Middletown transcript., 1902-09-13

:
tie.
'I've always wanted to put my theories
about girls into practice" went on Con.
ME, calmly. Il don't know as you evel
knew it, Larry, but / wrote an article
once on How to Treat Servants. = From
Comics toLe it might have been dozen
years ago she wrote it. Connie was eigh.
teen. For five Of her years she had been
away at school, hence it followed thai
her ideas of servants and housekeeping
generally were entirely theoretical.
IT shall treat this one that way. ]
shall let her eat with the family and
have her callers in the parlor."
The silent whistle found its voice in q
single long-drawn note. But Larry's face
was non-committal.
"And l shall call her Miss something,
you must, too, Larry, you and Pollykins
both. shall insist. You didn't tell me
her last name"
"O'Raferty."
But Connie did not vince, though a
little tinge Of color swept inward from
her ear-tips and tinted her face.
"Miss O'-O'RaHerty, therel" she said
calmly. "She will feel more self-respect
if we call her that. Nobody wants to be
Mary-ed or Norah-ed or Jane.ed-"
'fShe's it."
"Call it Biddy-ed."
"-from morning to night" severely,
"or to be shut off by herself in the kit
chen, as if she were qusrantined-ostra-
cized, 1 mean,-Larry Clearwater, you
know what I mean. Well, she-this
girl"
'Miss O'Rafferty."
"Miss O'Rafferty isn't going to be-
done that to-" Comics dignity was
splendid. Il shall try to make her feel
at home" And, true to her word, that
was the kindly task she set herself, as
soon as she got home. In the gentlest
way she began her difficult work of
breaking in" Miss O'Rafferty. It was
pleasant to see the dainty, courteous little
mistress patiently practicing her theories
on the great untamed, unappreciative
working-girl. The pity of it was that
Miss O'Rafferty was the wrong material
to mould.
1t was soon over. But three days after
Comics home coming, Larry was awak-
ened to find little Pollykins tugging at
his ear.
"Get up 'mediately, Larry, do you
hear?"
'Leggo my ear, so I can"
"Well, therel Now get up, and dress
like everything. Connie wants you.
She sent me,-somsthing's happened"
81 should say it hadl I've been walked
up in the middle of the night" grumbled
Larry. But he hurried into his clothes
and downstairs. Constance met him at
the foot of the stairs.
Have you put it outT' cried Larry.
"Put what out?''
'"The fire."
mo, haven't. want you to put it
imp Connie laughed hystericaily. 81
can't make even the match burn. Oh,
Larry, what do you suppose has hap
pened?"
''Give it up. What?"
''She's run away"
''The dickens, you don't say SO! Not
Miss O'Rafferty?"
NO, she,-that girl. And that isn't
the worst of it, either.
81 shouldn't think it was! l should
call that the best of it"
''She's carried the spoons-oh, Larry,
the spoonsp'
Eyes, sir, she has. Think O. that
my bread-an' milk one, and the suga.
spoon and the salt spoon, and all of eml''
chartered little Pollykins excitedly. She
was dancing up and down on Larry's
toes, in an abandonment of woe.
"And the gold candlesticks," recited
Constance in stilted voice, as if she
were SAYING piece, "and I don't know
what else. Likely as not grandmother's
gold-bowtd glasses, and the teapot. 1
don't dare to look"
"Where's father?"
"I've told him. Fathers dear; he
didn't do thing but put on his hat and
60 after her."
Larry darted about the room wildly.
Where's mine? Get me my hat, can't
you? Pm going, too"
''He had forgotten the kitchen fire.
and SO had Constance. In her need Of
comfort she stole away with Pollykins
to grandmother's room. It was some
to pour out the tale Of Miss
O'Rafferty's betrayal of her kindness.
II trusted her-I thought that was the
way to do" she sighed. 81 scorned to
Iock up the silyer-I thought that was
The way. I'll never have airy more theo.
ries about treating servant"
1T was the way, DEAR" grandmother
said soothingly. ''The trouble wasn't
with the theories, but with that-with
Miss"
"Don't Miss her, grandma. Ishan'tP'
cried Connie, vindictiyely.
"Nor me, neither" giggled Pollykins,
''but / guess we'll all Of us miss the
'poonsI'
'1've always believed in following the
Golden Rule with your servants as much
IS with your own folks, went on the calm
Did voice musingly. 1t ought to work all
ways. I guess you have no need to
change your theories, dearie, only mod
fy it little, mebbe."
"Add some bylaws, /" Constance smiled
She was already comforted to the smiling
point.
eyes, when you get wise enough to.
Keep ahold of your ideas of being kind
20 folks and trusting them, but wait till
you've found the right person for them.
The same theory does not fit everybody,
my dear. You will find out when YOU
are older. We are never to old to find