Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-07-05

We had not thought of that before
and every one looked blank. Finally.
however, Jim said Bela's middle name
was Constantia, and we decided to call
her that. But it turned out afterward
that nobody could remember it in a
hurry, and generally when we wanted
to attract her attention, we walked
across the room and touched her on
the shoulder. 1t was quicker and
safer
The name decided, we went down.
stairs in a line to welcome Bella, to
try to make her feel at home, and to
forget her deplorable situation. Leila
had worked herself into a really SYM
pathetic frame of mind.
Poor DEAR" she said, on the way
down. Now don't grin, anybody, just
be cordial and glad to see her. l hope
she doesn't cry: you know the spells
she takes"
We stopped outside the door, and ev
erybody tried to look cheerful and
sympathetic and not grinny-which
was as hard as looking as if we had
had a cup of tea-and then Jim threw
the door open and we filed in.
Bella was comfortably reading by
the fire. She had her feet up on a
stool and a pillow behind her head.
She did not even look at us for min
ute; then she merely glanced up as she
turned page.
Dear me-" she said mockingly,
What a lot of frumps you all are! l
had hoped it was some one with my
breakfast"
said afterward that kind of person
ought to he divorced.
Aunt Selma came down just then
and | left everybody trying to explain
Bella's presence to her, and fled to the
kitchen. The HARRISON man appeared
while | was sitting hopelessly in front
of the gas range, and showed me
about it.
Il don't know that ever saw one"
he said cheerfully, but | know the
theory. Likewise, by the same token,
| this tea-kettle. set on the llame, Will
boil. That is not theory, however.
That is early knowledge. Polly, put
| the kettle on; Wen all take tea Look
at that. Mrs Wilson. didn't fight
bacilli with boiled water at Chicka-
mauga for nothing"
And then he let out the policeman
and brought him into the kitchen. He
was a large man, and his face was a
curious mixture of amaZrment, alarm
and dignity. No doubt we did look
queer, still in parts Of our evening
| clothes and | in the white silk and
lace petticoat that belonged under my
gown. with n yellow and black paiama
| coat of Jimmy's as Il sort of breakfast
jacket.
This is Officer Flanagan" Mr..
HARRISON said. Il explained our un-
| fortunate position earlier in the
morning, and he is prepared to accept
our hospitality Flanagan, every
person i'm this house has got To work.
as | also explained to you. You are
appointed dish washer and scullcry-
maid"
The policeman looked daZcd. Then,
slowly, like dawn over a sleeping lake,
a light of comprehension grew i'm his
| face.
Sure" he said, laying his helmet on
the table. "Tll he glad To he doing
anything | can to help. Me and Mrs.
Wilson-wc used to he friends. It's
many the time I've opened the carriage
door for her, and she with her head
| in the air, and for all that, tn" pleas
ant smile. When any one around her
was having party and wanted a
special officer. it was Mrs Wilson that
always said, get Flanagan, Offic"r
Timothy Flanagan. He's your man.
nv heart had been going lower and
lower. So he knew Bella, and he
knew | was not Bella. although he had
not grasped the fact that | was usurp-
ing her place And the odiouS Harhl-
son man sat on the table and swung
his feet.
"I wonder if YOU know" he said.
looking around him, how good it is to
see white woman S" perfectly at
home in a civilized Kitchen again, af-