The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-03-12
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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-
Pertaining Mrs. Caulkington. She's SO
critical that her eyes burn holes In
anything they fall on. We wouldn't
mind her little peculiarities If 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 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
maturep'
"An idea for what? For getting us a
maidr"
Eyes, my dear-a ready maid, SO to
speak"
"Sillyl Do you think Isabel and l
have time to waste upon your vapor-
ingsY
"a ready maid-no, maid to order!
Don't talk to me for three minutes. l
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 1t that
you shall have maid to serve Mrs.
Caulkington's luncheon. A stunning
maid, well 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"
Gertrude's sisters were very far from
despising the girls ready imagination.
It 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
elsewhereY' they demanded.
II shall procure her in the city, or,
rather, l shall go on a trip to the
city, and / will send the maid to you
in my absence"
''But, Gertrude! If you leave now
Cor the city you won't have time. child.
70 get back for Mrs. Caulkington's
luncheon"
'I'm not afraid, but I'm glad Of an
excuse to absolve myself. I'm in awe
Of Mrs. Caulkington, and tremble
before the glare of her lorgnettes. You
can make my excuses to Mrs. Caulk-
ington and tell her that I was obliged
to go into the city on pressing busi-
ness"
1t seemed an injustice that Gertrude
should not be there to witness the sue
cess Of the occasion for which they had
all worked so hard.
The older girls reasoned, pleaded, rep
resented, but Gertrude stood firm.
Mrs. Caulkington's critical eyes were
already boring holes In the drawing
room furniture, and the luncheon hour
was but three minutes in the future.
Isabel, in her prettiest silk waist,
was arranging the oyster plates upon
the table preliminary to ushering their
guest into the dining room.
Suddenly purling of Bingham skirts
brushed the silence Of the place, and
soft voice sounded in Isabel's ear.
'If 20 please, MISS" said the voice,
'Miss Gertrude done send me- am
de maid to ordah."
"Good graciousw shrieked Isabel un-
der her breath. She started back, the
oyster plate In her hand narrowly es-
Gaping calamity.
She said "Good gracious" once more,
and very fervently, when she turned,
for there, not a yard from her side,
waiting to be assigned to her duties.
stood the most desirable of colored
Mattresses.
She was tall, well poised and. bar
ring her skin, strikingly handsome
young woman. Her pink Bingham
gown fitted to perfection and closely
resembled one worn by Gertrude for
on the porch. Her dainty
ruff1ed apron was strikingly like one
which Isabel herself wore while sew
ing. Perched saucily In her black, rip
ply hair she wore a bit of cap, which,
when examined at close range, seemed
to be nothing more than q tuft of white
lace cleverly pinned.
Isabel took a second look at her new
acquisition and dropped into chair,
laughing weakly.
miss Gertrude done send me, miss"
the maid repeated softly, IAN she said
TO- yo' to jest go set in de parlah, an
leave all de servin to me-"
ooh Gertrude- Gertrudel' Gurgled Il