THE DRESSMAKER’S MODEL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2413, 30 January 1909, Page 12 (Supplement)

THE DRESSMAKER’S MODEL.

The house was low and small and its white paint was dingy. Upon the front door was tacked a sign—gi-t letters upon -black—which spoiled the, single word “Dressmaking.” Miss Margin'dived in the house and did the dressmaking with the help of her niece Alice and an apprentice. She sowed in the sitting -room, fitted in the parlor, si opt in the bedroom off the parlor and ate in the kitchen. She was -a little woman with scant gray hair frizzed in front, a tight mouth - aid shrewd eyes -always peering over her glasses, which she wore awry -across her buie nose. It was said of her that she Lad no need to sow and -was merely grasping and ambitious. Her niece Alice, who was much like her, lived in the pleasant hope of one day inheriting the white house and such other properties as Aliss Margin should die possessed of. Miss 'Margin had another niece, the girl Aliarah, who did the housework and was rarely .seen out of the kitchen. Aliss Margin had taken her when she -was -a tiny child and had brought her up solely for her own benefit and use. .Mar-a-h had received just enough education to make her long for more and give her u taste for the best of the few hooks on Aliss 'Margin’s bookshelves. (She was a slender, pretty girl with wistful gray eyes .and more blonde hair than she knew what to do with. She wore calico -gowns which she made -herself for every day with a, cheap black cashmere for host, modified in summer by a, white shirtwaist! Her cousin Alice, who earned .ur-do-llar a d-av and spent it in personal adornment, looked down -upon her to such an extent that she seldom spoke to her civilly. As for Aliss 'Margin, she considered that she had.alone her whole duty iby lAla-rah in'-giving her a home and therefore accepted the girl’s faithful service without praise or re-w-a n 1.

Ala rah -was nineteen, but -it had not as yet occurred to her tlmt she had auy rights other than those granted her. She -was a shy. timid, gentle little thing, whose indebtedness to her aunt had been so impressed upon her that she- would have felt herself the meanest creature in the -would to demand any of the girlish pleasures which she saw others in her own age enjoying and which she sometimes -passionately longed tor. Alice said that Afarah knew her place.. Certainly she kept it.

ifho washed, scrubbed, swept, cooked and ran errands at a moment’s notice in -aIT kind* of weather, and at night- crept up to her little cold 'back room almost too tired to sleep. Whenever a -dress needed to be tried on and its owner was not available., Miss Margin called Mnr-ili in and put the dress upon her, and stood her before the -pier glass in the parlor for the criticism of Alice and the -apprentice. Alar,all had a most accommodating figure in that it- could be let out or taken in as occasion demanded, and being easier to manage than the stiff dress -form upon its wire standard, she was m-ucli in demand. It was a pleasure to her to be used in this way. Sometimes site would fall to imagining herself going to a party -in silk or to church in velvet, and become so absent-minded that Aliss Alar-gin would have to snap her smartly with her thimbled finger to bring her mind hack to the. business in hand. AVhen she had acted out her role of moddl she would be stripped of the fine -gown ami -sent back to the kitchen to wait until the next summons came.

One day Miss Margin was thrown into :> rare flutter. She -had a new customer and a very important one. Miss .Evelyn Brewster had brought a white crepe do eliine to be made for her wearing at Mrs .Mason’s party on the 18th. It was now the tilth. Only one week in which to make a gown elaborately plaited and slurred and incrusted with face -motifs according to the latest Parisian mode.

It was the first work Miss Brewster h id over brought to 'Miss Margin, and she had wild hopes that if she could please sbo mgiht secure the fashionable young society woman as a permanent patr a. .Miss Brewster came of a riel), and influential family and was noted for being the most eilegmtily costumed woman in town. Hitherto Airs Johnston had made such of her things as were not purchased complete at the city shops. There was great rivalry between Miss Margin and this sister dressmaker, who seemed somehow cter to get the best of the town custom away from her. She felt herself highly flattered by this notice from the Brewsters, and her tight littflo mouth grow tighter with determination to excel as she fingered the lovely silk. All other work whs sighted or Said aside, even Miss Ward’s purple satin, which, was in. process of being made over for the third time. The little apprentice wore a fresh apron and came to work with her finger nails in an unwonted state of cleanliness. Mice -was bidden to !spread newspapers upon the.grimy linoleum about her chair lest a smooch should destroy the purity of tho breadths she was shirring.

