Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1907-10-25

half in my last place-lady dleu, man
in the asylum. can't refer you to
them, but"
''Yes, oh, yes, I'd like references"
Mrs. Heath faltered weakly. This pro-
fessional worrier abashed her strange
ly. In this presence she herself SEEM
ed such a noyice-amateur. The
stranger went on, in a matter-of-fact
tone: II
In my place before last l worried
for a 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 a 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 I'll suit, I'm
ready to begin at once. We can give
each other trial anyway, but l want
one thing understood at the start"
'Yes?" hesitated Mrs Heath.
'And that is that I'm not to be in
terfered with. I'm to do it all"
There are seven. A good many"
81 am perfectly competent to do the
worrying for seven. 1t must be left
J entirely to me. l 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
fiourishes.
Have you any preference as to
which one l worry about first?" she
inquired, swapping tho covers of the
book together. I'VE are losing time
should like to begin at once"
THE baby faltered the baby's
mother. He was a good one to begin
and end with. At this very minute"
"Oh, I'm afread he's playing with
matches, or falling down the cellar
bulkhead!" worried the professional
worrier in a businesslike manner. She
entered upon her work with a perfect
acquaintance with its requirements
her tone, her look, her motions were
all in harmony with her calling.
A network of fine lines threaded the
forehead of the other woman. More
lines ran down her cheekss-more still
from the corners of her mouth. Hen
rietta Heath, in little whirl of panic,
ran to her room and peered into the
mirror The face she saw there re-
sembled family the lined face of the
woman she had engaged to do her
worrying-there was no doubt of the
resemblance.
Downstairs the girl twin was drum
ming scales on the piano, and wrong
notes drifted upward discordantly,
but the girl twins mother laughed
softly. She went back to the strang-
er; this was her business.
"Sulvia is practising wrong" she
said.
Il know-I know snapped the
stranger irritably, but / can't attend
to everything at once! I'm worrying
about Griffith II. just this minute, for
fear he'll slip under the gate instead
of waiting at the railroad crossing.
can't worry about two at once with
any sort of success. That reminds,
forgot to say that if l am expected to
work nights | shall charge double
wages. Night work is very exhaust
ing
"Yes," murmured little Mrs. Heath,
as one who knew, Il always worried
nights, too. You can charge extra"
The days that followed that advent
of the professional worrier were easy
days to the weary one released from
all care. She grew round and smooth.
laughed often, sang little snatches of
song. The children exulted.
Marines growing young!" Mig
boasted "See, papa, how lovely she
Isl"
"Yes." Griffith |. agreed with unc-