El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-06

THAT Della was an excellent cook.
rapid worker and scrupously
clean, was quickly shown. But
she was very sullen and wanted to do
the work in her own way without in
reference or instruction
For the first TWO days Helen left
her undisturbed 1t was the third
morning that she took a couple Of the
baby's dresses and a tiny wooden sack
and laid them on the kitchen table.
las soon as you are through with the
dishes 1 should like for you to wash
these out. You can use the white soap
and tepid water-don't have it too
warm
Della neither answered nor turned
around Helen went back into the
nursery feeling that the warfare had
begun. Would she wash them out or
would she not? She purpOsely refrain
ed from going into the kitchen for sew
eraI hours. When she did, Della was
calmly polishing the silver, and the
baby clothes lay untouched on the
table.
why. Della, you forgot those little
dresses would like them washed out
at once"
DeIia's only answer was a more Wig
again Helen left the kitchen to await
At / o'clock Della came to her door
with curt:
Your luncheon's ready, nam"
It was a delicious little luncheon OF
salad tosat and fruit But Helen could
not enjoy it for wondering, had she
washed out those things?"
Della Refuses TO Surrender.
1t was not until after 8. when Helen
heard her leave the kitchen, that she
ventured in again. Everything was in
perfect order and the place was ex-
quisitely clean. The shades were drawn
to show that the work was done for
the afternoon But there on the cor
ner of the table still lay the little
dresses. Della had not touched them.
It was an unmistakable defiance.
She had said, when she came, that she
expected to do no washing And now
she was calmly refusing to do 1T. Helen
was angry-very angry She would
make her come back and wash out
those dresses.
She started towards Delia's room and
then stopped. Did she want to risk
bringing things to an issue in this
way? Should Della refuse, now, she
would have to discharge her. And she
did not want to do that She resolved
to wait until Della went back to the
kitchen to get dinner.
But she was more than ever deter
mined that she would be Obeyed. Della
had carried off successfully her refusal
to wear a cap. But her disobedience
must end there
1t was half past when she again
heard her moving about in the kitchen.
When she opened the door Della was
comfortably seated at the table pee1ing
potatoes.
'Delia. did you forget to wash out
those little dresses?"
No answer.
did you forget about those dresses?"
Helen repeated sternly.
Della mumbled something about not
dom washin'-"
For only a second. Helen hesitated
Then she walked over, took the pan Of
potatoes from Delia's lap and said very
quietly:
You had better wash those out now.
I want them to dry before night. TIL
peel the potatoes while you are wash
ing them"
A Critical Moment.
1t was a critical moment and Helen
was uncertain as to the outcome. Della
was taken entirely by surprise. She
started to speak, then stopped There
was something in Helen's quiet deter
mination that made her realize this
was final. Silently and sunenly she
took up the little dresses and prepared
to wash them out.
You had better wash the little jack
ct first" said Helen pleasantly. and
don't have the water warm enough to
shrink it."
Della's sulky silence was somewhat
diSconcerting- But having won her
point Helen, womanlike. was prepared
to be generous. She wanted to say