The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1905-10-05

She wore black dresses with white
collars and cuffs and little white
aprons. Her part in the plan of the
universe was to serve the hungry
people who flocked from the trains
into the station dining room.
1t was in the hot summer days that
she was most inclined to rebel at her
lot. She was not what would be called
a disconnected girl. But when the
crowds of summer tourists came pour
ing into the eating house she had
STRINGS of keen unrest.
Though no one would have dreamed
it, she had secret passion. 1t was all
the while consuming her as she set be-
fore the hungry traveller the little
dishes of bread and meat and vege-
tables-tne interminable little dishes.
One day when the tide of pleasure
seekers and tired workers had been
moving westward for weeks, she walk
ed into the managers Office and asked
to be relieved.
He looked up with some annoyance.
why, you're not going to leave us
Just now, are you? This is a rushing
time. | don't want to break in any
green girls Just now. What did you
say the trouble is?"
Il didn't say" faltered the girl. Her
fingers were smoothing out the ruff
fles of her snowy apron. "But-Pm
going away. Pm-called away" There
was an air of suppressed excitement
about her.
well. If you must go, | suppose
you must. But of course you under
stand that If your place is filled salts
factorily, you will in all probability
lose your job here"
II didn't expect to keep it," she
answered simply. She walked out of
tho office, and as she went she felt as
strange as if she had suddenly drop
ped from another planet.
After the lapse of two weeks she
walked into the managers office again.
The manager was busy and the one
| glance he gave her was followed by a
| frown.
Didn't tell you the other day"
he said impatiently, going on with
his work, that if you left your place
would not be held for you?"
The words "the other day" fell
strangely on her ears. She almost
gasped. "The other day" Why, it
seemed at least a thousand years.
81 haven't come to ask for my
place again." she said Il have come
to tell you something-to explain
something"
The busy manager glanced up i'm
patiently, well. please be quick
about what you have to say" he said,
and turned in his chair to face her.
There was something in her look
that startled him out of himself. He
was a practical man, but he was one
of those who can see subtler things
than they are sometimes given credit
| for. He had seen this girl many
times, nimble and active at her duties
serving the interminable little dishes
| to hurried diners. 1t was part OF
his own duty to see to it that these
| girls did their tasks well. But he had
never seen her look as she looked
now. Perhaps he had read of glori
fed faces. He may have seen them IL
pictures, and possibly heard then
spoken of in church. He may have
believed in something of that sort
but he was not accustomed to see
them among dining room girls.
Her manner was quiet, but it wal
a quietness underneath which ont
OWNED a whole ocean of tumultuou:
feeling. She spoke rapidly, but clear
ly and unhesitatingly.
81 have come back TO tell you al
about it," she said. Il have come L
confess and let you do what is right
| have counted the cost and I'm will
ing to pay. | want you to send m