The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-02-08
A MAID TO ORDER,

II MHlD III UuUEu,
The table was charming. The peariy
expanse Of damask that EMBODIED it was
one Of the Misses Dormond's most treas
ured possessions. saved out of a general
wreck of family fortunes.
The old-fashioned silver. of those inim
liable patterns which no modern shop can
supply, cleaned like irregularly-s shaped
planets at intervals across the CLOTH
Moreover, Il daffodil bulb cherished in
windowsill warmth, had obligingIy
thrown out handful of blossoms. This
pot, sheathed in yellow tissue paper made
thoroughly attractive cenrerpiece.
1T 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 1t, even though you are candidate
Tor her secretaryship, Isabel, and SO
much dOeS depend upon making 4 good
lmpression.'
The house couldn't fail to make Il
good IMPRESSION Isabel broke in. 1T is
clean and sweet and old-fashioned from
top to toe. One can't say that house
has toe-There's just one thing lack
ing: L DO wish we had good maid to
wait on the table. hate those embar-
RAISING breaks in home luncheon where
the hostess is obliged to cut off in the
middle of sentence and bolt into the
Kitchen to bring the broiled squad course
to table.
Yes. That's always wretchedly EN-
barrasslng,' Isabel agreed. Its harder
on the guests than the hostess, too. How
ever, there's no help for it. We don't
keep maid, and this suburb isn't a place
Where you can find a girl to call in for a
be helped"
what is pity but can't be helped"
demanded the youngest Miss Dormond,
VINO projected into the room just in time
TO near the last half of the sentence?
'Isabel and 1 were lamenting that we
didn't have maid to serve the luncheon
Gertrude: We were saying how desper-
ately embarrassing it is for hostess to
jump up to remove the plates after 4
course. and to bring the next course to
table,"
Il never thought of that" Gertrude ac-
quiesced in a disappointed tone. Our en-
tertaining has always been so informal
we're, likely to make the guests change
the plates and bring in the courses from
the kitchen themselves. But it's true, a.
you say. that kind of thing won't id
when w we're entertaining Mrs. Caulking-
totis AoAC ~ tA4t1Sd4 lAul ucE eyes Duru
holes in anything they fall on. We
wouldn't mind her little peculiarities if
she were merel " an acquaintance. But
if Isabel is going to demand big fat
salary she must make a big fat impress
sion; I'm sure Mrs. Caulkington would
cut her down half if she knew how poor
we are. and how badly we need that Sec
retaryship. Something must be done.''
"Gertrude. dear, you know perfectly
we'll that nothing can be done There are
only two hours left and. in any case, yon
can't secure girl here in the country to
come in for just one day"
II know that, but whisht my dear! An
idea dawns in my brain! Let it maturc:'
maid:"
Yes; my dear. A ready maid so to
SILLY! Do you think Isabel and I
i have o., time to waste upon your vaper-
"A ready maid. No. a maid to order!
feel the idea grow in my cerebrum-and
it really is q good one"
The young lady sat down in the little
oaken window and buried her face in
her hands.
Three minutes later she sprang up and
promoted triumphantly around the
:.Huzz2: I've solved the problem" she
shall have a maid to serve Mrs. Caulk-
ington'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 dia-
grams and will not cause the downfall
and destruction of our precious willow
pattern china. In fact, the maid pro-
prose to offer you will be an explanatory
key with copious illustrations to the en-
tire servant question:
Gertrude,'s sisters were. very far from
despising the girls ready Imagination. 1t
had often helped to solve an economic
problem which they themselves had
abandoned to despair. But this crisis Of
the maid to order seemed considerably
beyond Gertrude, even, and they frankly
announced themselves skeptics.
DO you mean to look for your re-
markable maid here in the suburbs or
elsewhere?' they demanded.
shall procure her in the city-or
rather. | shall go on a little trip to the
city, and l will send the maid to you in
But, Gertrude! If you leave now for
the city. you won't have time. child, to
get back for Mrs. Caulkington's lunch
con-
"1'm not afraid. but I'm glad of an ex-
cuse to absolve myself I'm in awe of
Mrs. Caulkington, and I tremble before.
the glare of her lorgnettes. You can
make my excuses to Mrs. Caulkincton
and tell her that was obliged to 20 into
the city on pressing business"
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,
represented, but Gertrude stood firm.
PART II.
Mrs. Caulkington's critical eyes wer.
already boring holes in the DRAWN ,
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 gingham skirts
brushed the silence Of the place, and =
soft voice sounded in Isabel's ear. :
IF you please, Miss" said the voice.
Miss Gertrude done send me. am de
ssGood graciousr' shrieked Isabel. I'M
der her breath. She started back. the
oyster plate in her hand narrowly Is
Gaping calamity. = - -..s..' +. r.s
She said "Good graciousr' once NOR