Part 18 (1/2)
CHAPTER XVII
JACQUELINE
The words of Frank Apgar still rang in the frightened ears of Tessie, when she stole away from the Osborne place, so very early the following morning. Now her continued failures were a.s.suming discouraging proportions indeed, and she knew the result of ”borrowing” that ticket money. She could never hope for a good word of recommendation from Mrs. Osborne, and without it she could not obtain employment. To seek work in the mills now would be equivalent to throwing herself on the mercy of the public, for she knew perfectly well every mill had been notified to watch for her.
To her obsessed mind her faults were now serious beyond belief-- she had actually stolen money! What at first seemed a mere matter of ”borrowing” until she could work one more little week to pay it back, had suddenly become a crime impossible to atone.
Desperately she tramped through the long country roads, tugging her bag, using it often as a stool to rest on. No one noticed the girl--maids often left employment in Elmhurst and journeyed out to the trolley line just as she was doing.
Childish laughter and the capering of a very white toy poodle dog attracted Tessie's attention, as she stopped in front of the entrance to a very handsome estate. Through the iron rails of a very high fence could be seen the girl responsible for the silvery laughter. She was seated in a small wheel-chair, and at her feet lay a young man lounging on the velvet gra.s.s, that was cropped so close the blades looked like a woven tapestry of magic green.
”Now, Jack,” Tessie heard the young man say, ”I will do all the things thou badest me, but please don't ask a fellow to climb trees. I'm too big for the limbs, and I should hate to break the pretty branches. Necks don't count, of course.” His voice was so jolly Tessie listened behind the iron post of the open gateway.
”Well, all right, Prince Charming. I won't ask you to climb the tree, but Jerry--I can hardly wait. Oh, isn't it too wonderful?”
and the pretty little girl clapped her hands quite like any ordinary youngster.
Here was Tessie's chance. These were a different sort of people and perhaps they would take her on without any reference!
Acting on the moment's impulse, she picked her bag up and entered the gate. The young man sat bolt upright and seemed inclined to laugh.
”Oh, wherever did you come from?” asked the girl in the chair. ”We were just telling fairy stories,” and she smiled as if Tessie had been a sequence to the tale.
”I'm looking for work,” spoke Tessie bravely, ”and this seemed such a big place, do you know if they need any extra help?”
The child shot a volley of meaning glances at the young man.
Anyone could have interpreted the code as signifying interest and pleasure.
”We would have to consult the housekeeper,” the young man answered quickly. He gave his head a defiant toss, contradicting the joy expressed by his sister.
”Oh, but perhaps--” faltered the girl. ”Gerald, don't you think maybe you and I might manage to take this nice girl to work? I'd just love to have a very young person to talk to when I can't have you,” and the big blue eyes rolled oceans of appeal into the face of the handsome brother.
”Jack, you know I'm your slave,” he answered. ”But even I cannot always manage Mrs. Bennet. But we can ask her,” smiling at Tessie.
”Come along!” He sprang to his position at the wheel-chair. ”Mrs.
Bennet should be glad enough to grant any favor on so perfect a morning.”
”Then don't forget our plans, Jerry,” the sister cautioned mysteriously. ”If it all works out as I am dreaming, brother, oh, what a glorious time we will have! Come on”--to Tessie--”I'm just going to make Mrs. Bennet take you on. She's awfully particular, but since I haven't been able to walk I just impose on brother Gerald. And he has been so kind,” patting the hand resting round her chair, ”and couldn't you and I have good times together? What shall I call you?” she asked naively.
”Stacia Wertz,” replied Tessie, a.s.suming another name to cover her knowledge of the Osborne situation.
”That's from Anastasia, isn't it?”
”Now, Jacqueline,” spoke the brother, ”I have to run in town early this morning, so if we are going to storm the Bennet we had best ma.s.s for the attack. Suppose we sit here,” as they reached a rustic bench, ”and prepare our story.”
A half-hour later, in spite of all protests from the particular Mrs. Bennet, who as housekeeper for Gerald Dougla.s.s and his young sister Jacqueline, had good reason to value her reputation, Tessie (now Stacia) was engaged. Her especial duties were to be with Jacqueline, and Mrs. Bennet deplored to Mr. Gerald the fact that this young girl brought no reference.
”But she is so young, Margaret,” he had replied. ”I am sure we can supervise. And you know, Jack has been taking a lot of my time lately. Yet the doctor says her ultimate cure depends on her cheerful frame of mind, and she is getting along so beautifully.
He expects to try the strength of her limbs in ten days more.”