The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-05-14

: AtoohGs, Sue SEE uiilS iel up I
cup o coffee an a soft-biled aig. wild some
toas', to her room, at once" said one o.
the negro women, coming up to Mrs
klegg the next MORNING, as the latte
with the girls was busy in the kitchen
preparing breakfast for the boys.
WHO was her waiter last year, I'd like
to know?' said Maria, firing up at once.
Where is Mrs. BrOokes!" asked Mrs
Klegg. 49, s.-..-.
I'm bald in her room. She done sale
dat she was alters useter cup O. coffee
wild aigs on toas', in her room TO risin'
an she wants yo' ter bring 'em to her i'm
meJlate; for she wants to rise"
We'll, of all the impudence" gaspet
Maria.
Did you ever?" sighed Annabel.
Please go back with my compliments
to the lady," answered Mrs. Klegg, with d
slightly scornful emphasis ON the las
word. land say that if she wants q CUP
of coffee, with an egg on toast, she haC
better come down here and get 'em her
self"
''Yes'm," replied Elephant, and depart
I'VE have heard Of the people of Moab
even of his haughtiness and PRIDE" Mrs
klegg communed with herself, as she pre-
pared to beat up some eggs into exquis.
lte IlShtHeSS lOr tne DOyS.
Did We come thousand miles, just
to wait on that lazy trollop?;;" angrily
inquired Maria.
think I'll lay abed myself, to-mor.
row morning, and send orders to her to
bring me coffee and eggs" said Annabel.
Don't get your mad up too much,
girls" Mrs: klegg warned them. MAY
to what you're doing. Having things just
right for the boys breakfasts more inn
portant than all the uppish Southern wom-
en- south of Mason and Dixon's Line.
Cool down, and take every care"
A few minutes later Mrs. Brookes, her
hair disheveled, very bad look in her
eye, and clutching around her a volumi-
nous wrapper of gorgeous pattern, bOlted
into the room, bringing with her a dis
tinct atmosphere of wrath and tumult.
whats this message you sent me by
that wench! Don't you wOmen"-
Ladies, please" said Mrs. Klesg, with
out stopping her egg-beating.
who are you calling women? demand
ed Maria. stopping, spoon in hand. the
no more women than you are"
Ladies! Fine ladies! Doing kitchen
| work in n hospital for sick Yankeesv'
sneered Mrs. Brookes. Ladies, indeed"
''Our kind of people think it quite lady
like" answered Mrs. KIegg placidly. eff
yours uDu L, So INuSn the WOTSe LOT ell
Heap more ,la9y-like than laying abed
long after sunriseI and then coming down
| looking like IA dish washer" returned
Maria, malicously!
Mrs. Sophroria Brookes cOlored visibly
at this purely feminine stab, but returned
| with increased asperity:
81 want to know ut once whether you
women refuse to obey my orders?". a-.-|
"Obey your orders!" echoed Mrs. Klegg,
amazed. ii tat
"Woman, who are you that presumes to
give orders to u.s. I'd like to know?" de-
manded Maria dropping her work, and
planting herself. in front of Mrs. Brookes.
'.Tm lady, accustomed to give orders,
as you are to receive them, answered Mrs.
BrOokes. summpning all her hauteur.
"Well. I'll lose no time Informing you
that we're ladies. whO've not been in the
habit of taking orders from any one" said
Maria. "And we're the kind Of ladies
who're not too lazy to do anything we
want done ourselves"
80, yes; you Yankee women will work.
That's what you're made for, and you
don't know anything better. was raised
different; never knew what it was to work"
The humor of the thing began to strike
Mrs. Klegg. cts rather late to learn"
she remarked mildly with a meaning look
at the lady's mature features; "but when
one has to one generally can. You have
III you Tue ulahluSS VI iuIEiy Soou hlClbcL
girl if you'd been taken in time"
you're insulting! Madam. I'll inform
you that l belong to one of the first fam
lies of Georgia."
'And we belong to the very first fam
lilies of Iniianny. There wasn't ten fam
lilies in Posey County when We settled
there And Georgia don't come along till
next day when Injianny starts" said Ma
ria with shrug of her shapely shoulders.
'I'll not be talked to SO by mere at
tendants and servants in the hospital. My
husbands the surgeon in charge, Iii have
you to know"
Madame. unless you can control your
tongue you'll have to leave this kitchen
Immediately" said Maria at last, with a
Brookes's. "You have no business to be
in this kitchen interfering with our work.
We are here by high authority. My moth
er's been put in charge here. and III not
allow her to be talked to this way. by
any clay-eating puckered-up old maid in
Jeff Davis's dominion. You hear me. Now
clear out. or I'll have you arrested for con-
duct unbecoming a-well lady," ended
Maria with a laugh.
arthur! Arthur! Come here right
off and protect your wife, screamed Mrs.
BroOkes.
'.Now, what new racket has that wom-
an got into?" impatent!y muttered DR..
brDOheS, ciip-
ping on dressing gown, TO appear, col
iarless and unkempt in the kitchen.
"WIat is the trouble, my dear?' lie in
quired, moduating his tone and manner,
as he came into his wife's presence.
CDR. Brookes, want you to exercise
your authority. and teach these women
their places" demanded his wife.
my love. they seem to he in their right
places, and doing fairly well. Exactly
what helpful women would be expected
to do" mildly expostulated DIR. Brookes.
Il see nothing out of the way. 1t all looks
very comfortable and clean and cOntented,
I'm sure"
arthur! Arthur! How dare you say
that?" screamed the wife of his bosom,
now looking the Infatuated virago she
really was, "when your own wife has
been abused and iinsulted by these COM
mon creaturesTp
.'Oh, my dear SOphronia. 1 wouldn't
speak that Way" gently demonstrated the
Assistant Surgeon, who had many in
stincts of gentleman.
"Sbe'd better not allude to my mother
like that again, 'isaid Maria firmly, ''Or
ont she'll CO."
"My dear Miss Klegg, I know you are
very nice people," replied DIR. Brookes
earnestly. II know their folks and all
abont them. Sephronia. and assure you
they are influential citizens in Indiana"
"Nicp neODle. and working in n hOSDital |