Aliss Brewster came several times and tried on her dress at different stages of its development, while Alice a fi d l l io a up routine peeped eagerly through tho parlor door, which 'had been left, a jar for that purpose. But

though Evelyn knew perfectly well that they ‘acre' there- the fact -did not disturb her. She was a beauty of consequence’ aiid was used to being observed with admiration, “I will send for my dress to-morrow b.v my brother,” slie said at lastS? “He will pay you. I shall not be able to conib myself.” She smiled and hurried out tr, her carriage, which waited, for her at the curbing. AHieo was ; much interested when she learned that Jerome Brewster warn'd appear next day for his Lister's dress. Ho was at -home recovering from a severe attack of typhoid fever. All the girls for miJE£;around were hopefully setting cap#lfor him. yet who knew but what'Cupid’s arrow might pierce him by way of her own blue eyes? Stranger things had happened, as Alicellciicw from the paper-covered novels which she -was.so fond of ihad|i;%, and all the, rest of the afternoon she spent in constructing air castles of a* quality which she iomfiy trusted would prove them indestructible. The crepe de chine was finished down to its last detail next morning nn-d was as nearly perfect as Iranian hands can make a” garment. -Aliss Margin felt thoroughly satisfied with herself -and her, work. i-She called Ala-rah in to try it op a tor the final criticism of Alice and 1 the awe-stric-ken young apprentice. Alarali hurried off her fresh calico and passively permitted herseif.to be clothed in this radiant garb of-another. She harcS'y knew herself as she faced the long glass. She and Evelyn wore so nearly of the same size that the dress fitted her as if made for her. Her bare neck and round young arms -Were Ms -white as Evelyn’s own and a sudden now delight in liorsc-LL made her hold her -head as high.

“It's perfect,” Aliss -Alargiii sighed, standing afar off with Alice and the apprentice to view tlie’ effect. iSho her soil' saw only the gown, but the girls ::aw the‘graceful young creature within it and Alice was filled with envy of charms so much mure apparent than lu-r own.

There was a sudden opening of a door, a ruslh- and the 11! may chenille portiere parted. There stood Aliss Evelyn Brewster, looking m amazement ;:t a strange girl wearing her gown. Aliss Margin -gave a gasp and Alice and the apprentice- fled, for Aliss Evelyn’s handsome face had anything but-a pleased look upon it.

“1 knocked, but no one answered, and so 1 entered unannounced.” she said. ‘’P-ray, pardon me, Aliss .Margin. but 1 am in a tremendous hurry.”

Aliss M irgin clasped her hands and sought to explain.

“This is my other' niece, Alarali,” she - tin id. —• ‘A-die—-she- oicts a-- model oceasioii-aO y. i had just finished your dress and .1 wanted to see il it was exactly right— ’’

Alias Evelyn's bright smile flashed out.

“O'h, of course!’-’ she cried. “But you see i did not understand. Miss Margin, your niece looks ch inning in that gown. You really do.” she said, coming close to March and looking at her intently. “1 shall 'be happy if 1 look as wet.” “Oil, you'll ilook a thousand times better,” said M avail, reassured by Evelyn’s eyes, which were looking at her »o no other girl’s bad ever looked. Kvelyn shook her head, smiling. “No, I shall not. Your arms and neck are much better than mine and your hair —it is a crown of gold. J)icf no one ever tell’ you that your , hair is very beautiful?” “No,” faltered Ala rah.

“Weill, 1 Live told you now. Did I hear Miss-Margin call you ALirah? What an odd, sweet name! And just suited to you. somehow. I hope you will let'me be your friend, Alarah. I feel that we might like each other very much.”

“T)h, I am >sure I should—love you !” cried Alarah, with her wlioui heart in her eyes. And that wns the beginning of their friendship. Aliss Margin looked oil astonished at this impulsive 'lovemaking on the part of ra. young woman who was sis hard to become intimate with as Alias Brewster. As time went on and Evelyn continued to think well of Alarah she herself grew kinder to her. She oven went so Jiir as to get the girl soino now?clothes, for, of course, since Evelyn would take her to walk and drive constantly, besides having her at the house a great deal, she must not bo ashamed other. Aliss Al.arg.in, looking far ahead, saw an ndvaiitageous sequence to this attention on the part of tho Brewsters. Sire exerted herself to bo amiable to wonders truck .little *Mnrail, who found herself of a sudden considered as a person ol some importance? And when some two years later Jerome Browsle/ hurried his sister’s protegee,’ Miss Margin was the onGy one present at the wedding who bad foreseen, the outcome from the very day Evelyn found Alarah wearing her gown and took a fancy to her.