Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-06-26
THE NEW GIM,
By W.. r. Rose.

THE April III was pouring in
l through the half-open window,
and a gentle breeze from the south
swayed the long curtains. But there
was very little sunshine in Annabel
Maitland's heart, and the south wind
brought no soothing relief to the
flushed brow.
Presently there were two sharp
whirrs at the telephone. Annabel ran
back to the instrument. 1t was a call
from George. His Aunt Mary hadn't
ONE. She must have missed the
train somewhere. The next train
wouldn't be in until five o'clock. He
would meet it then and bring his
aunt home with him.
"Any girl yet?" he called.
NO." replied Annabel with a
little catch in her voice.
"That's tough" said George. "But
We'll get along some way. Goodby."
Annabel hung up the receiver with
a petulant little jerk.
'It's all very well to say We'll get
along some way" she grumbled, "but
what good does that do? George
can't lift his finger to do a thing
about the house. Poor old dear.
And I did want to have everything
so nice when his aunt came. Well,
I'm to get a few hours respite, any,
way. I'd better be studying that
cook book some more, or shall I
dust?"
And then the telephone bell gave
it's double whirr again.
"This is the Unique Employment
Agency" said a voice. eve have a
girl that we think would suit you.
She has an excellent recommends
ton. And she says she can take the
place at once"
"Send her right up, please" said
Annabel.
"She will be up soon after lunch
con-" said the voice.
Annabel felt relieved; so very much
relieved that she broke forth into
song. 1t was a song that George
had liked before they were married.
How the time had flown. 1t seemed
but yesterday that he was leaning
over the piano and begging her for
another verse. And now they were
staid old people. Married two years
last October. She stopped her song
just long enough to interpolate a
little sigh, and then went on.
Probably it was the song that pre-
vented her from hearing the door
bell. 1t rang, and several times, too.
And then Annabel was startled by a
loud rap at the kitchen door. She
hurried down stairs and hastily
turned the key and knob.
There stood a neatly CARRIED wo-
man; a woman of middle age, with
a pleasant smile on her motherly
face.
Annabel smiled, too, when she
caught sight of the stranger.
"Come right ill.," she said. "I'm Sc
glad you didn't disappoint me. They
telephoned that you wouldn't be uI
until after luncheon"
"Who telephoned!" inquired the
stranger, and she still smiled.
"Why, the agency people," replied
Annabel. won't you sit DOWN."
The stranger accepted the invi
tation and Annabel seated herself
before her.
"Of course you cook?" she said.
The stranger smiled again.
"Tve had twenty years. experience
at it, ma'am," she said, with a queer
little twitch at her mouth.
"Plain or fancy?"
II think l may say both, ma'am."
81 like the modest way you say it,
said Annabel. "They most always
boast so. Do you make good bread?'
81 have been told so, ma'am."
"And pies and cakes?"
eyes ma'am, and cookies"
George likes cookies. Yes, and hi
likes fried cakes. Do you make friet
cakes?"
eyes ma'am, and johnnycake too
"He loves ~johnnycake, but we neve1
had a girl who could make it to sui
him. What afternoon would you lik'
out?."
"I'm not very particular, ma'am,
said the stranger. Perhaps we cal
arrange that later"
'I'm sure we can," said Annabel
81 pay 81, and have a laundress tw'
days in the week"
"That is satisfactory, I think" SAT-
the stranger. "Have you much com
pany?'
every little" said Annabel. AM
I always help with the work toe
You wouldn't mind my coming int
the Kitchen, would your"
sNot in the least" said the stran
ger. 81 think I'd rather like it."
"Thank you" said Annabel. AN
I hope you find the kitchen suit
you"
ut seems very conve,aent-an
very %clean,'' she said with an approx
ing nod.
II think you will find the place
comparatively easy one SAID Anna