The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-10-01
/ THE MAID He WAN TED
BY CORA AsHWoR1H.

BY CORA ASHWORTH.
I tCopyright. 1893, by American Press Asso-
ciation.I
Joseph Miriam, bachelor. woman
hater. advocate of single life for men
and lax divorce laws, having tired of
his bachelor sleeping quarters and
meals at bis club. decided to keep
house. Having rented comfortable
! furnished dwelling in desirable loca-
| ton. he advertised for a girl to do cook
| ing and light housework. He was not
used to advertising for servants and
| wrote very poor hand. The slip he
handed in at the newspaper office was
| hurriedly counted by the receiving
clerk. stamped for the Situations
Wanted columns and put through the
composing room mill. 1t ended with
the words. apply at No. -, Clermont
street. between and 6 O'Clock p. M
The next afternoon Mr.. Miriam went
from business to his domicile expecting
to see mob of servant girls bcsieging
his front door He was disappointed.
No one was there. He went in, sat
down. took the evening paper from his
there was a ring at the bell. He
opened the front door. and there stood
young woman. Miriam thought her
well dressed for servant. but remem-
bered that many servant in her
street clothes might easily be mistaken
for lady.
1--WE come about the advertisement"
said the girl
Come in"
She entered the sitting room and
steaed herself in an easy chair Miriam.
somewhat surprised at this want Of
Difference on the part OF q want for
n gentleman. remained S
I'm afraid" he said, "you won't
do"
Wont do.' exclaimed the girl in
evident surprise.
What l want Is girl SO ugly that
she'll never be temptation for me
and can't, therefore, get me into her
clutches. l don't wish any woman
about me except to cook and take
care OF the house."
The girl stared at the speaker with.
out making any reply for time, then
took from under her glove slip she
had cut from a newspaper and read 1t
carefully.
You intended to advertise for a
girl" she said.
Yes. servant girl who would know
her place and not sit in the parlor
while her master stands before her
n m n 1n<r ,;c%r
The girl sat surveying the adver.
tiser with curious expression on her
face. at last she said:
You are one Of the most sensible
men J ever met. It's every woman's
object to get all out of q man she can.
II you get an attractive woman in here
she might snare you. Indeed, she
might fall in love with handsome
man like you, and that would be dread.
full
You, woman, say this?"
only q woman knows a woman"
A beautiful smile overspread Mr..
Miriam's countenance. Pm sure" he
said. that IL gave you the situation
you're SO honest, so sensible, that you
would. I've half mind to try you"
"You have made little mistake"
the girl interrupted. Il have called to
secure the place for maid l have
had in my service for several years
and whom l can heartily recommend"
And, taking out q card on which was
engraved Miss Clara Sturgis." she
wrote on it her address, Mr.. Miriam
stood gaping at her in establishment.
III you will come to my house this
evening" she added, II will show you
the maid. She is good girl and home.
ly as Dutch meeting house."
She rose. extended her hand gra-
ciously. smiled sweetly and withdrew.
Miriam saw her out at the front door
and watched her go down the street.
When she turned corner he went
back to his sitting room and exclaimed:
well. III be jingedv'
For the first time in his life he real
lied the loneliness of house without
woman.
The same evening Mr.. Miriam stood
again in presence Of Miss Sturgis in
the cosiest little reception room he had
ever seen. A bright fire was blazing
on the hearth. The lady invited him
to sit by her before it and began to
talk with him in a sympathetic way
about the servant problem. She told
him that the maid about whom she
had spoken to him had accepted sit
uation, but he could call again in two
or three days. She would recommend
another-one who was pitted with
smallpox and suffered with bleared
eyes. Then she kept him an hour, de-
lighting him with her intelligence, her
womanly interest in him. Indeed, an
especial charm she seemed to find in
him.
Mr.. Miriam had fallen into the very
trap no had wished to avoid. Miss
Sturgis was renowned for making any
man she wished fall in love with her.
She kept Mr. Miriam calling on her
with view to securing servant for
him and in the end simply made mince-
meat Of his heart. Then when he
asked her to be his wife she stared at
him in blank surprise and exclaimed:
why, I thought you wanted serv.
antw
Mr.. Miriam went away crushed. For
months he shut himself up-without a
maid-and never smiled. Then he told
his trouble to his sister-in-law.