The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-31
Sparing Her. Feelings
, He shernans were in desperate straits when Lena

Z Il
Their honeymoon was hardly over before the
servant problem presented itself for solution and from
that time line Of domestics passed in quick sue
cesson in and out Of the Sherman household like the
figures in moving picture with little to distinguish
one from another. The girl who borrowed Mrs. Sher-
man's gowns, indeed, secured unenvlable prece
dence as did the who quarreled with the mllkman
Mrs Sherman remembered the girl who came homo
at cock in the morning by assocating her with the
scorched the best tableeioth and the
the cutglass punch bowl were lost sight Of in
Of others equally incapable.
Then Lena came. Lena of the pink and white
type which it is impossible to associate with dirt and
disorder She was good cook excellent laundress
and the personfcaton of tidy thrift With an eagle
eye she watched the shermans' bills for overcharges
If company expected she entered into the planning
enthusiastically if she preparing her own
birthday fete. At the end of week under her sway
Mrs Shermans first delighted incredulity had deepened
into positive affection. ,f.. III -.. H.
But every rose has it's thorn. Even Lena was not
without flaw, and Mrs Sherman not long in dis
covering it. Lena had 'feelings' The remotest in
dicaon than anything she had done was unsatisfac-
.choly. A suggestion change in her methods, how
ever tactfuly worded set tears to flowing downright
criticism brought her to the verge of taking passage
for Europe -" &C., .'.~rs.
Mrs. Sherman soon learned her lesson Henceforth
her chief anxiety that inadvertently she might
wound the sensitive feelings Of her efficient helper
crisis came afternoon when the Maxwels
Sherman invited them to dinner Mrs. Sherman Sec
onded the Invitation heartily Lena received the an,
nouncement Of guests with tranquility which justified
the confidence Of her mistress and they sat down at
6:30 to dinner which caused Mrs. Maxwell to say
more than once, "What treasure you have!'
The awakening came with the dessert. The soup
had been excellent, the roast done to turn, the salad
a picture for artist. But when the dessert was
served the guests showed disposition to toy with
their spoons. Mrs. Sherman choked the
first mouthfu and then went on eating very rapidly.
Her husband looked at her ACROSS the table.
F|My DEAR said Sherman finding no help was to
be expected from his better half what is the matter
II hadn' noticed that anything was wrong,
family replied Mrs. Sherman with futile effort at
prevarication. -s~...-:y~'>
"Wrong!'' exclaimed Sherman. f'It's positively
weird.'
Mrs. Sherman weakened IT can't imagine what
Psba6y it popSar sTeng in her native
country" said Mrs. Maxwell, coming to the rescue.
But we have eaten heartily that it's time to stop
anyway" - .I -. <...I
Ut ism It that explained Mrs Sherman, the tears
starting. But Lena sensitive If she got the idea
that she had spoiled the dessert when had company
don It know how it would affect her. She might
go back to the old country. ~
: |tDear 1ne!'' exclaimed Mrs Maxwell In the in
tensity of her sympathy she took another mouthful
So ID hsn four licked
want to hurt Lenas feelings, but there's limit to
everything He looked about him desperately and
his face lighted. ''Just the thing!" he cried.
from the mantel and proceeded to empty into it
his portion Of the dessert After she's gone to bel,
you know" Sherman explained jubilantly "wel II get
rid of it somewhere This is only temporary
But suppose she should look into that while
she clearing the table,, objected Mrs: Sherman.
ssThere risks in everything responded her hus
band as he scraped Mrs Maxwell's dessert into the
Chinese vase and politely returned the empty plate
to her: But IN ready to wager that Lena won t
take a peep into this vase tonight.'
In spite Of Mr. sherman's brilliant idea the even
ing was not All four felt as if they were
implicated in some crime Every now and then the
conversation anguished and four pairs of listened
sound from the diningroom which would tell
that Lena had discovered traces Of their guilt. The
Maxwells made excuse and went home early and
then the other consprators sat in almost breathless
silence waiting for Lena to go to bed
AS rule Lena retired early, but this occasion
it IL O'Clock before her light went out. Then
Mrs Sherman insisted another three quarters Of
hour to give her time to be sound asleep.
About midnight Sherman stole down the back