Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-19

greatly worried. She's giving little
tea tomorrow afternoon and Hannah
has failed us. A letter just came from
her in which she sage she cannot come
to assist us tomorrow. You know do
not engage her regularly, for Mamie
is so proficient that can do nicely
without an additional servant. But to.
morrow will be such busy day that
we'll need the services Of a second
servant some one to wait on the
table. You know Mamie will be kept in
the kitchen and we had expected Han
nah to serve at the door and in the
dining room. Tom, you have the griev.
ance of this family In a few words. y
And Mrs. James tried hard to look ser.
ious.
6 I'm cup of tea, SO to speak" grin.
ned Tom. well, think i might solve
the problem of your difficulties," he
said, throwing himself on the couch
"I'll take it upon myself to get you q
good waitress for tomorrow after
noon"
"But, Tom, where can you find re.
liable one on such short notice?" asked
Mrs. James, bit uncertain.
Ask me no questions, Auntie, and
I'll not prevaricate, said Tom. But
you'll miss no silver after the tea,
can assure you. Ny servant will be
first Glass;
tom, you're gen." vowed Gertie.
Bring along your parlor maid and I'll
be your debtor for life. This tea am
giving tomorrow afternoon must be
R,.YN hn1 90 -,
help me out"
ut shall be done, my lady" de-
clared Tom. "And shall see that your
parlor maid is here at the hour you
name.'
"The tea is to take place between
three and hve," explained Mrs. James.
$50 the maid would better come at
half-past one so that l may explain
fully her duties to her"
She'll be here on the moment"
promised Tom "And now ta-ta TIL
tomorrow. must away and find me
maid" And before Mrs James or
Gertie could thank him for his prom.
ised assistance he was of down the
street at anrapid stride.
So great burden was lifted from
Mrs James and Gertie's shoulders,
and they planned for the morrow with
light hearts. A maid would be there
on time to attend the door and to serv
in the DINING room. Tom had given
his word that such would be the case.
The following day, at exactly half
past one o'clock the side doorbell
rang, and when Mrs. James responded
she was greeted by young woman
with, "Hoddy, Ma'am. Are you Mrs.
James? Yes? Well. am the maid
who's to assist you this afternoon at
a tea your daughter is giving. May
I come in and pass the examination?
"Oh, you come from my nephew,
Thomas Smith, said Mrs. James.
Eyes, please come right in. You are
on time to the minute" AS Mrs. James
led the girl into the living room she
kept bordering in her mind at to
where she had seen the maid before.
The girls eyes looked 80 familiar and
her voice sounded like one that she
knew very we'll Still, she could not
place the maid in her memory. Once
in the sitting room Mrs. James ex-
planned the maids duties, and asked
her name. ooh, haven't ! told you
my nance" inquired the maid. Well,
call me Hannah. please"
swell. Hannah, you may 60 to the
kitchen and Mamie will show You to
her room, where you may lay aside
your jacket and hat and put on your
apron and cap. Then please join me
in the parlor."
The maid bowed and withdrew to
the kitchen. After she had gone Gertie
stuck her head in at the sitting room
door. crying out to her mother: "Did
| hear Toms voice there, Mamma :"
mo, dear, it was the new maid sent
by Tom" explained Mrs. James. by
the way, her voice did sound bit like
Tom 's-as much as q girls could
sound like a boys. That was the
thing that struck r as peculiarly
though till this moment I could not
think whom the girl was like-or
whose voice hers sounded like. But,
dearie, hurry with your dressing. The
guests will arrive before you are
ready for them, fear. Run along
quickly. I'll come to hook you up in
a minute AS soon as see that the
new maid is stationed at the hall door
I shall come right up
When the clock struck three the
door bell rang and the new maid
admitted several guests and directed
them to the guests chamber on the
second floor, where they might lay
aside hats and wraps. And before
half-past three every guest had arrived
and Hannah was hidden to the dining
room to take charge OF things there.
She saw that everything was in readi-
ness before the guests were led to the
table. AS Mamie had as much as she
could do in her own domain. the
fell into the hands Of the
new maid, and Mrs. James, oversee
ing things here and there, declared to
herself that Hannah was a treasure.
She placed the chairs at table, turned
on the electric lights. drew down the
shades of the windows, lighted the gas
log in the CRATE, file the glasses with
sparkling ice water, and made herself
generally useful. And with every