The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1910-11-04
Hamlet S Way

both upSettfng and annOylng-but Har-
riet made bread like unto feathers and
her coffee was nectar. Also 1t was
easier for the Bowencotts to endure
Harriet's disposition as she chose to
vent her temper on Lorena.
Lorena was the nursemaid, quiet,
little creature with pathetic eyes and
an inability to harbOr resentment
Mrs. BOwencott looked on helplessly
as she heard Harriet order, bully and
tyrannize and saw LOrena meekly sub
NIT, but she did not attempt to inter-
fere except indirectly. She had kept
house three years and had learned to
ignore family rows in the kitchen.
Only she wondered at Lorena's pa
thence and long-suffering and she won
ders the more that Harriet was not
touched by it. Instead it seemed to
incite her to fresh unkindnesses.
There was a curve to Harriet's lips
that was cruel in spite of their red
ness and a fash in her black eyes that
was a danger signal to those who
knew her.
At times she seemed possessed of a
demon of rage that shook her through
and then 1t was that LOrena suffered
She was one of those who are ap-
palled at violence and who shrink at
a scene, so almost tremblingly she
would do part of Harriets work for
her. the baby permitting, take her
seedlings apologetically and general
ly reef sail under the storm when
Harriet was flying about the kitchen
with crimson cheeks and glOwering
brows.
Harriet nagged as we'll as scolded.
found fault unjuStly and under LOr-
ena's long-suffering developed traits
which would have done credit to a
slave driver. When she could re-
duce Lorena to tears Harriet became
almost mild In her pleasure.
For a week Lorena had been going
about her duties paler and quieter
than usual and Mrs. BOwencOtt
plucked up courage and politely re-
monstrated with Harriet. why do
you treat her so?" she ended rather
shakily. for Mrs. Bowencott, too, 1t
may be confessed, was afraid OF q
scene.
Harriet leaned against the kitchen
table and frowned. She seemed to be
trying to formulate a reason for her
own enlightenment as well as her
Questioner's. Il dunno" she said at
last. she Just aggravates me! She
just looks at yeh as though she e1-
pected to get bit and that makes me
want to-and she is SO little and thin
she hadn't ought to work anyhow. l
guess Just hate her. l don't like to
see her around"
Mrs. Bowencott retired from the
conflict routed. She could not make
Harriet out Her remarks seemed
contradictory.
That night Lorena went across the
city to see her mother and did not
come back In the morning. The very
good reason was, the Bowencotts
found by dint of telephoning. that Lor-
ena had become so ill when she
reached home that the doctor had
bundled her off to the hospital at
once.
Mrs. Bowencott dreaded to tell Har-
riet the news. She was fond OF her
little nurse girl and could not bear to
see Harriet when she found Lorena
was at last removed from her path.
And Harriet was too frank to pretend
any sorrow she was far from feeling.
It certainly seemed that fate was play
ing into Harriet's hands.
She was washing dishes when Mrs.
Bowencott told her the news, some
what severely, too, in faint, lingering
hope of making her ashamed of the
way she had treated Lorena.
"Humph!" growled Harriet, resu-
ming her dishwashing jauntily.
Mrs. Bowencott yearned to dis
charge her on the spot, but remem-
bered the coffee and refrained. Men
tally, however, she declared Harriet
to be unregenerate and quite heart
less.
That evening Mrs. BowencOtt dis
cussed the situation with her husband.
Its too bad, but I'll have to get an
other nurse GIRL" she said. 1T will
be weeks before Lorena can come
back"
Harriet was Strengthening the dining
room and parted the pOrtieres fierce
". She looked as wrathful as she had
ever looked at Lorena and she
breathed hard. You'd never be do
ing that" she cried why, this is
like home to Lorena-and her so fond
of the baby and all-she'n just die IL
she can't come back here! 1t won't
be many weeks and I'll be willing to
help yeh take care of the baby-why.
it won't seem natural not to have Lo-
rena here! Yeh won't be getting an
other girl? II you could see how
white she Isl"
"Who-Lorena?" asked Mrs. Bow
encott in surprise. When did you
see herr"
Il went to the hospital this after
noon," quavered Harriet, dissolving
into tears, ito take her some f-f-flow-
ers. She's awf-f-ful sick. She's too
thin and little to work-it always
makes me mad and l want to take
It out on some one when 1 think OF
1t! Say. Mrs. Bowencott. you'll keep
her place for her If help?"
Certainly WILL" said Mrs. Bowen
colt in fervor that was three-quarters
bewilderment. But somehow she felt
she had a clue-she comprehended
the enigma of Harriet And she fore
saw peace when Lorepa once more
came back to take up her work.
A. to the Sun.