Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
5E OF SERVTTUDE-A STORY OF TRUE HEARTS

at her own reflection in the mirror. For.
thanks to the great flood of ready made
garments that inundated the country,
swiftly following the course of the eXclu-
Sive tailor and modiste. she knew she
conformed to the fashion of the hour. She
might. at a distance. have passed for
Miss Lillian. Selling her hat and jacket.
she hurried below.
Mrs. Cooley had returned from church.
Mamie could hear her talking to Bertha
in the kitchen, while hum of other
voices came from the library. Suddenly
the kitchen door banged sharply and Mrs.
Cooley, flushed with anger, emerged, the
jet on her Sunday bonnet shaking with
her agitation. Mamie in her finery shrank
before her advance: the apology she had
framed for not wearing her uniform died
on her lips. Apparently. Mrs. Cooley did
not notice; she rustled by her. breathing
angrily. Mamie hastily Slipped into the
kitchen where Bertha greeted her with
a lowering brow.
What you tank, She brought home
tree people for dinner. and we got to
have salad. She wants coffee served in
the drawing room. l tank you got to set
over the table,
Nantes color rose high: she choked
with rage and disappointment.
Il ain agoin' to do it, She said fierce
~. Il won't never get out"
Bertha, Sulen and silent. was washing
lettuce and dressing salad. She jerked
down some dishes Mrs. Cooley reserved
for guests. and Mamie saw with dismay
that beautiful plate was broken in the
hurried washing, hut the Swede. with lit
tie idea Of its value, was unconcerned.
She carelessly pushed the plate behind
some others.
Il tell her the last cook broke that"
she said with wink of her small, dull
eye.
Mamie shared her anger and resent
ment. She reset the table with trembling
hands. and her Dinner is served" was
said with Scant courtesy.
Mrs. Cooley. at the head of her pretty
II bic. smiled bengnly on her guests for
getting her anger at BerihaS mpudence
and feeling that il had been a happy
thought that prompted her 10 bring them
home from church. Her husband was as
fond of company as she herself.
DO YOU still wear that funny little hat
you bought in England?' they heard the
young man ask. will adnirins eyes for the
delicate, sensitive face. the cloud of sunny
hair and the innocent eyes that turned
To meet his. Il always think of you in
that shiny little hat. You had il on the
day / left Gardner
Wear it, Never again. Lillian cried.
and her mother and father laughed in
anticipation of the familiar story. Il
thought that hat very smart until one day
j went into Scott. Gibbons & Co.'S and
asked at the ribbon counter for Miss Hib-
bard. who always waited on me. She's
ltil II Idttl1!t bulNlGudt assured me.
Did YOU use TO work here when she did,
And continued Lillian, Il always
thought it WAS the hat"
The Sherwins found this very funny
They all laughed heartily and no one
noticed Mamie's heightened color Know
ing many of the girls at this shop for
well dressed. refined young women. She
,l,s-,,r al
being mistaken for one of them.
Never mind" she heard Ned SherWin
say. II can go YOU one better: a man
asked me at the Gordons the other night
to see that his coffee was hot. He thought
| was a waiter.
Mamie served the coffee in the parlor
and went back TO the pantry 10 wipe the
dishes. Piles of them awaited her. She
and Bertha wiped them in great haste;
some Of them were sticky with soap but
Mamie. cross and indignant over the din
ner'S delay, let them pass Neither she
nor Bertha ate any dinner themselves
they We're too tired from the long serving
of others. Mamie drank some coffee
standing and ate a piece of bread from
her hand. she had scorned Bertha fer
doing at the beginning Of the week Then
hastily pinning on her hat she started
for the car. drawing on her gloves and
jacket as she ran AS she reached the
curb a car whirred past and il was some
time before another came. AS she en-
tered the Earleys' gate the town clock
tolled four.
All was ominously silent The vine that
ran over the front door ratified lOneSomely
in the light autumn breeze. Dahlias
famed handsomely against the house.
The parlor blinds We're tightly closed: the
kitchen door was locked. Mamie in her
disappointment, weary and disheartened,
sat on the kitchen steps and wept There
was nobody in the immediate neighbour
hood she cared to see: indeed. there was
nobody anywhere but Katie. Tim Bryan
and Mr.. Murphy. The mild afternoon
slowly passed. Mamie sat liStlesslv on
the back step. gazing duly over the little
yard. where the chickens clucked and
scra tched constantly among the falling
leaves. once she rose and wandered to-
ward an apple tree. She began Ia feel
hungry, and ate with good relish an APP
nle and some grapes that Still clunS 10
the vine. When Mrs. Farley came home
from a neighbours she found her last
asleep, sitting patiently on the steps, her
head nodding against the lattice.
II thought Katie had come home, she
explained sleepily.
They gave you up, pet. They waited
on YOU until almost 3: then they took the
trolley and went to the park.
Who's they Mamie asked breath
lessly.
''Why, Katie and Tim and Mr.. Murphy