The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-11-23
WANTED: AWORRIER.
By Annie Hamilton DonneN.

might suppose to be difficult and I'M
usual appeared simple enough now to
her. She read the advertisement aloud.
1t sounded well.
Wanted: A working worrier for a
family of seven. Only competent per-
son need apply. Permanent situation
for the right one References. Ad-
dress Henrietta Heath, Crescent Ter
race
The Pineboro Evening Call went to
press at noon. 1t was too late for
today, but none too early for tomor-
row. Mrs. Heath. in the calm convic-
ton of doing the right thing in the
right way, put on her things and de-
parted leisurely for the printing es-
tablishment of the Evening Call.
Il wish this advertisement inserted
in tomorrow's paper she said to the
polite person who came forward to
meet her. II am sorry it could not
have been 1t is too late for today,
suppose"
'M-m-yes, certainly, madam The
polite person was reading the little
slip of paper He looked up unsmil-
ingly. When he spoke his tone was
solicitous
The paper has gone to press. We
could only get out an extra. If there
is great hurry" He waited.
Mrs Heath shook her head slowly.
Tomorrow will do" she said. but
not day later. And | shall be obliged
if you will give it prominent place.
"On the first page, madam. Give your
self no worriment."
OF course she would not do that.
Worriments were behind her now.
But it worried her. The helpless fam
ily-the helpless family! Only till to-
morrow" she comforted herself.
The next day, just before tea time.
Mrs Heath was summoned by Thyrsa
to the parlor. A stranger in black
dress rose at her entrance. There was
only time to note the extreme gravity
bordering upon sourness, of the strang-
er's face before a nervous voice spoke.
II came in answer to your adver-
tisement in today's Call
"Oh! Oh, yes, you are a-a-' Mrs.
Heath faltered in palpable embarrass-
ment.
"Worrier-yes Professional. Forty
years experience. Thirteen years and
half in my last p.ace-lady died, man
in the asylum. l can't refer you to
them. but"
Eyes, oh, yes, Id like references, -
Mrs. Heath faltered weakly This pro-
fessional worrier abashed her strange
~. In this presence she herself SEEM
ed such novice-amateur. The
stranger went on, in matter-of-fact
tone:
In my place before last l worried
for family Of siX-Mrs Elbertus Lee.
Derry Bridge Family numbered only
three in the place before that, but the
work was hard, very hard. l have
worked in only three places" The
latter was said in tone of pride. To
have worried-profession for
ty years in but three places" appeared
occasion for pride. Mrs. Heath was
only thirty-four. She blushed uncom-
fOrtably.
We'll, if you think III suit, I'm
ready to begin at once. We can give
each other trial anyway, but want
one thing understood at the start"
"Yes?" hesitated Mrs. Heath.
= %1o% IN ho tn
terfered with. I'm to do it ALL"
There are seven. Seven is good
many"
Il am perfectly competent to do the
worrying for seven. 1t must be left
entirely to me. | suppose the seven
includes you?"
Dear, no." The little amateur wor-
rier had never worried about herself. 1t
had not occurred to her.
Eight, then. Names, please? l
wish to get acquainted with my cases
before l begin work, and any little
hints that you can give me"
Griffith L., Griffith H., Caroline,
Mig, the twins, the baby" recited the
wife Of one and mother of all the rest
in rather a tremulous voice. A sob
seemed to be tangled up in her throat
Was she giving them all up to this
solemn, sour person in black? The
solemn, sour person wrote the names
in a small blank book, with capable
flourishes.
Have you any preference as to
which one l worry about first?" she
inquired, swapping tbs covers of the
book together I'VE are losing time
should like to begin at once"
1.-The baby faltered the baby's