The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-07-29

: BEAUTIFUL MAID MARY
. G.. ST. - 2s13 I
BY WELLER.

X2dA &nAAo ~ AoS oAo"SA
vertisement for a maid out Of a spirit
of adventure. On the contrary, she
was In absolute need Of employment
in order to make both ends Of her
financial life meet. The embroidery
she did was not remunerative enough
to pay expenses and Mary had no fur
ther business training.
The young author who had adver-
tised had pondered long and deeply
before putting forth his need In the
newspapers. yet there was no alterna-
tive. He must have some n to look
after his home and he was old-fash.
Toned enough to feel that a woman and
not q. man should do it.
When he answered Mary Perkins
ring at the door bell EVERY hoped 1t
would be an applicant waiting there.
The girl standing outside was slight.
Her hair was neatly brushed back and
her eyes looked curiously large
through the thick-lensed glasses she
wore. Her skin was Of q dull, almost
Indian hue.
IT have come in answer to your ad-
vertisement for a maid" she said, and
EVERY 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-and quietly" He hooked
at the girl in 80 helpless q way that
Mary was tempted to laugh. IT you
could manage in half a day I 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
establishments
So excellent was Mary's cooking
that EVERY ventured to suggest n
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 EVERY, 1T is easy
II Mary will stay and serve dinner"
He went forthwith to the door and
called her.
When she stood beside him, EVERY
found his eyes opening a triie wider
than was usual with them. Mary
seemed 80 different, so altogether diff
ferent from the girl she had been. It
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.
II called the old Mary. What have
you done to YOURSELF"
II grew tired of looking 30. plain"
she admitted, when I applied for the
position I was very much In need and
I felt certain you would not engage
me as q maid If" she broke of with
downcast eyes.
II most certainly would mott" said
EVERY with conviction. He sighed a
second later and Mary asserted her
rights as q successful domestic.
my fingers have not lost their cum
ming with the culinary art just because
I am less homely than you thought me.
/ can serve as good q meal and keep
your house as clean as ! ever did"
II am perfectly well 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 OF and smiled at
the humor Of the situation.
"Too beautiful to what?" asked
Mary.
"cWell-the fact H." admitted Ever
ly, that 1t has been the dream Of my
life to have a home to which I can IN.
vite my friends. I wanted. next Sat-
urday night, to give q small dinner
party to six men. that ~is-providing
you would have been willing to ar
range everything for me-"
"And why may / not? I can stay all
day Saturday and I will plan and serve
a dinner that will make the editors &C
cept every story you send them"
And have them all wing with
each other for your attention when
they see you-no. thanks" Because
EVERY was completely mystifed as to
his own sudden emotions and quite I'M
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 FIVE 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.
Mary's skin was dark; her heavy
glasses were In place. and her hair
wal severely drawn back.
How many v shall I arrange
for-for the dinner party. sir2" she
questioned.
EVERY jumped to his feet, took the
glasses from her eyes, dragged tho
pinioned tendrils Of soft gold hair from
their captivity and laughed whimsical
ly down into Mary's flushed face.
81 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 mnment later Mary looked up.