Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-07
q don't know you at ALL" she fl,

after the fashion of Malcolm Kirk she
looked straight in the others eyes as
she spoke.
The women colored at first and then
smiled little.
at does seem to be about an even
thing. doesn't it? Well, the references
are good as far as they go. Would
you come for a week on trial? l have
generally hired my help in that way"
Eyes, ma'am."
Il am willing to pay $3.50 week if
you can do the cooking, or even 81 if
you can do all the work satisfactorily.
IL will come on trial. and if don't
please you you can dismiss me-" said
Faith. little eagerly. There was
something about the woman's manner
that seemed to her cold and unneces-
sarily businesslike; but, on the whole,
1t seemed like desirable place to
work.
MY name is Fulton. Yours isl"
Kirk, Faith Kirk"
"Ah, yes! Well, Faith, I'll show you
your room. Have you trunk?"
Eyes, ma'am. AT my ROOM" Faith
gave her the number.
"I'll send an expressman after it,"
She went to a telephone in the next
room and gave the necessary order
Faith had packed her trunk so as to
have it in readiness.
Mrs. Fulton led Faith up stairs to
her room, which was a comfortable
place, and as they stood there she
talked about the work expected Of the
"help."
II suppose you will want your Thurs
day afternoon and Sunday after din
ner?"
81 suppose So" said Faith, little
vaguely.
Mrs Fulton locked at her sharply.
81 have always been in the habit Of
giving my girls that amount Of time.
OF course you don't have to, take it If
you don't want to-"
II should like my sunday. / want
to be able to go to church." said Faith
boldly.
"Of course. We have late dinner,
say 2 or half past. After that you are
at liberty for the rest of the day"
Faith did not say anything, and Mrs.
Fulton took her down to the kitchen,
which was furnished in a complete
manner that pleased Faith the mo-
ment she stepped into it.
Are you ready to begin work to-
day." asked Mrs. Fulton after ex-
planning the range and showing Faith
where articles were.
eyes, ma'am."
Every well. We have lunch at L.
Dinner at half past g. Mr.. Fulton does
not cone.out from the city until night.
expect my son and daughter from
school always. Can you go ahead and
get lunch without any help?"
Yes, ma'am," Faith answered SIM
ply. She had determined to let her
work speak for itself. She had her
fathers self possession In such mat
tiers. Besides, she found herself la
boring under pleasant excitement
that stimulated her. She knew she
would be able to do her best
Z Mrs. Fulton looked at her new help
again with some sharpness.
Where did you say you were from?
mean before you came to the city,"
My home is in. Kansas"
That is a good ways from Chicago"
Mrs. Fulton spoke in some surprise.
No farther than Chicago is from
Kansas said Faith, again after her
fashion looking. straight at Mrs. Full
ton.
The woman Of the house seemed
amused this time. She seemed also to
be on the point of asking more ques-
tons, but finally went out of the kitch-
en-, leaving Faith in possession there.
AS Mrs Fulton sat down in the par
lor she sighed, butit was evidently a
sigh Of relief
Il never did such thing before, to
hire girl on such slender knowledge
But she looked clean and intelligent
she said to herself. "And l am so
tired Of the help have been having.
expect of course to be disappointed
in her. / always am. But I'll let her
try it for q week and see"
Mrs. Fulton sighed again and went
work there, for no matter how many
girls she might have had or how eapa-
Bile they may have been she was
born housekeeper and never was sat
isfied unless she was doing something
herself.
Meanwhile Faith, down in the kitch-
en-, planned and prepared a lunch that
was delightful surprise to the fami-
ly when it sat down at half past IL.
She had rightly supposed that Mrs.
Fulton was a generous provider, and
she found an excellent supply of every-
thing in the,larder. Dorothy had taught
Faith cooking and had even gone be-
yond the simple, plain cooking ordi-
narily common to the life in the par
sonage. It was not difficult thing,
therefore, with the supply before her.
for Faith to produce a dainty and ap-
petizlng lunch.