Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-04-10

| question"
Gertrude's sisters were very far from
desplsing the girls ready imagination.
1t had often helped to solve an econ
oihlc prblem which they themselves
had abandoned to despair But this
crisis OF the maid to order seemed con
sidenbly beyond Gertrude even. and
they frankly announced themselves
'Nep'ies - mean to LOOK Tor your pa
markable maid here in the suburbs or
elsewhere?' they demanded.
L shall procure her in the city-or,
rather, l shall go on little trip to the
city, and will send the maid to you in
my absence"
But, Gertrude. If you leave now
for the city you won't have time, child,
to get back for Mrs. Caulkington's
| luncheon"
I'm not afraid, but I'm glad of an
excuse to absolve myself. Pm in awe
of Mrs. Caulkington, and l tremble be-
fore the glare Of her lorgnettes. You
can make my excuses to Mrs. Caulking-
| ton and tell her that was obliged to go
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, rep
resented, but Gertrude stood firm.
PART III.
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 gingham skirts
brushed the silence of the place, and a
soft voice sounded in Isabeps ear.
'If you please, Miss" said the voice
Miss Gertrude done send me. l am dc
maid to ordah."
Good gracious!" shrieked Isabel, un
der her breath. She started back, the
oyster plate In her hand narrowly es
Gaping calamity.
She said "Good graciousw once more
and very fervently when she turned
For there, not yard from her side
waiting to be assigned to her duties
stood the most desirable Of coloret
mattresses.
She was tall, well poised, and, bar
ring her skin, strlkingly handsome
young woman. Her pink gingham gowl
fitted to perfection and closely resem
bled one worn by Gertrude for morn
ings on the porch. Her dainty ruffiet
apron was strikingly like one whicl
Isabel herself wore while sewing
, Perched saucily in her black, rippl.
hair, she wore a bit Of cap, which
when examined at close range, seeme'
, to be nothing more than tuft Of whit
lace cleverly pinned.
, Isabel took a second look at her ney
. acquisition and dropped into a chat
laughing weakly.
Miss Gertrude done send me, Miss,
, the maid repeated softly. "And sh
said fo' yo' to jest go set in de parlo
r and leave all the servin' to me-"
"Oh, Gertrude, Gertrude" gurgle
+ Isabel. what nonsense won't tina
, child attempt?"
The luncheon was faultlessly served
Never was waitress quicker, lighter
, softer, more all-seeing, more graceful.
, Even the critical Mrs. Caulkingto
was impressed.
r Afterward, when the luncheon part
had adjourned to the drawing-roon
the guest deliberately led around to tn
subject of domestics.
y 'Do you find it as hard to get goo
a girls I'm the suburbs as we do In th
= cityY she asked. II imagine not, fe
q that young waitress of yours is perfe
tion itself"
i, We'll, good girls are very scare
here" answered Isabel. "And I've Il
doubt we'd have endless trouble If W
\ had to change. But, you see, we hay
raised Anna ourselves. She knows OF
n own ways and suits us perfect.
We've had her for more than ten year
7 l know she'll never leave us unless, {
: course, she marries and has home {
her own"
), my dear girl, you simply have
I treasure cried the visitor wit
warmth. "If | were In your place
would shiyer Mt the very thought
o losing her. And, do you know, sint
II I've seen how perfectly your little tab
is arranged and served, I'm real
n afraid of what Miss Isabel will thin
g when she comes to me in the city.
hope you will close your eyes to nur
(" Der of things In my housekeeping, Nil
It Isabel"
5. ."Oh, am not critical, Mrs. Caulkln
q ton" laughed Isabel. And everyol
t knows how hard 1t Is to get maids III
10 Anna nowadays" s."-What to Eat.