Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-23

criminately as my dear" 1t was just as
easy to say that as something less agree
able, she explained.
1T is Geraldine-Esther Geraldine
"Ah, very pretty name. And you said
that you had had experience in managing a
large esta blishment-looking after servants
and table decorations and kitchen pur-'
chases, and - and all that. May l ask
where you were last?'
The girl hesitated a little, then looked at
her companion frankly.
AT home. l have been my fathers house
keeper nearly four years. Recently II had
occasion to come to America"
AIR Mrs. Van Maurice possessed an ex
tens!ve vocabulary in her abs and the
meditation of this one irttmated that her
questioning was at an end. And. indeed,
she believed that she understood the whole
situation.
Good NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. estate-sup-
posed heiress seeking employment. That
was all, and it simple she imme-
diately dismissed the matter from her MIND
and began to point out the places of interest,"
along their route
an object of awe and curiosity to new
servants, but Miss Esther. as she came to
lie called, took 1t as a matter of course.
She was keenly interested in everything
around her, and was exceedingly fond OF
artistic effects. BEFORE the end of-the seq
Cnd day size had all the details of the
menage at her command. and Mrs. Van
Maurice was already congratulattng her
self on her acquisition. the only drawback
to her satisfaction being that said &C
QUESTION refused to engage herself for more
than two months.
But while the new housekeeper was show
ing such marvellous aptitude for her Situa-
ton there were some few details which it
seemed impossible for her to grasp. For
instance, WREN she came in from tie street
she invariably ran lightly up the broad,
marble steps, and only recolIected herself
as she reached out toward the door bell.
Then she would make wry grtmace and
slip back to the little gate which led around
to the servants entrance. Again, she found
1t impossible to so past the CoOTs OF the
drawing room and library and music loom
without an almost Irresistible impulse to
enter. Sometimes she found herself seated
in an easy chair in the library, examining
some of the rare editions or luXuriously
ensconced in the drawing room, gazing
dreamiiy a. the storytelling Goals in the
CRATE. Occasionally Mrs. Van Maurice
and even the master of the house himself
was drawn into the music room by some
weird improvisation or rollicking Irish mel
ody; only to be confronted by the embar-
raised, apologetic housekecIer.
OF course, she knew ii was contrary to
the rules of the establishment 1t needed
not the sudden gathering OF wrinkles be-
tween the eyebrows of Mrs. Van Maurice
nor the look of surprise on the masters
face, to tell her that. The drawing room
and the library and the music room be-
longed 10 the servants only as part of their
work, and by slow and painful degrees Miss
Esther tried to teach herself this important
fact.
One morning she was In the music room
arranging some folios a table when she
heard quick, approaching footsteps. Think
ing it was Mr.. Van Maurice she went on
quietly with her work.
II beg your pardon. l didn't know that
Aunt Lisa had company" said a neager,
almost boyish voice "a servant told me
she was up here"
Mrs. Van Maurice just went into the IL
brary," and Miss Esther turned toward him
quietly. 1t was a very handsome. athletic
young man she saw, and as their eyes met
a puzzled expression of dawning recogni-
ton appeared on each face
Thank you. But-eXcuse me-haven't
seen you somewhere"