Democratic messenger., 1908-01-04

Brens IN her sharp, decisive tones.
The san. a"s liar girl thus admon-
ished returneu 70 the kitchen and then
the deluge OF merriment
Young Graham. the superintendent
Of the beet sugar factory. bit his lip.
then checked over an lntinitcslmal scrap
OF breakfast food Professor Kinds OF
the high school faculty cleared his
throat. then. with fork and knife up
raised IN an attitude much decried In
the modern books on etiquette. stared
blankly after the retreating figure.
Bessie Lay ton. the stenographer at the
Sampson implement offices, she of the
huffy pompadour and retroussc nose.
giggled. then hastily swallowed a
spoonful of coffee which promptly went
down her Sunday throat" and this on
Thursday morning, And simultaneous
~ gale OF laughter swept around the
circle of boardcrs ut Mrs Brcnt's select
and "homelike" establishment.
To the accompaniment of this laugh
ter Violet passed the hot rolls from
boarler to boarder. little dreaming
that she was responsible for the unto
ward merriment Not that laughter
and merriment were uncommon ut Mrs.
Brent's. The cheerful atmosphere OF
her boarding house as much as her
own good cookery kept the same circle
of guests there year after year. Only
Professor Kinds. the new principal OF
the high school, and pretty Grace Saun-
ders were newcomers this season. And
Violet-yes. Violet was the new wait
ress. Violet,
AS she thrust the delicious rolls un-
der Fred Graham's shaking shoulders
he remembered. coughed and ex-
claimed:
THAT was the best story you ever
told. Mrs. Brent"
Grace Saunders shot him a grateful
glance. but Professor Kinds looked up
blankly MS II trying to remember the
story that had never been told. Then.
as Violet again disappeared through
the kitchen door. he murmured:
"Most incongruous. Never saw any
thing further removed from shrink
ing. delicate violet in my life-six
feet. II she's an inch. Funny how par
ents do select such inappropriate names
for their children. Violet. Ought to
have called her Sun1ower"
But. professor. you must bear In
mind that the name was bestowed
when the girl measured perhaps twelve
inches. Babies measure about foot,
don't they?' And young Graham gazed
Mlquiringly Mt his fellow boarders.
probably was one Of those dainty,
fragile sort OF babies that shoot up
like bean poles later on. Did that my
self. my mother tells me-"
Half an hour later Grace Saunders
returned TO the dining room intending
TO ask Mrs. Brent some questions re-
garding the best stores In the town.
She. found Violet darting about the ta-
bile clearing away crumbs. setting back
chairs. ETC.. with n worried look on her
face. Mrs. Brent came In from the
kitchen.
"There, Violet. don't you try TO
straighten up the whole place. You'll
he late 10 school. It's five blocks TO
the business college. you know, and
you've got your dress 10 change yet"
"Oh, are you going TO the business
college, inquired Grace. The tall,
slender girl stopped untying her apron
at the cordial note In the boarder's
voice. 81 am so glad. because ! am
going there too. Today is my first, and
II will be so nice 10 see n familiar
face"
Then as suddenly as 1t had awaken
ed the expression of delighted antici-
patton died in Vlolets face. She re-
membered She was the waitress at
Mrs. Brents, waitress for her board
and room, and Miss Grace Saunders
was the daughter of millionaire
ranch owner and cattle raiser In the
and the rest of the help" In the kitch-
en- had said II was most remarkable
that girl with such father should
not be studying In an eastern college
instead Of an unknown business col
lege In an obscure western city.
But Grace Saunders was not the sort
OF girl 10 be snubbed. When school
clOSeu that AFTERNOON Nloiel AnurcWs
found that Grace could keep pace with
her and would not accept the excuse
that there was work awaiting the pu-
pll waitress IN the Brent home.
.'Come into my room tonight aad we
will go over those dreadful curlycues
together" Grace urged as she turned
into the front door at the Brent house,
while Violet wheeled 10 the walk lead
Ing to the kitchen. Something told her
that shadow had come into that girls
life since morning that here was
chance where she herself might be
helpful. and Grace Saunders belonged
in the class OF girls who simply must
be OF cheer and service TO their fell
low creatures.
st.n ..rl..