Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-09-15

TIUUOu-DuC i UlOn KNOW Sl0 look
this, She had it hidden in the bottom
of her closet! Now do you want me
to keep herr"
who said I wanted you to keep
her? All I want is to be let alone!"
Wrought up to a feverish indigna-
ton, Helen could hardly wait until
Emma returned. She would tell her
tonight that when her month was up
she would have to go. Why, the girl
was brazen-absolutely brazen.
And she had come with a reference
for honesty! That showed how little
reference meant. Helen was walk
ing excitedly up and down.
you know what I'm going to do!"
tempestuously, again confronting
Warren. I'm going to call up
Emma's reference right now and ask
what she meant by saying the girl
was honest!"
Go ahead! Whoop 1t up" with
aggravating unconcern.
A hurried search through her desk,
and Helen found the address-Mrs.
Lewison, Lenox STA.
A moment later she had Mrs. Levi
son on the phone.
This Is Mrs Curtis! I'd like to
speak to you about a maid, Emma
Anderson. I believe she had a ref
erence from you?"
yes, I gave her reference" In
questioning voice.
and / think you said she was hon.
est. Well, I'm sorry to say
haven't found her so-that is in small
things"
''Was it ribbons?" Iaughingly.
"Why-how do you know?"
That was Emma's weakness. She
would take ribbons to run in her IN
derwear-but as long as she was with
me she never took anything else.'
Then you think she can be trusted
with the silver and other"
absolutely. She was here over a
year and l trusted her with every
thing. I consider her very good girl.
and I didn't hesitate to give her a
reference. You know most of them
have worse faults than"
Eyes, I know" murmured Helen,
"only wanted to be sure
When she hung up the receiver she
turned to Warren with a puzzled,
Dear, she says it's only ribbonsi The
girl has a mania for ribbons, but
she's really honest in every other
way"
why in blazes don't you give her
some ribbon-if that's all she wants.
But she was so untruthful about
it," unheedingly "She insisted the
ribbon was hers!" Then, with sudden
intensity, Nov I know what I'll do!
I'll give her another chance. I'll put
this piece back, and when she comes
in I'll ask her If she's sure she re-
turned it all"
With deliberate care Helen put the
| ribbon back under the bundle OF
clothes in Emma's closet, then left
the hall door open so she could hear
her come in. 1t was ten now, and
she rarely stayed out after half past
While she waited, Helen rehearsed
just what she would say. She would
not seem angry or excited, but II
Emma insisted that there was nc
more ribbon in her room, then she
would go straight to the closet and
lift up the bundle of clothes. With
a grim satisfaction she pictured this
scene and the girls confusion
At last came the sound of a clos
ing door-Emma had come in.
Resolutely Helen went out to hel
room. At the door she hesitated. The
transom was open, and she could hear
the girl humming, and talking tt
Pussy Purr-Mew.
"1s Pussy hungry" A faint, an
swering NEW" Does Pussy wan
some milk?"
Helen drew back into the dark a:
Emma's door opened with flood O.
light. She was going out to the
kitchen for the milk, still talking tt
Pussy Purr-Mew in her cooling, girl
ish way.
Standing irresolutely in the dark
ened dining room, Helen thought O
what Mrs. Lewison had said-that thu
girl was young and vain and had {
weakness for ribbons, but that sht
was absolutely honest about every
thing else. Somehow Helen's indfg
nation and resentment were waning
She thought, too, of the trouble ant
worry of breaking in another girl
who might have worse faults AM
more of them. Might it not be easie
to simply lock up her ribbons and sa,
nothing?
Another moment of indecision, an,
Helen noiselesly left the dinini
room.
We'll, how about it?" demande,
Warren, when she came back an,
took up the magazine with an effac
ing, communicative air. did sh
own up?"
II didn't ask her. I-Ithought T.,
let 1t go this time"
: 'Petered out, Ell? Kicked up a dus
about nothing? Give the girl som
| x,;H Ill