The Yale expositor., 1915-08-19

urner For second
Helen was tempt
ed to rush to the door, fling 1t open
and confront Emma with her lie. But
with the Stevenses coming to dinner,
1t was not an opportune time for
scene.
Besides, Emma's month was up
the goth, and Helen had already told
her to look for another place.
She could not longer put up with her
untruthfulness, her furtiveness and
her intimacy with the Gordons
maid.
The mayonnaise, beaten to
creamy smoothness, Helen now put
in the ice; gave a few adjusting
touches to the sideboard and table,
and went In to dress. Knowing 1t
would take several weeks to break
in a new girl, she was having the
Stevenses before Emma left.
She had taken down her hair when
she thought OF the egg for the salad.
Last time it had not been hard enough
the yolk was gluey.
Emma" running back to the
kitchen, but the only answering
sound was the gurgle of the boiling
potatoes. Emma was not there!
Was she over with the Gordons'
maid again? Helen opened the door
and rang furiously their kitchen bell.
which could be heard across the hall.
Emma" as the girl came sheep
ishly out, cant you stay in your
own kitchen long enough to get din
ner?"
Il just wanted to take back lem
on l borrowed" with evasive eyes.
"How many times have | told you
not to borrow of the Gordons? When
did you need a lemon? We always
have lemons"
We had that salmon.
Emma's glib lies were ever ready.
With an effort Helen let this one pass,
told her CURLY about the egg, and
went back to her room.
Sitting on the floor to put on her
slippers, she was startled by an ex-
plosion that sounded alarmingly
near. But, as no commotion followed,
she decided it was a bursting tire in
the street below.
A few moments later the doorbell
rang. 1t couldn not be the Stevenses
1t was only half-past six! Even
Warren had not come yet.
Again the bell, clamorous peal.
Where was Emma? Why did she
not answer It? Had she dared to go
over to the Gordons' again?
Throwing on a kimono, Helen ran
out to the hall. The Stevenses would
not ring like that! Standing back of
the door, she opened 1t few inches.
A glimpse of Emmas white apron
she had locked herself out!
Helen, furious. flung wide the
door Then she saw that something
had happened. There stood the Cor
dons' maid, white as chalk. Emma,
her face covered with her hands, was
leaning tremblingly against the wall.
"Oh-oh, the oven!" she sobbed. 1T
1T exploded"
That was what she had heard!
Helen few out to the kitchen, ex-
pecting to see II in flames, but there
was only a dense smoke and a sitting
smell OF gas. She flung up the win
dow, turned off the still escaping gas,
and ran back to Emma.
Her hairs all scorched, ma'am,"
whispered the Gordon's maid.
Scorched! Helen had thought she
was only frightened. Drawing her
to the light, she saw that her hair
was badly singed.
why, Emma" taking the girls
hands from her face, "and your eye
brows, too! Oh, I'm so sorry. Wait"
Helen few for the cold cream.
Here, rub this on-does 1t SMART"
The girl nodded and rubbed the
cream on her soot-streaked face.
'Oh, she came runnin' out so scared
she couldn't speak," the Gordons'
maid still clutching a tea towel and a
plate OF the Gordons' best china.
II heard the explosion" admitted |
Helen, but l didn't dream 1t was in
our kitchen. Warren!" she called ex.
citedly. Come herein Emmas rooml |
The stove exploded"
Without waiting to take off his over
coat, Warren came rushing out.
How'd this happen?" as he quick |
ly examined the singed hair and eye
brows. Then. turning to Helen.
Wed better have doctor here"
"Oh. no, sir. I'm all right, l don't |
need a DOCTOR" protested Emma.
Il hardly think she does, dear. muir
INJURED Helen, thinking OF the expense,
yet hating herself for Il.