Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-14

pected praise, while Mrs. Fulton shut
the piano with bang and looked ex.
tremely annoyed.
"You can finish your work here some
other time" she said to Faith sharply.
Faith went out Of the parlor without
having said word. She was glad
when she reached the kitchen that she
had controlled herself, but the effort
not to say something in defense, to ex.
cuse her action, cost her tremendous
struggle. AS she prepared the midday
meal, she choked several times with a
dry sob g., she realized that she must
not try to be anything but hired girl
while employed in that capacity.
This isn't the work ought to do"
she said to herself again and again,
"but l am doing the best can. 1
wouldn't have touched the piano If I
hadn't forgotten myself at the sight of
the music. If l can get anything else
to do, won't stay here. But what can
do, unless l give up everything and
go home? l won't do that until have
to-"
Then she quieted her excitement by
recalling the home circle. Her fathers
face came up before her. and she said:
II am selfish to mind such thing. For
dear fathers saker
When she appeared at the table in
answer to Mrs. Fulton's ring of the
bell the first time, she showed no signs
of temper, and served quietly and
cheerfully. Mrs. Fulton looked at her
Sharply seVeraI times, but apparently
found nothing j the girrs face to an
noy her. The only embarrassing fea-
ture of the mtal to Faith was the fact
that several times she was conscious
that the young man, Malcolm, was look
Ing at her very directly. 1t was not a
stare. but 1t embarrassed Faith some
what. His face was honest andlmanly,
but the look. he often turned toward
her was very searching.
She was relieved when the meal was
over and she could clear things away.
1t was Thursday afternoon, and she
very quickly put her kitchen to rights
and. running up to her room, she put
on hat aud cloak and went out She de-
termined to have another look at the
picture on State street If it were still
there. And If 1t was gone plan had
suddenly come to her mind which she
had resolved to try before going back
to the Fultons'.
She had been gone out of the house
only few minutes when n conversa-
ton occurred in the parlor which
would have interested her intensely IL
she could have heard it.
The young man, Malcolm, had been i'll
at ease all through the lunchtime.
When 1t was over, he had gone into tile
library, where he had asked leave to
write letter. He was evidently a
business acquaintance Of Mr.. Fulton's,
but the conversation at the table re-
vealed the fact that he had not been in
the Fulton home before.
He finished his letter and went into
the parlor. Mrs. Fulton and Alice were
there. The girl had not gone to school
on account of not feeling well.
II am sorry that Mr.. Fulton did not
come out this noon, Mr.. Stanley" said
Mrs. Fulton, who seemed anxious to
please him. II am sure he must have
been unavoidably detained in the city.
He telephoned out in the early part Of
the forenoon that he would try to meet
you here. know he wanted to see
you before you go west"
Yes, madam" replied Malcolm Stan
ley. He spoke respectfully, but one
who knew him well would have said
his tone lacked heartiness. He was
evidently very much disturbed about
something.
He walked to the window and looked
out. Alice went over to the piano and
opened 1t. She sat down and played a
few bars of the march. Often when
she was feeling miserable little mu-
sic would relieve her.
The sound of the piano reused NAL
com Stanley. He came back to the mid
die of the room, and, taking seat
near Mrs. Fulton, he said with some
emphasis, as If he had been making
up his mind to n course:
Mrs. Fulton. where does your-girl-
the girl who waited on the table, who
was playing the piano-where did she
, come from? What Is her namew
Mrs. Fulton looked surprised and
also embarrassed.
"She is from Kansas, / believe she
told me. Her name is Faith. What
is the girls last name, Alice? never
, can remember it," she called to Alice.
Alice stopped playing and turned
around on the piano STOOL
"Kirk-Faith Kirk"
ooh, yes. She's a peculiar girl in
some ways, Mr.. Stanley, as no doubt
you noticed. 1t is not often that we
housekeepers can furnish superior mu-
sicians to entertain guests" she add
ed with short, laugh. which, showed
that she still thought of the incident
of Faith at the piano with great an
noyance.
But Malcom Stanley had risen, his
whole expression betraying great ex-
/ element.
l-.If this girls name is Kirk. Mrs.