The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-01-17

put it in the envelope, directed lit,
stamped it; and then, being hardly
more than a girl. and a very tired
girl, and at the moment one disap-
pointed with herself and all the
world, she laid her head down on the
little table and cried hard. To tell
the truth, it was not the first time
that the little table in the little room
at the back of the house had seen
Barbara's tears since she had come
to work at Mrs. Richard Wards as
''hired girl"
So this was the end of all her he
roic enthusiasm for service. 1t had
all turned out in disappointment. To
begin with, the weather had been in
tensely hot all the time. The work
was harder in many ways than Bar
bara had anticipated. Her mother
had not been well. One week Mrs.
Ward had gone to bed with a success
sion of nervous headaches. And so
on with ceaseless recurrence of the
drudgery that grew more and more
tiresome. At the end of the month
Barbara had summed up everything
and resolutely concluded to leave.
OiiC udo uoO yCI SdCHCl GU courage
to tell Mrs. Ward. The woman had
been very kind to her in many ways.
But she was not well, and there were
days when things had occurred that
almost sickened Barbara when she
recalled them. When she went down
stairs the next morning after writ
ing the letter to her former class
mate, Barbara had fully made up her
mind, not only to give notice of her
intention to leave, but to give Mrs.
Ward all her reasons why she could
not work as ''hired girl" any longer.
About ten o'clock in the forenoon
Mrs. Ward came into the kitchen for
something, and Barbara, with feel
ing that was almost fear, spoke to
her as she was turning to go back
into the dining-room.
Il ought to tell you, Mrs. Ward,
month is up to-day, and l."
Mrs. Ward looked at her in amaze
ment.
"What! You are going to leave?
Why, we are more than satisfied with
you'll"
''But I am not with you or the
place!" replied Barbara, so spiritedly
that it was the nearest to an exhibit
ton of anger that Mrs. Ward had
ever seen in her, during the whole
month.
Mrs. Ward sunk down in chair,
and a look of despair came over her
face as she looked at Barbara. Bar
bara, with white face and trembling
hands, went on with her work at the
table. She was preparing some dish
fog baking. -
hy-what-haven' we been kind
to you? Haven't the wages-Mr.
Ward was saying to me this morning
that we ought to give you more. 1
am sure" Mrs. Ward continued eager
ly, noting Barbara's set expression,
81 am sure we would be glad to make
it four and a half a week, or possibly
five"
Its not that" answered Barbara,
in low voice. She took up the dish
and put it in the oven, and then, after
moment of hesitation, she sat down
and looked at Mrs. Ward very
gravely.
"What is it, then?" Mrs. Ward
asked hopelessly.
do you want me to tell you all
the reasons / have for leaving?
Barbara asked the question with a
| touch of the feeling she had already
| shown.
"Have you made out list?" Mrs.
Ward asked carelessly. 1t was that
characteristic of the woman that had
| oftenest tried Barbara.
Eyes, have" replied Barbara; and
she added, with different tone, as if
she had suddenly put check on her
| temper: 'AIrs. Ward, I don't want
to leave you without giving you good
either to you or to me-"
| 81 ought to know" replied Mrs.
Ward, slowly. She still looked at Bar
bara sharply, and Barbara could not
tell exactly what the woman was
really thinking.
''Then, in the first place." began
Barbara, my room is the hottest
room in the house. 1t is right over
the kitchen, it has no good vent;la-
ton, and it is not attractive in any
way as a room at the close of hard
days work."
at is the room my girls have al
| ways had" Mrs. Ward spoke quickly
and angrily.
| Maybe that is one reason you have
had so many" said Barbara, grimly.
| Of tho