Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-05
G REEK AND GREEK

WI HEN the doorbell rang she had her
NV hair done up in kids. A towel. to
keep the dust out of the hair and
kids. was swaddled around her head. Her
outer raiment consisted of old silk I'M
derskirt. split in many places. and a fan
nelette house Jacket that looked If 1t
might be secretly laundering for the wash
tub.
1t was about IL in the morning, and she
was cleaning house" That is to say she
was watching the hired girl clean house.
while she piddled around with a dust rag.
Then the doorbell rang.
Now, who" snapped the woman whose
hair was in kids, etc. who on top of the
earth can that be at this hour in the morn
ing?"
The black servant girl popped in at the
door just then
Martha said the mistress, "just poke
your head out of the front window-quietly.
now, SO you won't be seen-and see who
that is. II it's peddler or anybody like
that shoe him away. If it's anybody call
ing. tell me who it is.''
The black servant girl did as instructed
She poked her head out of the window
and glanced stealthily down to the door
step. Then she returned to the second
story back room to tell her mistress
about It,
Its Missus Exstreet. ma'am," she said.
AN deed she sho is got all O. her seem
cry on"
The mistress bit her lip and looked pouty
as she doubled her dust rag UP. The door
bell rang again.
Whatever in the wide world shall do
the creature" she said aloud Coming
here with all Of her new things on at this
hour of the morning, when she knows very
well it's my cleaning day. and she is lust
here to show off! But I'll have to see her.
I suppose. If 1 didn't see her. why. she'd
go away and knock about my never being
fit to be seen till evening" can hear her
now Martha, go down and let her in and
tell her I'm dressing to go downtown shop
ping with a friend. Tell her I'll be down
just as soon as ever can, and to be sure
to wait
Martha did that. The richly dressed
woman smiled sweetly upon Martha
"Oh. your mistress is dressing?" she said,
amiabiy. '"Then 1 shall wait. of course.
Was she really dressing? My. but you are
tidy-looking girl! Really, should like
to have a maid like you, Er-was your
| mistress really dressing. Martha, or was
She
hesitating, "she wasn't jes' preejackly
dressn'. ma am-she was uh-helpin' me
dust an sweep. but All think she done
meant tub Dress
shall wait for her. the dear thing" said
the caller seating herself in the parlor.
Then. when Martha had gone, said the
caller to herself:
believe that she was dressing when I know
very we'll she looked a fright, and 1 wish
I'd caught her downstairs and that she d
stuck her head out of the window, as saw
Martha do out of the corner of my eye,
| for then she'd have had to open the door,
and what a joke she looks when She s
around the house, and I'll bet anything her
| fingers are all thumbs right now she's try
inp 90 IA rd RI har dI1dC cn'S 70
| try to make me believe that she really was
| dressing. and what silly woman she is,
| anyhow. deed she ISL
| Upstairs, hurrying through her toilet. the
| mistress of the house was saying to herself
well, of all the disagreeable, mean crea
| lures that ever lived, that Ella Exstree
certainly is the onneryest! Coming here al
| this hour in the morning, when she knows
perfectly well that it's my cleaning day
| and she just does enjoy seeing her friends
| look ridiculous. deed she does! Martha says
| she's wearing that white broadcloth suit
| That's the suit she's been Dragging so much
| about. telling that she was having II
! made in New York. and all like that. and
| suppose 1t Is pretty. but If she thinks fol
| a minute that I'm going to jump up In the
| air and clap my hands over 1t and praise
| her to her face about it. and all like that
she's just dreaming, that's what she Is
It's good thing my new tailor suit came
| last night. 1t may not be white broad
| cloth. but It's as pretty as can be, anyhow
Ii,
| cost Just much as Ella Exstreets. My
| 1 should have hated that tailor forever II
| he hadn't sent me my suit last night, and
now I'll put 1t on for the first time, and &c
| down and take some of the wind out Of Ella
Exstreets sails. She didn't expect me to
| have my suit so soon. and Martha says
she's wearing her black straw summer hal
yet. whereas I've got my new fall mush.
thing on her when show up with that onr
"Well, you old darlngv exclaimed the
caller. as the mistress of the house stepped
| into the parlor. Here you are at last
| But what an unconscionable time 1t does
take you to dress. my dear! OF course
| suppose you hadn't begun when l came
| but
"Oh my dear. was nearly half dressed
| when you came" said the mistress of the
| house sweetly, 'only there was letter
| had to stop to write. 80 as to post 1t on my
| way down town. and that is what delayed
me. Oh. by the way. you are in white
It's dark in here. isn't it? White cloth
| isn't It? Did you have that last year?
seem to remember it? No? Oh. thought
| from the long coat, that you might have
| for you know. my dear, that they are moi
| wearing the coats to suits quite so long this
| year. But 1t is auite-er-quite pleasing
| deed it Is. By the way isn't 1t awful the
| way some women's tailors do botch the col
| lars? Yours isn't exactly botched-oh. dear
| no. 1 couldn't say that-but-er-do you
really think 1t is-well. snug enough around
| the collar?"
C"Cat!" said the caller to herself. "I'll
| get back at her for those shots!D
"Oh 1 quite preened myself about the
collar-it fits perfectly-only this waist
am wearing Is q bit bunchy at the back. ="
said the caller aloud. you know. Pink
fern is noted for the way he gets col
| lars to fft-and-yes. this the suit
| ordered from Pinkfern when I was in New
York. Horribly expensive. though. Pink
fern. but then It's such a satisfaction hav-
ing things made by people who know how
to make them right, isn't 1t? You know
I've always chided you, darling. for not
going to the very best women's tailors, for.
no matter how much you insist upon your
ideas. they are always bound to do just as
they please. That is quite a neat little
walking suit you have there-er-ye-es, quite
pretty for second wear-I suppose that's
what you got it for. did you not? Well l
don't like to mention such things my dear.
but do you think the tailor got the hang
Of the skirt right in front? But. really, l
suppose it makes difference with one S
second-best suit. does it,"
C'Hussy!' said the mistre>s of the house
to hersef)
And oh. my dear" went on the caller
engagingly. where in the wide world did
you get that-er-oh. we'll really I shouldn't
say 1t. Carrie, but honestly you don't wear
your hair right to cover 1t with one of those