The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1914-07-10


II have come In answer to your adj
vertisement for a maid" she said, and
Everly opened the door.
His writing den was nearest to the
entrance, and thither he led Mary Per-
kins.
"All that is essential for me is," he
said to her, that you can keep house
intelligently-an quietly" lie looked
at the girl in so helpless a way that
Mary was tempted to laugh. IF you
could manage in half a day ! would
much prefer your being here only from
ten o'clock until after my dinner in the
middle of the day
THAT will suit me-" Mary replied.
And from the very beginning Mary
took complete possession of Everly's
establishment
So excellent was Mary's cooking
that Everly ventured to suggest one
of the dreams of his authors mind.
Always, since the beginning of his
literary career he had wanted to have
editors and publishers dining at his
own table.
THAT is" thought Everly, "it is easy
If Mary will stay and serve dinner"
He went forthwith TO the door and
called her
When she stood beside him, Everly
found his eyes opening a trlfle wider
than was usual with them. Mary
seemed so different, so altogether diff
ferent from the girl, she had been. 1t
took him a moment or SO to realize
that the thick-lensed glasses had been
discarded; that the skin was curiously
fair and the hair wonderfully riotous.
You called me-. sir?" Mary sug-
gested
Il called the old Mary. What have
you done to yourself?"
Il grew tired of looking so plain"
she admitted. when applied for the
position | was very much In need and
l felt certain you would not engage
me as a maid If" she broke off with
downcast eyes.
Il most certainly would not!" said
Everly with conviction. He sighed a
second later and Mary asserted her
rights as successful domestic.
my fingers have not lost their cum
ming with the culinary art just because
am less homely than you thought me,
can serve as good a meal and keep
your house as clean as l ever did,
Il am perfectly we'll aware of all
these facts" Everly admitted, but
that does not alter the fact that you
are far too lovely, too altogether beau
tiful to-" he broke off and smiled at
the humor of the situation.
TOO beautiful to what?" asked
Mary.
."Well--the fact is" admitted Ever
ly, that it has been the dream of my
life to have home to which | can IN
vite my friends. wanted, next Sat
urday night. to give a small dinner
party to six men, that is-providing
you would have been willing to ar
range everything for me-"
And why may not? l can stay all
day Saturday and will plan and serve.
q dinner that will make the editors ac-
cept every story you send them"
And have them all vying with
each other for your attention when
they see you-no. thanks" Because
Everly wss completely mystified as to
his own sudden emotions and quite un-
able to cope with the situation he
turned to his typewriter. That move
ment had always been Mary's cue to
exit.
1t was scarcely flve minutes before
he heard her soft knock on his study
door. When she came in he laughed
aloud. partly from relief and partly
because of his new emotion.
Marys skin was dark; her heavy
glasses were in place. and her hair
was severely drawn back
How many covers shall arrange
for-for the dinner party, sir?" she
questioned.
Eyerly jumped to his feet, took the
glasses from her eyes, dragged tho
pinioned tendrlls of soft gold hair from
their captivity and laughed whimsical
ly down into Mary's flushed face.
Il have thought Of the only possible
way to keep you." he said breathless-
ly, for things had happened rather sud
denly. you understandable you not.
dear?"
A moment later Mary looked up.
But the dlnner-I want to serve
hat"
Il have told you the one condition
under which you can preside" Everly
saId aroolv. "afthar Won arc hare "a