The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-09-11

paint the place-cards, too-Ive done
it many time. And | could wait on |
the table But Icouldn't cook even an /
oyster"
"Oh, place-cards!' said the little !
woman, her eyes frightening. She !
caught at the word as though she had /
described a new star in the armament.
81 wish | could have them. They cost
so much to buy. l might have my
washerwoman come and help with the
cooking. She cooks pretty well, and /
could help her beforehand, but she
couldn't wait on table, to save her
life. wonder if you know much about
menus. Could you help me fix out the
courses and say what you think |
ought to have, or don't you know
about that? You see, have this very
particular company coming, and |
want to have things nice. / don't
know them very well. My husband
| has business relations with them and
wants them invited, and of all times
| for Betty to leave this was the worst!"
| She had unconsciously fallen into
tone of equality with the strange girl.
| L SnOuIu Inc " hSAp yONs 0SAAN S-~O
| girl, but I must find somewhere to
stay before night, and if find place
| must take it. 1 just came to the
city this morning, and have nowhere
to stay overnight
The troubled look fitted across the
womans face for a moment, but her
desire got the better of her.
81 suppose my husband would think
was crazy to do it, she said aloud,
but l just can't help trusting you.
Suppose you come and stay with me
today and tomorrow, and help me out
with this dinner party. and you can
stay overnight at my house and sleep
in the cooks room. If l like your
work, I'll give you recommendation
as waitress. You can't get a good
, place anywhere without it, not from
the Offices, I'm sure. A recommends
ton ought to be worth a couple Of
days work to you. I'd pay you some
4 thing besides, but l really can't afford
: it, for the washerwoman charges
: dollar and half day when she goes
: out to cook; but if you get your board
: and lodging and a reference, thai
@ ought to pay you"
You are very kind" said the girl
81 shall be glad to do that"
And so they got into car and wer'
whirled away into a pretty suburb
= The woman, whose name was Mrs
, Hart, lived in common little hous
filed with imitation oriental rugs an
cheap furniture.
The two went to work at once
bringing order out of the confusio
o that reigned in the tiny kitchen.
the afternoon the would-be waitres
sat down with a box of water-color
to paint dinner-cards, and as her ski
e full brush brought into being daint
landscapes, lovely flowers, and ittl
=, brown birds, she pondered the strang
., ness of her lot.
The table the next night was lai
: with exquisite care, the scant supp
of flowers having been used to be
IS advantage, and everything shown
the touch of skilled hand. The lor
- hours that Mrs Hart had spent puc
ering her brow over the household d
partment of fashion magazines helpt
Ia. her to recognize the fact that in h
new maid she had what she was plea
ed to call the real thing"
oh She sighed regretfully when t
t. guest of honor. Mrs. Rhinehart, spo
of the deftness and pleasant appeE
t, aace of her hostess's waitress
Yes Mrs. Hart said, swelling wi
pride, she is a treasure. | only wi
n. could keep her"
d. She's going to get married. l 81