hand embroidery.
"You haven't a shop Of your own,
Mrs. tDennis?" Faith asked one day.
as she carefully set clusters Of
French knots below the narrow
straps Of q filmy white chiffon "com-
bination."
mo, I prefer to take entire charge
Of a trousseau or a debutante's COM
ing-out wardrobe" Madame Denise"
paused, hand on svelte hip, to smile
upon Faith. mo overhead. you see.
1t takes an immense amount Of
money to doll up a shop so that 1t
will make a woman ashamed to
spend less than a hundred and fifty
dollars for a frock. Rents are terrific,
too, in the best locations. This way.
I have absolutely no expense. I can't
go bankrupt to save my life. And
when the rousseau is finished, I
have most of my earnings clear. I
can go to Europe if I want to, or run
down to my fathers farm for a
month. And believe me. l salt It
away. The thousand I'll make here
will keep me for three or four
months II 7 want tn loaf"
"Thousand?" Faith gasped "a
thousand dollars for four weeks
work."
"And cheap at the price" 'Ma-
dame Denise" patted her marcel
with a complacent hand. "Of course
your sister has to pay Mrs. Hogan's
wages extra. but they amount to
only seven dollars a day. But II I
do say 1t. when we've finished here
Miss Cherry will have the swankest
trousseau that was ever turned out
in this town. And I don't mean
maybe"
While Faith was dizzily trying TO
compute the total Of Cherry's SUI
rreme extravaganza. Mrs. Dennis
went on in the confidential, friend
ly tone she had dropped into so ma
turally with Faith, 'TAsten here,
grille. you ought to go into this bust
ness OF course I'm not kidding you.
You've got the neatest little natural
talent I ever run across In all my
professional career, and I know my
Paris and New York, too, believe me!
IF you want to learn the business.
and you can see It's n sweet little
game. I'll take you in hand after
your sisters married. You can come
with me as a sewing woman-best
way in the world to learn every trick
in the trade-and after you've learn
ed ell can teach you. I'll take you
into partnership. I'll get the con-
tracts. and Wen hit on some fair
percentage basis. What dye say?"
Faith flushed with pleasure as she
looked searchinsly into the warm,
friendly. painted face OF the modiste.
Mrs. Dennis keen green eyes met
Faiths unwaveringly. honestly.
ct don't know If 7 could really do
IT," Faith deprecated, but her eyes
glistened with hope.
"I can't keep from thinking Of
flowers when I plan a dress for
Cherry" Faith looked up at the
kindly woman with trimming eyes.
"She's always looked so lovely in