The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-10-24
CHAPTER VI.

bloh uoIg bue itlL uSI SOuiabN Aoiihb'
you wish a positlon?" The woman
had a nose like a hawk. and eyes that
held no sympathy. what do you
want? General housework?"
81 should like a position as wait.
ress." Her voice was low and sounded
frightened TO herself.
The hawk nose went up contemptu-
ously.
Better take general housework.
There are too many Mattresses al
ready"
81 understand the work OF a wait
ress, but never have done general
housework." she answered with the
voice of gentlewoman, which some
how angered the hawk. who had
trained herself to get the advantage
over people and keep it or else know
the reason why.
Very well, do as you please, Of
course, but you bite your own nose off.
Let me see your references"
The girl was ready for this.
II am sorry, but cannot give you
any. have lived only in one house,
where / had entire charge Of the table
and 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
that home IL had my trunk here, but
1t is in another city, and | do not
know when | shall be able to send for
IT,"
mo references!" screamed the
hawk, then raising her voice, although
it was utterly unnecessary: Ladies,
here is a girl who has no references.
Do any of you want to ventures" The
contemptuous laugh that followed had
the effect Of a warning to every wom-
an in the room. And this girl scorns
general housework, and presumes to
dictate for a place as waitress" went
on the hawk.
81 want a waitress badly" said
troubled woman in a subdued whisper,
but really wouldn't dare take a girl
without references. She might be
thief, you know, and then-really, she
doesn't look as if she was used to
houses like mine. must have neat,
stylish-looking girl. No self-respecting
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, humiliated, her cheeks 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
desk and leave two dollars, and if IN
the meantime you can think of any
body who'll give us a reference, Wen
look it up. But we never guarantee
girls without references"
The tears were too near the sur
face now for her even to acknowledge
this information flung at her in an un-
pleasant voice. She went out of the
office, and neutrality-suspicious.
ly-two women hurried after her.
One was flabby, large and over
dressed, with a pasty complexion and
eyes like a fish, in which was a lack
of all moral sense. 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 q small, timid wom-
an, with anxiety and indecision written
oil hnT ond 10 or re OF
suit with the sleeves remodeled. When
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
she listened
wait a minute, miss" said the
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
You weren't cut out for work,
anyway, with that face and voice. I've
been watching you. You we're meant
for a lady. You need to be dressed
up, and you'll be real pretty girl"
AS she talked, she had come nearer,
and now she leaned over and whis-
pered so that the timid 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 mel"
she said in loud, clear voice. Don't
you dare to touch mel You are a
wicked woman If you touch me
again, / will go in there and tell all
those women how you have insulted
mel"
"Oh, WELL If you're saint, starve!"
Missed the woman.
Il should rather starve ten thousand
lines than take help from you" said
he girl, and her clear, Mortified eyes
seemed to burn into the woman's evil |
ace. She turned and slid away, like
he willy old serpent that she was.
Down the stairs like lightning sped |
.o0o1-o~-o-o~D~~~-~-oo~
ERA MARKED BY GREEDINESS |