The Red Cloud chief., 1898-05-13

down in hcr heart Of hearts, she won
dcrod why 1t was that hOuscmaids were
i,orn with such becoming ankles, and
why cvcu their pink print gowns could
not conceal the fresh. young roundncs5
of their waists. The mistress of the
house was rapidly becoming Il moral
anarchist. with u mighty feminine de
sire To- tear into bits any law of nature
which allowed mcuials to have pink
checks and snowy threats, while all
the millions of her husband couldn't
eradicate the tcll-talc lines in front OF
ears and across her throat.
Poor Mamie, who wasn't wise
enough tn discover what was really
meant 10y the spitcful CLEAN iiltcring
through my lady's hdlf-cluscd eyes,
nevertheless vas cruelty conscious that
she was under some bitter diSapproval,
and her fingers all at once grew clumsy
and slow. As she felt the relentless
eyes bore deeper and deeper into her
dcfcnselcss self her nervousness in
creased and she Cuded by dropping her
soap with "a splash into her pail of
warm water. Mrs. Clavcrton gave an
angry little Take care" and made as
though some oi tho loathsome stun had
dashed ON to the beautiful gown, al
though Mamie knew perfectly well
that not Il drop of 1t had come within
a couple of yards of the fastidious lady.
still, the accident deprived her of her
last vcstiGc OF CumpOsure and. rs she
climbed to the top Of her steps again.
she set her foot on the hem of her
gown and u snarling little rent tore
zigzags through the thin fabric.
stupid. what is the matter with
YOU, anyway" came Mrs. Claycrton's
quick voice again; that voice which
her friends thought 50 suarc and gen
tie. Poor Naunic's big blue eyes filled
and she bit her quivcring lip till til,
snowy teeth threatened to do irrcpar'
able injury to the tender red flesh. But
without Il word she lifted her round
arms TO their work again and soor
there was no sound in the long room
beyond the occasional clink of the bur
nished chandelier, as its prisms, span
giles and tiny cnains glittcred undoI
the nervous fingers.
Peace lowered close above the trou
bled scene for "A few minutes, al
might have gone well II Mamie, In Al
attempt to reach the highest tip of tn
glittering rod, had not succeeded I,
loosing her sleeve, till It fell back half
way to the shoulder. revealing tn
most captivating elbow ever made: 1
was so soft. 50 smooth, with the deep
est dimple at the very tip, and a hin
OF another at the inner bend. where tn
slight rosiness Of the skin began I
melt into the fiawless white of the NJ
per arm.
/, Mrs. ClavcrtOn saw. and sh" dug he
" poor elbow deeper ,nto the d,
1 ienscless cushion. Then %unconsciou
/ Mamie lifted her lovely arms highC
= and the other sleeve slipped back. b'
? traying a twin to the first lovely elbow
Q which might have outvied its mate.
T. that had been possible. Mrs. Clavc
ton started forward in her chair. wit
a II fierce little sound. not exactly "A VOL
= and certainly nothing so unlovely
( n hiss. But whatever II was II W;
sharp enough to startle the scnsiti'
maid. and a. "A consequence one Of Il
costly glass globes dropped from h
taper fingers and broke in a thOusai
bits on the floor.
Mrs. Claverton herself didn't knC
what she said. but Il relieved her per
up feelings when the poor little ere
ture crept from the room with h
hateful sunny head bowed with sol
Mamie told her mother that she HI
been discharged because she hi
=. broke "A big chiny lamp shade" b
the real cause OF her dismissal lay
the fact that Mrs. Claverton's gov
maker wasn't tactful.