Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1901-02-28
A Maid to Order.
A Story Touching on the Serv-
ant Question.

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The table was charming. The pearly
expanse of damask that infolded it
was one of the Misses Dormond's most
treasured possessions, saved out of
general wreck of family fortunes.
The old fashioned silver, of those in
imltable patterns which no modern
shop can supply, cleaned like irregu-
larly shaped planets at intervals across
the cloth.
Moreover, a daffodil bulb cherished
in window sill warmth had obligingly
thrown out a handful of blossoms.
This pot, sheathed In yellow tissue pa
per, made a thoroughly attractive GEN.
terpiece.
'It is simply lovely" said Winifred,
with little sigh of relief and satisfac-
ton. Il shan't be In the least afraid
to have Mrs. Caulkington's eagle eye
turned upon it, even though you are
candidate for her secretaryship, Isabel,
and so much does depend upon making
a good impression"
1.-THE house couldn't fail to make
good impression" Isabel broke in. 1T
Is clean and sweet and old fashioned
from top to toe. One can't say that
house has a toe. There's just one
thing lacking. l do wish we had
good maid to wait on the table. l hate
those embarrassing breaks in a home
luncheon where the hostess Is obliged
to cut off in the middle of a sentence
and bolt into the kitchen to bring the
broiled squad course to table,"
Yes. That's always wretchedly en-
barrassing," Isabel agreed. Its hard
err ON the guests than the hostess too.
However, there's no help for 1t. We
don't keep a maid, and this suburb isn't
q place where you can find q girl to
call In for a day at time. It's pity,
but 1t can't be helped"
what is pity, but can't be helpedT
demanded the youngest Miss Dormond,
who pirouetted into the room just in
time to hear the last half Of the SEN
tence.
Isabel and 1 were lamenting that we
didn't have maid to serve the lunch
con, Gertrude. We were saying how
desperately embarrassing 1t is for a
hostess to jump up to remove the plates
after a course and to bring the next
course to table,"
acquiesced In disappointed tone.
"Our entertaining has always been so
Informal we're likely to make the
guests change the plates and bring In
the courses from the kitchen them
selves. But it's true, as you say, that
kind of thing won't do when we're en-
tertaining Mrs. Caulkington. She's so
critical that her eyes burn holes in
anything they fall on. We wouldn't
mind her little peculiarities II she were
merely an acquaintance, but If Isabel is
going to demand big, fat salary she
must make big, fat impression. I'm
sure Mrs. Caulkington would cut her
down half If she knew how poor we are
and how badly we need that secretary
ship. Something must be done"
Gertrude, dear, you know perfectly
well that nothing can be done. There
are only two hours left, and In any case
you can't secure a girl here In the coun-
try to come in for just one day."
81 know that, but whisht, my dear!
An idea dawns In my brain! Let 1t
maturev'
IAN idea for what? For getting US a
maid?"
Eyes, my dear-a ready maid, SO to
speak,"
"Silly! Do you think Isabel and
have time to waste upon your vapor-
ingsY
"a ready maid-no, a maid to order!
| Don't talk to me for three minutes.
| feel the idea grow in my cerebrum, and
| 1t really is good one."
The young lady sat down In the little
| oaken window seat and buried her face
in her hands.
Three minutes later she sprang up
and pirouetted triumphantly around
the charming table.
| "Huzza! I've solved the problem"
she cried. "And I'll stand for it that
| you shall have a maid to serve Mrs.
| Caulkington's luncheon. A stunning
| maid, we'll trained, light footed, soft
| voiced: a maid who will not send so
| much as one plate Of raw oysters down
the back of your guest; who will do
things without diagrams and will not
| cause the downfall and destruction of
| precious willow pattern china. In fact,
the maid propose to offer you will be
an explanatory key with copious Illus
trations to the entire servant question"
Gertrudes sisters were very far from
despising the girls ready Imagination.
1t had often helped to solve an econom-
ic problem which they themselves had
abandoned in despair. But this crisis
of the maid to order seemed consider
ably beyond Gertrude even, and they
frankly announced themselves skep-
tics.
DO you mean to look for your re-
markable maid here in the suburb or
elsewhereT they demanded.
II shall procure her in the city, or,
rather, l shall go on a trip to the
city, and l will send the maid to you
In my absence"
"But, Gertrude! II you leave now
for the city you won't have time, child.
to get back for Mrs. Caulkington's
luncEson." ...
I'm lot afraid, but I'm glad of an
excuse to absolve myself. I'm In awe
of Mrs. Caulkington, and 1 tremble
before the glare of her lorgnettes. You
can make my excuses to Mrs. Caulk-
ington and tell her that l was obliged
to go into the city on pressing bust
ness"
1t seemed an injustice that Gertrude
should not be there to witness the sue
cess Of the occasion for which they had