The Holly chieftain., 1898-11-11

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 of the dining-rocm, when Faith
entered by the curtain-draped door,
which half revealed the table. aplow
with candles and cleaning with glass
and silver. The manager was a luxuri-
Gus provider; he loved that his house.
hold should fare sumptuously and dress
bravely. and he was not behind in set
ting prosperous example.
Father, may speak to you abou,
something?"
Mr.. Bingham turned to his daughter
with a slightly forced look of amiable
interest. Certainly. my dear. Moth
ing unpleasant, hope"
"Oh, yes: It is unpleasant. tits about
Abby. 1 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, nnyway-and
waiting when lady sits at table and
gives orders. You haven't struck her
right, that's ALL"
'sWhy, father, I cannot speak to her!
l positively cringe to her, now. She has
the most extraordinary manners! III
meet her she never steps aside; she
pushes ahead, and 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 II /
happen to come out-she doesn't see
me. She answers the bell or not, as she
pleases. 1 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 1t joke at first--on the coun-
try and the way we I've. But it's get
ting past joke. Tonight, with four
men to dinner, took it for granted
that she proposed to make herself use
full. didn't ask her to wait on table;
l 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 could be-and she flew up
in a perfect rage. Twas obliged to leave
the room.
Now, what are we 70 do? You know
what scramble it is when Wan has to
come in; he has all hi can possibly do
with his dinner. Iwdild wait on table
myself, but, father, fosyour sake, can
not do such things with Abby in the
house. Send her awg, and will do
her work-I almost d it now-but
cannot do 1t, for your iwn sake, father,
SO conspicuously."
"In Heavens name who has asked
you to do Abby's wo,k! Do you sup
pose l want my daughter to do the
work of the house?"
"Your daughter doa good deal of
it. don't know whose work 1t is, or
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 then
she has never enteret the room. do
it myself, or did, u til Wan saw ne,
and took the work but of my hands.
What did Abby do, before came?"
well, she pretty much ran the
house, that is fact, and 1 was too lazy
to keep her in order. I'm too lazy to
discharge her now.
"They are all pretty n,,ch Of a much
ness" Mr.. Bingham 1patiated, un-
comfortably. They al make point,
the American ones, of lifting at meals
with you. or being askeito. If you had
thought to ask Abby I, sit down with
you to luncheon, some lines, when you
were alone, that wonll have made 1t
all right. Now she thinks you set your
self above her. which tie more you are
the lesx she'll ackr wlefge it, of course.
She's.on her ear, nov, about some
trifie. / inspect you aA a bit too par
ticular about triles. Young house
keepers are apt to be know she
slams around the houseas if she'd been
broughtsup in boile.shop, but she
has her good points. You'll get used
to herr
'.There seems to be no question Of
heE getting used TO ne" said Faith.
with rising temper. IN she makes any
distinction at all between us, it's en-
tirely in favor Of hersdf. And, father,
I'm ashamed to have such a looking
woman about the houe, so frightful-
ly dressed, and SO MADE up. Why, she
doesn't look respectatle!"
Mr.. Bingham smiled sickly smile
"Oh, well, that's her little privilege, to
fix herself up to suft herself. don't
admire all that powder and paint, but
she does. and it's her own face"
''But there are such nice-looking
girls at Wallace" Faith pleaded.
you've never tried anybody but Abby,
have you? She has been here too long,
and it's hard for mejto begin with
woman who has never had mistress
so she gives me II understand. or
course we can't discass it tonight, but
do think about 1t, fsther."
Mr.. Bingham promised to think about
it. AS Faith closet the door. he took
up his newspaper with a sigh. but
threw II down agan emphatically on
hearing the BRASS tones of Abby,
talking loudly as she entered the din
ing-room by way ol the back hall. Mr..
Bingham got upon his feet, and fled
from the wrath to come.
He was in here. heard them talk
ing. l bet they were talking me over.
Perhaps he's sterfed into her room.
Set down, and I'll SEE" Miss Steers said
briskly. A young nan with hard but