The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-06
M'WAT AND THE sERvENT.

CURED MI. McSWaIs looking up 1rOm
his newspaper.
"She shan't stay in this house anotb-
or day. She's an impudent, lazy, good
Cor nothing
'Who is?''
''That kitchen girl''
"What's her narnef"
"She calls herself Esmeralda.''
''Not bad name" unused Mr.. Nc
Swat. "What has she been doing?'
'She hasn't been doing anything
That's the trouble. give her two aft
ernoons off in the week, and she takes
four. She quits her work before it's
half done and goes out walking. She
goes up to her room at any time of the
day and takes nap. She's just come
down from a two hours sleep and is
yawning out there in the kitchen as if
she owned the house and was tired Of
living in it. I've talked mildly to her,
and it doesn't do any good. She's got
to go!"
Mr.. MeGwat picked up his paper
again.
"All right, Lobelia,' he said. 600
and fire heri'
ST willi''
Three minutes later Mr.. McSwat be-
came dimly conscious of some unusual
connection in the back part Of the house.
Sounds as Of voices raised in animated
conversation reached his ears. He laid
aside his paper and listened.
go it, Lobelia Go it, Esmeraldal'
he muttered under his breath, as the
discussion appeared to become more
| lively. The voice he took to be Esp1er-
alda's gradually assumed the principal
burden of the conversation, but at inter
walls he could hear Lobelia's clear So
prano endeavoring to secure recognition.
There was a prolonged crash as if the
end gate had dropped from wagon
loaded with tinware and crockery while
going uphill, and Mrs. McSwat came
flying back into the room with flushed
face and wild gesticulation.
She gays she won't go, Billiger,"
! she gasped, choking with wrath. II Of
! fered her two weeks wages and told
her she could leave. She said she didn't
want to, and told her to go anyhow.
The brazen thing def1ed me! She used
dreadful language, and I threatened to
have her put out. Then she kicked the
{ table over and danced round on the pie
| pans and dared me to touch her. She's
| got to get out of here this very day or I
| will"
"That's right, Lobelia,'' asserted Mr.
! McSwat cheerfuIly. "That's right. Put
| her out. It's your house. And it's your
! fight" he added, turning again to his
| newspaper.
care you going to sit there and let
that horrible girl turn the house upside
DOWN.
'M-hey? What?"
"Billiger McSwat, have you got the
spirit of man?''
"Ur-what did you remark?'
81 say are you going to let that dread
ful girl take possession of the premises
and turn ne out?''
81 don't hear her taking possession Of
anything, Lobelia,' said Mr.. McSwat,
listening intently a moment.
Because, if you are, I'll call in some
neighbor and tell him can't get the
man Of this house to protect me and I
want help
"Great Scottl What do you want me
to do?'' exclaimed Billiger, with a
yawn.
go out to the kitchen and tell that
impudent thing to pack up her traps
and go. Give her two weeks pay and
then give her two hours to get her trunk
and all her belongings moved. Tell her
you re the master of this house,
''But I'm not, you know, Lobelia, :"
weakly irterposed Billiger.
IF you re afraid to go and give the
girl her walking papers, say so, and I'll
call a policeman. -
81 don't think it will be necessary to
do that. I'll go and talk to her.
He rose slowly and proceeded toward
the kitchen, whistling with great ap-
parent indifference as he went.
He found Esmeralda holding the fort,
redhaired and defiant
my good girl, - he said in concili-
ating tone, this kind of thing won t
do, you know
'Don t you good girl me, you whin-
in hypocritel'' screeched Esmeralda,
waving a big tin dipper threateningly.
'You snoopin bag O. wind, git right
out O here, orr
but see here, Miss-Miss-I don t
believe know your last name
Don't make no difference what my
name is know what you re drivin at,
and I'm not a-goin awayl I'm goin to
stay right herer"
but don t you see that's all wrong?
You don't belong to the family, you
know
81 don@ want no more sass from you /
It's a doggone shame to turn good girl
ont at the beginnin of cold weather,
when she's fixed all conf table an make
her hunt new place, an amt goin to
| be turned out, bet your lifep'
Gut
eff you don't walk out O. here, I'll
make you wish you had A man hahn t
got no business in kitchenv'
eff you think you are going to run
over this family, young woman" said
Mr.. McSwat, heroically asserting him
ca1f eeIat mo toll <-o77