The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-02-05
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list, and business was IN full tide.
While she stood shrinking by the
door the eyes OF a dozen women fas-
tened upon her. each with keen
scrutiny. The sensitive color stole in
TO her delicate cheeks. As the pro-
prietress OF the Office began to ques-
ton her. she felt her courage falling.
You wish a position?" The woman
had nose like hawk. and eyes that
held no sympathy. What do you
want? General homework"
u should like position as wait.
ress.' Her voice was low and sounded
frightened TO herself.
The hawk nose went up contemptu.
ousiy.
Better take general housework.
There are too many Mattresses al.
ready"
II understand the work OF 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 on.
Let me see your references."
The girl was ready for this.
~ 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
thar home II had my trunk here. but
Il II In another city. and do not
know when shall be able to send for
H."
NO referenceai" acreahled the
hawk. then raising her voice, although
u was utterly unnecessary: Ladies,
mere IL girl who has no references.
DO any OF you want to venture?" The
contemptuous laugh that followed had
the effect OF a warning to every WON.
an In the room. And this girl scorns
general homework. and presumes to
dictate for n place as waitress," went
on the hawk.
n want q waitress badly" said
troubled woman In a subdued whisper.
but really wouldn't dare take girl
without references. She might be a
thief. You know. and then--realIy, she
doesn't look as n she was used 10
hounes like mine. must have a neat
styliah-looking giri No selfrespectlng
waitress nowadays would go out In the
street dressed like that"
All the eyes In the room seemed bor-
ing through the poor girl az she stood
trembling. Inundated. her cheeks burn
ing. while horrined tears demanded
70 DO let UP into her eyes. She held
her dainty head proudly. and turned
away with dignity.
However. II you care to try. called
out the hawk. "you can register at the
desk and leave two dollars. and II In
the meantime you can think OF any
body who'll give us q reference, wen
look Il 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 Immediately -surreptitious-
ly~--two women hurried after her,
One was fiabby. large and over
dresasd, with pasty complexion and
eyes like a Ash. In which was 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 a small, timid WON
an, with anxiety and indication written
all over her. and q last years street
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
fingered she listened.
Walt a minute. MISS said the
iiashy woman. "You needn't feel bad
about having references. Everybody
isn't so particular. You come with
me. and IN put you In the way OF earn.
Ing more than YOU can ever get AZ a
waitress, You weren't cut out Tor work.
anyway. with that face and voice. I'VE
been watching you You were meant
for lady You need to be dressed
up. and you1l 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
OF the berlnged hand that had grasped |
her shoulder.
Don't you dare to speak to mel"
she said In loud. clear voice. Don't /
YOU dare 70 touch mel You are a
wicked woman, II you touch mo
again. viii SO In there and tell all /
those women how you have insulted
mel"
"oh. WE'LL II you're saint. starvei"
Missed the woman.
Il ahould rather starve ten thousand
times than take help IRON you" said
the girl. aud her clear. horrlfled eyes
seemed to burn into the womans evil
TACO. She turned and slid away. like
The willy old serpent that she was
Down the stairs like lightning sped