The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-11-10

tOucneS ABOUT the rooms, 10 show that
the fair daughter of Che house had
taken either pride or pleasure in pre-
pairing for her fathers guests. nor was
there in her face any OF the brightness
of happy expectancy.
Mr.. Bingham was reading in the
library off the dining-room, when Faith
entered by the curtain-draped door.
which half revealed the table. aglow
with candles and cleaning with glass
and silver. The manager was luxuri-
Gus proyider; he loved that his house
hold should fare sumptuously and dress
bravely, and he was not behind in set.
ting prosperous example.
Father, may 1 speak to you about
something?"
Mr.. Bingham turned to his daughter
with slightly forced look of amiable
interest. Certainly, my dear. Moth
ing unpleasant, hope"
"Oh, yes: it is unpleasant. It's about
Abby. l wish you would tell me what
she did do before came. can never
ask her TO do thing but she is perfect
ly amazed. She says she never waited
on tables when you gave dinners
never!"
"Oh, yes, she did, but-a-you needn't
say | said so. She makes distinction
in her own mind. very likely. between
waiting on men-who are supposed to
be helpless creatures, anyway--and
waiting when lady sits at table and
gives orders. You haven't struck her
right, that's ALL"
why, father, l cannot speak to her.
l positively cringe to her, now. She has
the most extraordinary mannersl II 1
meet her she never steps aside; she
pushes ahead, and l simply retire to
avoid collision. She goes out and in
at the front door, and sits on the front
porch; she doesn't think of rising il
happen to come out-she doesn't see
me. She answers the bell or not, as she
pleases. l have opened the door, my
self, to men who have asked if Miss
Steers was in, evidently expecting that
/ should call her; which / did! /
thought it joke at first-on the coun-
try and the way we live. But it's get
ting past joke. Tonight, with four
men to dinner, l took it for granted
that she proposed to make herself use
full. l didn't ask her to wait on table; ;
| thought it safer to assume that she
would condescend that much. But ]
gave her few hints which she certain
ly needed was as pleasant and as
careful as l could be-and she flew up
| in a perfect rage. was Obliged to leave
| the room.
"Now, what are we to do? You know
what scramble il is when Wan has 10
come in; he has all he can possibly dc
with his dinner. l would wait or table
myself, but, father. for your sake. can
not do such things with Abby in the
house. Send her away, and / will dc
her work-I almost do it now--but
cannot do it, for your own sake, father
so conspicuously."
SIN Heavens name. who has asked
you to do Abby's work! Do you sup
pose / want my daughter to do the
work of the house?"
"Your daughter does a good deal oi
it, | don't know whose work it is, OF
who is mistress here; that is what
troubles me, father. / spoke to Abby
one day about something that wasn't
quite right in my bedroom; since ther
she has never entered the room. l dc
it myself, or did, until Wan saw ne
and took the work out of my hands
What did Abby do, before / came ?"
well, she pretty much ran the
house, that is fact, and was too lazy
to keep her in order. I'm too lazy tc
discharge her now.
They are all pretty much Of a much
ness" Mr.. Bingham eNpatiated, un
comfortably. They all make point
the American ones, Of sitting at meals
with you, or being asked to. If you hac
thought to ask Abby to sit down Will
you to luncheon, sometimes, when yol
were alone, that would have made i
all right. Now she thinks you set your
self above her, which the more you ar,
the less she'll acknowledge it, of course
She's on her ear, now, about somt
trifie. l suspect you are a bit too par
ticular about trines. Young house
keepers are apt to be. ! know sh,
slams around the house as IL she'd beer
brought up in a boiler-shop, but sh,
has her good points. You'll get usee
to her"
There seems to be no question ct
her getting used to me-" said Faith
with rising temper. "If she makes any
distinction at all between us, it's en-
tirely In favor of herself. And, father
I'm ashamed to have such looking
woman about the house, so frightful
ly dressed, and so made up. Why, sh,
doesn't look respectable!"
Mr.. Bingham smiled sickly smile
"Oh. well, that's her little privilege, tC
fix herself up to suit herself. | dom
admire all that powder and paint, bu
she does. and it's her own face"
But there are such nice-lookinl
girls at Wallace" Faith pleaded
you've never tried anybody but Abby
| have you? She has been here. too long
a2d it's hard for me to begin with {
woman who has never had a mistress
SO she gives me to understand. o.
course we can't discuss it tonight, bu
do think about il, father"
Mr.. Bingham promised to think abou
it. AS Faith closed the door, he tool
up his newspaper with sigh, bu
threw it down again emphatically on
hearing the brassy tones of Abby
talking loudly as she entered the din
ing-room by way of the back hall. Mr.
Bingham got upon his feet, and fec