The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-08-19

lowered eyes, as she hurried out to
answer the door bell.
ooh, I'm afraid that's the new girl
now, murmured Helen.
It's young woman, ma'am-to see
you," faltered Nora.
Very well, Nora, you can take her
into the sitting room"
Looks like she wants the job"
commented Warren. 'It's not half past
eight. Pretty mean trick to turn her
down now"
What shall do, dear? Ought 1
speak to her-or to Nora first?"
Don't ask me-" shrugged Warren.
This is your funeral"
A moments hesitation-then Helen
went in to the new girl. Her heart
sank as she saw the straw suitcase
and bundle.
I'm very sorry" began Helen awk-
very much disappointed if gave you
two dollars for your trouble in coming
here-and not keep you?"
The girl looked at her blankly.
A BAD SITUATION.
"My maid, the one that left yester-
day, called me up this morning and
begged me to take her back. You know
it's always hard to break in a new
girl" alphabetically, land Nora's al
ways been so good that IL feel l
ought to take her back"
well, of course, ma'am, that's for
you to say. But I've come all the way
from Hackensack. And yesterday, at
the agency, you said"-
Il know l engaged you," admitted
Helen. I'm not trying to get out of
that, and l still think you'd make a
very good maid" gazing into the girls
perplexed eyes. "Wait moment, l
want to speak to Nora-perhaps after
alp
Feeling that she was bungling things
very badly, Helen ignored Warren's
questioning gaze as she hurried
through the dining room.
mora, I've just been talking to this
girl. She's come long way, she looks
to me like good girl, and she wants
to stay. Now, if l take you back, l
want to be quite sure that you'll not
fly up and leave me again as you did
yesterday"
81 won't ma'am-you know won't" ,.
brokenly.
And whenever l ask you to do a
thing-youll do it without any dis
cussion? That's understood, is it?
You'll wash those shelves today-and
there'll be no more trouble?"
The mention of the shelves was like
the waving of a red flag. Nora's stub
born pride was not wholly broken
and now again it asserted itself.
'I'll do anything, ma'am 'cept those
shelves. II CAN'T do them!"
"You can't" sharply, then why did
you come back? You certainly knew I
wouldn't take you unless you did! You
don't think I'll keep a girl, do you,
who dictates what she will or will not
do?"
There's nothing I won't do for
you," sobbed Nora convulsively. "Only
don't make me do them shelves! Let
me get woman" eagerly. I'll pay her
myself out of my wages-if you'll only
let me stay!"
Helen looked at her pityingly. She
understood. Nora was powerless to
conquer her own stubborn nature. She
had said she would not wash those
shelves and her tenacious obstinacy
still chung to that.
"Oh, l can't help it, ma'am. can't
help it," sobbed Nora, who seemed to
divine Helen's understanding. "1!l stay
with you forever. I'll work for you
do for you-if only you'll not make
me-"
VERY well, Nora" Helen's voice was
unsteady. I'm going to let you stay
and say nothing about the shelves.
Pm not going to MAKE you wash
them, but I'm going to believe that you
will-of your own accord"
Nora's tear-stained face lifted with
an eager light.
But l want you to appreciate that
Pm being very, very good to you! l
hope that I'll not be sorry-that I'll
never regret having kept you"
SHEs GIVES IN.
ooh, you won't ma'am-you won't!
I'll do anything for YOU'LL even wash
them shelves!" and in burst of emo
tional tears Nora caught Helen's hand
and kissed it.
ooh, she's just like a child-just like
child" quivered Helen as she came