The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27

N'AA--
gladly have helped in the preparations
il it had not been for the fear of spoil
ing her gown and her total ignorance
of where to find anything, or what to do
with it when she found it. Mamie felt
her good will, however, and it served TO
counteract. her resentment at being called
upon after hours" as, from her mill
life, she still phrased It.
"A very good girl she heard Mrs
Cooley say to the others, as she was
finally allowed to gather up the Dishes
but like most of them. she loves to
rum
The lady who sat opposite shook her
head in disapproval of girls who were
not housekeeping. Then, having ex-
pressed her pleasure in the game and in
Mrs. Cooleys hospitality, she and her
husband made their adieus.
As Mamie stretched herself YEARLY be-
side the sleeping Bertha the town clock
struck 1.
As Mamie had foreseen, Mr. Murphy
was not at early mass, but the chance
of meeting him in the afternoon still re-
NAMED BY careful planning and rapid
working she hoped to reach the Earleys
soon after 2. She flew from task to task,
therefore with fine energy, busting and
STRENGTHENING the furniture, and making
beds, while Mrs Cooley was at church.
Before going she had warned Mamie not
to awaken Miss Lillian who was rest
ing" so, in spite of Nantes impatient
glances at her closed door, Miss Lillian
sweetly slumbered on. For the task of
putting her room in order dangled dis
couragingly before the housemaid the
delay upsetting all her carefully laid
plans AS it was her Sunday to get sup
per she made as many preparations be-
forehand as possible, thinking in this way
to avoid returning from the Earleys' be-
fore o'clock. As she hurriedly rolled
out butter balls Miss Lillian came down
stairs 1t was just noon and Mamie
was relieved to hear her say she did not
care for any breakfast; but Mr.. Cooley,
safely screened by the Sunday paper,
called peremptorily:
Nonsense! JENNY Mary whats her
nameY, bring Miss Lillian her coffee"
Half an hour slipped by In getting this
belated repast There was seant time
for setting the table for the noon din
ner and arranging Miss Lillian's bed
room. Mamie ran up the steps two at
a time and entered the room. The light
pink-and-wh curtains fiuttered inno-
Gently in the soft wind. The day was
unseasonably warm-a perfect day for
an outing. A bllowy ball gown hung
from the screen, satin slippers peeped
from under the lounge, the wash bowl
was heaped with heavy-headed roses,
while the dressing table was strewn with
hairpins, powder and german favors. 1t
was no light undertaking to restore the
perfect order Mrs. Cooley required.
When Mamie at last climbed the stairs
to her own room for hasty toilet she
was beset by a temptation. II she
donned the black gown Mrs. Cooley re-
quired her waitress to wear, 1t meant
that she must dress again after dinner
for the street. The whole chance of see
ing Mr.. Murphy hung on the decision.
1T amt agoin' to do it, she rebelled,
and without hesitation she dressed her.
self in a heavily braided skirt thin
embroidered white waist with elbow
sleeves, and a string of blue beads. Her
soft black hair curled prettily about her
temples; her eyes were almost as blue
as the beads with innocent pleasure she
smiled at her own reflection in the mir
row. For, thanks to the great flood of
ready-made garments that inundated the
country, quickly following the course
of the exclusive tailor and modiste, she