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

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 a 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 wear
ing her uniform died on her lips. APP
parently 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 tankl She brought home
tree people for dinner and we got to
have salad. She wants coffee served in
the drawing room. 1 tank you got to set
over the table"
Mamie's color rose high; she choked
with rage and disappointment.
Il amt agoin' to do it!' she said
AittCOiys l. WOil uSNGI get Out
Bertha, sullen and silent. was washing
lettuce and dressing salad. She jerl1ed
down some dishes Mrs. Cooley reserved
for guests, and Mamie saw with dismay
that a beautiful plate was broken in the
hurried washing, but the Swede, with
little idea of it's value, was unconcerned.
She carelessly pushed the plate behind
some others.
II 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
table, smiled benignly on her guests, for
getting her anger at Bertha's impu-
, dence, and feeling that 1t had been a
happy thought that prompted her to
bring them home from church. Her hus-
band was as fond of company Is she
was herself.
The Sherwins and their son were old
friends who were in town a short time
and they, too, were glad to be there. Ned
Sherwin and Lillian had danced together
several times the night before, and they
had much to say of the party. The older
men talked business, while the two moth
ers spoke in low tones of their house
hold cares and recounted their childrens
virtues They looked at the two young
people from time to time in smiling con-
tentment.
do you still wear that funny little
hat you bought in England?" they heard
the young man ask with admiring eyes
for the delicate, sensitive face, the cloud
of sunny hair, and the innocent eyes
that turned to meet his. 81 always think
of YOU in that shiny little hat. You had
1t on the day 1 left Gardner
"Wear it, Never againr' Lillian cried,
and her mother and father laughed in
anticipation of the familiar story. Il
thought that hat very smart until one
day I went into Scott, Gibbons &c Co.'S
and asked at the ribbon counter for MISS
Hubbard, who always waited on me.
She's left laconio individual assured
me- Did you use to work here when
she did? And" continued Lillian, L al
ways thought it was the hatl'
The Sherwins found this very funny.
They all laughed heartily, and no one
noticed Mames heightened color. Know
ing many of the girls at this shop Tor
well dressed, refined young women, she
could not see the absurdity or Lillian
being mistaken for one of them.
.sNever mind" she heard Ned Sherwn
saw az can go you one better; 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 parior
and went back to the pantry to wipe the
dishes. Piles of them awaited her. she
and Bertha wiped them In great haste;
some of them were sticky with soap, put
Mamie, cross and indignant over the
dinners delay, let them pass. Neither
she nor Bertha ate any dinner them
selves; they were too tired from the
long serving of others. Mamie drank
some coffee standing and ate a piece or
bread from her hand, as she had scorned
Bertha for 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
II was some time before another came.
AS she entered the Earley's gate the town
clock tolled A.
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 were 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 neigbbor-
hood she cared to see: indeed, there was
nobody anywhere but Katie, Tim Bryan
and Mr. Murphy The mild afternoon
slowly passed. Mamie sat listlessly on
the back step, gazing DULY over the little
yard, where chickens clucked and scratch
ed constantly among the falling leaves.
Once she rose and wandered toward an
apple tree. She began to feel hungry,
and ate with good relish an apple and
some grapes that still chung to the vine.
When Mrs. Farley came home from q
neighbours she found her fast asleep, sit