The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-09-23
THE MAID he WANTED

|ht MAUI ht wan ItU
BY CORA AshWoRTH. ,s
copyright. 1909. by American Press Asso-
| EG ciation.l 4Fs. g.. F.. 10.
Joseph Miriam. bachelor. woman
hater, advocate of single life for men
and lax divorce laws. having tired Of
Ais bachelor sleeping quarters and
meals at his club. decided to keep
house. Having rented comfortable
furnished dwelling in desirable loca-
ton. he advertised for girl to do cook
Ing aud light housework. He was not
used to advertising for servants and
wrote very poor hand. The slip be
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 ut No. -. Clermont
street. between and 6 O'Clock p. NJ"
The next afternoon Mr.. Miriam went
from business to his domicile expecting
to see mob of servant girls besieging
his front door. He was disappointed.
No one was there He went in, sat
down. took the evening paper from bis
pocket. read and waited. At half past
5 there was ring at the bell. He
opened the front door. and there stood
q 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've come, about the advertisement"
said the girl: >e..,sas,, ~, ;x...
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 a servant for
q gentleman. remained standing.
"I'm afraid" he said. you won't
do"
won't do" exclaimed the girl in
evident surprise.
what 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 newspaper and reud 1t
carefully.
you intended to advertise for a
girl.' she said. go
YES. servant girl who would know
while her master stands before her
like a manservant before his Mistress
The girl sat surveying the adver-
tiser with curious expression on tier
face. At last she said:
"You are one Of. the most sensible
men ever met It's every woman's
object to get all out Of man she can.
If you get an attractive woman in here
she might snare you. Indeed, she
might fall In love with a handsome
man like you, and that would be dread
fu." --'
"You. woman, say this?
"Only woman knows a woman"
4 beautiful smile overspread Mr..
Niriam's countenance. I'm sure" he
said. that il gave you the situation
you're SO honest. so sensible, that you
would. I've half a mind to try you.''
"You have made a little mistake"
the girl interrupted. II have called to
secure the place for maid l have
had in my service for several years
and whom can heartily recommend
And, taking out q card on which was
engraved Miss Clara Sturgis." she
wrote on 1t her address: Mr.. Miriam
stood gaping at her ID. astonishment
III You will come to,my house this
evening" she added, Il win show you
The maid. She = 4 soood. HI and home
" al 4 Dutch meeting bouse:" !
She rose. extended her hand era.
ciously, smiled sweetly ana withdrew.
Miriam saw her out II the front door
and watched her 60 down the street.
Wien she turned a corner he went
hack to bis sitting room and exclaimed:
"Well. III be jinged!r' .... -.
For the 6rst time in his life be real
ised the lopsliness Of a house without
4 woman. ,..
The same evening Mr.. Miriam stood
again in presence Of Miss Sturgis in
the costest little reception room he had
ever seen. A bright DIRE 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 tho servant problem. She told
him that the maid about whom she
had spoken to him had accepted sit
nation. but he could call again in two
or three days. She would recommend
another-ons who was pitted with
smallpox and suffered with bleared
eyes. Then she kept him an hour. de-
lighting him with her intelligence. her
womanlv interest in him, Indeed, an