The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-07-04

she laid aside her hat and cape, said
the room quite suited her. Then she
asked Annabe1 to lend her COM
mon frock that she could wear until
her trunk came. And Annabel
hustled about and decked her in an
ancient summer gown, and white
apron and white cap, and then
stood back and contemplated her
work with great satisfaction.
"Why, you're picture" she said.
"But you are not thinking of max
ing an art gallery of your Kitchen -
laughed the maid.
And somehow Annabel failed to see
any incongruity in this remark.
| She escorted the new help back to
the kitchen, and then hastily slipped
into the dining-room and telephoned
to George.
George" she murmured, "a new
girl has come, and l know she's a
jewell"
Don't let her slip from the set
ting until I can see her." laughed
George. ''What is she, an emerald?''
"She's diamond of the first wa
ter" said Annabel.
eff she's diamond she must have
| carroty hair" chuckled George.
But, say, don't forget about Aunt
Mary"
''Not for a moment" said Annabel.
81 am all ready for her now"
the little luncheon together and ate
it together, for here, thought the
young mistress, is a maid that IA
miliarity will not spoil.
But right in the midst of this little
repast AnAabel stopped short.
"Dear me-" she cried, 1--WE never
thought to ask you for your name"
The maid looked up.
cit doesn't much matter" she
said. Suppose you call me by the
name the children called me at my
last place. 1t was Auntie."
"It sounds little familiar" said
Annabel, 'but, of course, I'll call you
that if you prefer it. George will
think it funny, though"
"Your husband?"
eyes. He can see fun in almost
everything. He has even cracked
jokes over my being without a girl"
II am afraid he is little irrever-
ent," said the maid.
''But he began to feel more serious
about it last night" said Annabel.
The new maid laughed.
'And is this aunt supposed to be
very exacting persona"
George says she is kindness itself,
but I'm afraid she would be a little
critical. You know how we women
are? OF course, I suit George, but
then he is quite blind to my faults.
I'm really rattlebrain, you know.
Mercy, how I'm going on now!"
| The new maid laughed over her tea
cup.
81 think" she said, "that you've
been hungering for somebody to lis
ten to you"
'"That's just it," cried Annabel. est
was different when Lena was here.
She was German girl and very well
educated, and so sensible. We often
read German together, and really she
used much more careful English than
1 do. But her mothers health failed,
and she had to go home and look
after her father and the younger
children. That was five weeks ago,
and I've been trying to replace her
ever since. And really, you know, it's
been dreadfully lonesome here ever
since she went away"
81 can imagine it," said the new
maid. Give been lonesome myself
good many times" And she quick
" and deftly cleared away the re-
mains of the simple meal. ''You said
your husbands aunt was coming to-
day."
$50 she telegraphed," replied Anna
bel. "But she wasn't on the train.
George says she must have been de-
layed somewhere, but he expects
she'll surely be here on the late aft
ernoon express. And I want to have
a real nice little dinner for her, you
know"
"Of course" said the new maid,
with sympathetic nod.
"And you must help me get it,
said Annabel.
The new maid laughed.
"You have my most gracious per-
mission" she said.
"Oh, I'm not as useless as I look,''
protested Annabel.>
"And I'm quite sure there is moth
ing useless about your looks" said
the new maid as she put her head a
little on one side and glanced admir-
ingly at the pretty face with it's
flushed cheeks and it's bright eyes.
ooh, thank you'll" cried Annabel,
and the flush grew deeper. THAT'S
what George would call barefaced
jolly"
When Annabel's sharp ears heard
George on the porch she was waiting
in the library, and ran to throw the
door open. George was alone.
"Why, where's Aunt Mary?" she
! cried.
GNot ~, the tro;,, cold Hoor~o