The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1913-10-23
CHAPTER vi.

door the eyes OF dozen women fas.
tened upon her. each with keor
scrutiny. The sensitive color stole in.
20 her delicate checks. AS the pro.
prietress OF the office began TO mes.
uon her' she felt her courage failing.
You wish position?" The woman
had a nose like hawk. and eyes thai
held no sympathy. What do Won
want! General housework?"
should like a position MS wait.
ress.F Her voice was low and sounded
frightened to herself.
The hawk nose went up contemntu.
ously. '0'' ''u'
Better take general housework
ready" az
understand the work of wait.
ress' but / never have done general
housework," she answered with the
voice OF sentlewoman, which some.
now angered the hawk, who had
trained herself to get the ADVANTAGE
over people and keep 1t or else know
the reason why.
very well, do as you please. of
course, but you bite your own nose off
Leu me see your references"
The girl was ready for this
1 am sorry, but l cannot give Won
any. have lived only in one bonsa
where l had entire charge of the table
ana dining room, and that home was
broken up when the people went
abroad three years ago. could show
you letters written by the mistress OF
mat home II l had my trunk here but
II Is In another city, and | do NOT
know when shall be able to send for
it." N Aoi
No references!" screamad tho
hawk. then raising her voice. although
IL was utterly unnecessary: Ladies
mere ID girl who has no references.
10 any OF you want to venture?" The
cohtemptuous laugh that followed had
'he erect OF warning to every WON.
an In the room. And this girl scorns
general housework. and presumes to
dictate for a place as waitress" went
on the hawk.
want a waitress badly" said a
troubled woman in a subdued whisner
out really wouldn't dare take a girl
without references She might he a
thief, you know, and then-reallv she
doesn't look as If she was used 70
houses IKE mine. l must have neat
stylish-looking girl. No self-respectine
waitress nowadays would go out In the
street dressed like that"
All the eyes in the room seemed bor-
Ing through the poor girl as she stood
trembling, Inundated her cheeksb burn.
ing. while Mortified tears demanded
TO be let up into her eyes She held
her dainty head proudly, and turned
away with dignity
However, If you care to try" called
out the hawk, you can register AT the
uesK and leave two dollars, and if in
the meantime you can think of any.
body who'll give us a reference. Wen
look 1t up. But we never guarantee
girls without references"
The tears were too near the SIR.
race now for her even to acknowledged
this information flung at Ler i'm an I'm.
pleasant voice. She went out of tho
once and immediately-surrep
1.-TWO women hurried after her.
one was tiabby, large and over
dressed. with a pasty complexion and
eyes like fish, in which was a lack
Of all moral senee. She hurried after
The girl and took her by the shoulder
Just as she reached the top Of The
stairs that led down into the street.
The other was small, timid WON.
an, with anxiety and INDIGESTION written
all over her, and last years street
nj oil
she saw who had stopped the girl. She
fingered behind in the hall and pre-
tended there was something wrong
with the braid on her skirt. While she
fingered she listened.
Wait a minute, miss" said ne
fashy woman. You needn't feel bad
about having references. Everybody
isn't so particular. You come with
me, and I'll put you In the way of earn
ing more than you can ever get as a
waitress. You weren't cut out for work,
anyway, with that face and voice. I've
been watching you. You were meant
for lady. You need TO be dressed
up. and you'll be a real pretty girl"
AS she talked, she had come nearer,
and now she leaned over and whis.
pered 80 that the tlmid woman, who
was beginning dimly to perceive what
manner Of creature this other woman
was, could not hear.
But the girl stepped back with sud
den energy and flashed eyes shaking
off the beringed hand that had grasped
her shoulder
Don't you dare TO speak to rae."
she said In loud, clear voice. Don't
you dare TO touch me! You are a
wicked womanl II you touch me
again, ] will go in there and tell ell
those women how you have insultcd
mel"
"Oh, we'll, n you're saint, staryo!"
Missed the woman.
Il should rather starye ten thouaard
times than take help from you" said
the girl, and her clear, Mortified eyes
seemed to burn into the woman's evil
face She turned and slid away. IKE
the willy old serpent that she was.
Down the stairs Ike lightning SPED
the girl, her head up ia pride and
horror, her eyes still flashing And
down the stairs after her sped the lit
tie, anxious woman, painting and
breathless, determined to keep her fin
Flsht tlll she could decide whether il
Was.8afr 20 take Girl vyffhouf ca rt.,.