Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-11-06
CHAPTER VII.
IHE GRrAY JUNE AUDIT.

The Yisest sometimes make mistakes. The
most careful housekeeper has been known 10
spoil e pudding by putting salt instead OF
sugar on it. Let it then be no detraction from
the Talberts' general administrative ability
that the nurse girl turned ont badly. They
had been so successful with cooks paTlor
rnaids, house maids and kitchen maids that
their failure III this one instance must rot be
considered.
The girls misdeeds need not be detailed,
suffice it to say the elimination CT them was
this: Horace and Herbert driving up 10 lane
one evening saw young man and woman
embracing vigorously, and generally having
happy time of it. They could not recognize
the girl. but felt sure she was one Of their
household, so the discreet Whitaker was or
dered to wait at the side door and send the
first arrival to his masters.
Of course. she repealed the accusation. She
had indeed stepped out for q minute, to post
a letter to her ayed mother but as for speak
ing to. much less kissing, a MAXWELL, she
never did! Alas, for feminine vcracity! Or
the back of her print dress was the impress
sion of four fingers and thumb, printed
there in good black mold, for it was an under
gardener who had succumbed to her charms.
1t was EeToeTt VINO, while Horace cHposru
lated, was seated at the table and go saw heI
Jack, who drew attention to this dan11ing
evidence. This gave rise to i4apeltineace ana
a months warning, given In the most dig
nified and calm way by her masters.
They decided to engage an older and staidei
body, and being perhaps rather crestfalIen al
lowed Miss Clauson to have voice in tht
matter. One morning a quiet-looking, pale
faced WOMEN waited upon them. She heard
that nurse was wanted and offered her serv.
ices. Character she had none to give. hav.
ing been out of service for some years; but
plenty of people would speak for her respect
ability. The Talberts were much taken with
her general demeanor; but hummed and
hawed when they found she did not come red
hot from place. Horace examined her at
tentively through his eye-glass.
"Haven't seen you beforer he asked
eyes, sir. / lived many years ago with
Mr.. Merton, Of Cavendish square. You were
often at the house,
She said her mama was Miller, and that she
was a widow. She spoke wen, and in that re-
spectful, but not servile, way which the Tai
berts liked If they could bring themselves
to get over the absence of credentials, and
deny themselves the pleasure Of calling on
and cross-examining former mistress, they
thought this woman might do.
Beatrice had no doubt about 1t; and upon
such inquiries as could be made being an
svered satisfactorily, Mrs. Miller Fas in
stalled In the place 81 tie fral failure whose
escapade with the gardener had lowered The
whole moral tone OF the establishment. A
giddy girl in g bachelors establishment
means destruction.
But Mrs. Miller va. very different mat
ter Hiss Cisuson found her perfection
nimble handed, kind and exPerienced-rnore-
over, quite qualified TO fulfill the duties Of
lady's maid when occasion required. Wit
taker approved Of her. She xss e coad ,1tcr
after his own respectable heart. The first che
to be considered, tbs boy, took TO her es read
lily as he had taken 20 Beatrice. Horace and
Herbert. In spite Of the sharp lookout they
kept for while, could find no faw In her
conduct, and when at the end Of two months
they ascertained that she had used less soap
four cakes less than her predecessor had dur
ing her short stay, they began to think they
bad acquired o treasure
Fer the child looks as clean as ever sasd
Herbert to Horace Il always felt nure thet
girl left the soap in the hot water and forgot
al about IT.
The last winter months and the EFring
months passed very quietly at HazieHood
House. The Talberts and their niece dined
occasionally with the best families In he
naghborhood, and in return the Talberts
asked the bet families to dine with them The