Evening star., 1914-03-29
THE DAILY STORY.
Mrs. RidgeWay'S Help.
Copyright, 1914. by W. werner.y

Kathrina heard her mistress coming
from the reception hall She was afraid
Of Mrs. Ridgeway and nervous in her
presence. As Mr.. Ridgeway opened the
kitchen door Kathrina's poor. clumsy,
blunt fingers slipped. and the pitcher,
which was to hold the refreshment for
guests in the parior. fell at her feet with
a crash.
Mrs. Ridscway paused and then swept
forward upon kathrina You cood-for-
nothing Dutch slob.'' she said
kathrina made no sign of protest She
stood rigid. motionless pae Mrs. Ridge
way lowered the hand she had raised
threateningly "The only pitcher of that
kind I've got" she said If help WASH I
SO scarce I'd tell you to get our of my
house this minute and l wouldn't give
you recommend, ethel AS it is it viii
take two weeks wages to pay for this
carelessness. Put the Crane Juice into
something and bring it In at once And
If YOU slop it when you're pouring or
break another thing I'll turn you out of
doors. anyway. Now, mind what ! say
As the door closed behind her Kath-
rina. like Galatea, stirred with life Two
weeks wages, she rnurmure,1. Her
Hdt IN blue t5 SS looked WIG III ner WdNgn
face. Numb and daZed she went to seek
another receptacle for the grape Juice
men a lew moments Iater she appear
ed in the parlor. where 4 small bridge
party was in progress. she looked the
personlfcation of a tidy and trustWorthy
maid in her blue frock her white bib
apron and her little white cap Likewise.
Mrs. Rldgeway appeared the lenient and
well pleased mistress. But Katrina knew
what she knew and braced nerves and
ril.a inc ,,F fa
And so well did she conduct herself that
words of appreciation followed her around
the room.
'kathrina is doing very we'll" Mrs
lidgeway said, while kathrina heard.
astonished. ''As YOU may say have
trained her myself. for size was in she
raw state when she came to me- lust
over from Holland, YOU know. Have
some more cake. Mrs Blatchford-do.
kathrina,'
kathrina presented the cake. and hav-
ing seen that the ladies We're well oc-
cupled with gossip and provender. was
allowed to depart kitcheuward. There
she tied a gingham apron over her white
one and proceeded 10 brush up the wreck
OF the pitcher. Tears filled her large blue
eyes but did not fall. She knew better
than to let Mrs. Ridgeway see that she
had been crying. One more deviation
from the chaIkline OF domestic rectitude
laid out for her to toe II light cost her
place. And to lose her place without a
recommend in this land of strangers
meant the unspeakable terror of out of
work. of which she already had learned
something. For Hans. her good big
brother. who had brought her to America
with him and had piIoted her to the safe
haven of domestic employment had had
an accident. which cost him his job. AL
ready his savings were gone and hers.
too. All that now stood between them
both and actual misery was kathrina's
81 week.
Hopelessly kathrina carried the frag
ments of cut glass to the ash barrel.
Then off came the apron and she hurried
to carry out the empty gotlets and cake
baskets. She had no further mishap and
she was sure of her place q. little longer;
but, ah. God, How was she to provide for
her dear. manned brother while she was
paying for Mrs. Ridgeways pitcher?
She would have to write to Hans and
tell him. for, though he could hobble on
a cruCch and would have come TO see
kathrina. Mrs. Ridgeway would not al
low it. She had found him one day and