The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-04-02

tip of her finger Helen touched {
blackened, grease-crusted burner
"And this drip pan" drawing it out, is
filthy"
Guess | know how it was when
came. Guess keep my stove and my
kitchen cleaner than the girl you had
fore me-"
THAT will do, Nora. Now, this par
must be secured, You'll have to use
ammonia to cut that grease, and take
a stiff brush to those burners. | want
this cleaned this morning-before you
begin the silver"
Helen left the kitchen with an angry
flush Nora was getting more sullen
and insolent every day She had made
mistake in taking her back. She
should have known that once having
clashed, things could never be the
same. Now, she was sighting her
work. There was no excuse for that
stove.
"Thompson's here to fix that hot
water spigot," announced Nora, ap-
pearng at the door a moment later.
you said you wanted to see him.
Helen turned sharply.
What did you say, Nora? What
did you call Mr.. Thompson"
Il said Thompson's here to fix that
hot water spigot," defantly.
Mora, want this to be the last
time you ever call Mr.. Thompson
Thompson. I've spoken to you about
that before He's the superintendent
here, and for you to presume to call
him Thompson"
well, that's his name, amt it," her
face reddening with sulky temper.
And he calls me Nora, doesn't he?
I've got no use for that man. He made
my uncle come up on that servants
elevator-and my uncle's just as much
a gentleman as anybody that comes
to this house"
"But, Nora, that's the rule here
anybody calling on the maids must use
that elevator. They can't make an ex-
ception Of your uncle"
And Helen hurried out to Mr..
Thompson, irritably conscious that
Nora was getting more and more on
her nerves.
1t was after luncheon before
Helen went into the kitchen again. In
a glance she saw the stove had been
only half cleaned, but she ignored it,
not feeling equal to another combat
just then Yet she knew Nora had
seen her look at it, and was furious at
her own lack Of courage.
Where did these come from,
Nora?" taking up monkey wrench
and large screw driver from the
kitchen table.
"He left 'em when he was fixin' the
sink"
who do you mean by 'he?'" de-
manded Helen, pointedly.
Nora hesitated. She dared not say
Thompson" and her stubborn pride
would not let her say "Mr. Thompson.
Then came an inspiration.
"The superintendent, ma am"
"And what did l tell you to call the
superintendent, Nora?"
Mister Thompson" with sneering
emphasis. Then, under her breath,
But I'll call him what please when
you amt around"
Pretending not to hear this last
mumbled comment, Helen left the
kitchen. She went straight to her
desk and took up the calendar.
Nora's month would be up the fif-
Nteenth-just nine more days. She
you'd tell her tomorrow that she must
look for another place. She would
y not keep her after the fifteenth!
That evening at dinner Nora waited
on the table with lowered, Redeemed
eyes and an air Of gloomy sullenness
What's the matter with herr" de.
manded Warren, as she left the room
Shes getting difficult again." ad.
mitted Helen, with sigh. She had
one Of her sullen spells today"
"What'd l tell you when you took
her back?"
well, when her months up I'm
going to let her 60. l shall tell her
tomorrow that she'll have to look for
another place"
Huh! I'd have fired her long ago.
You've put up with"
Hush, dear!" Through the partly
opened pantry door Helen caught the
CLEAN of Nora's white apron. "Oh,
believe she heard"
Serves her right for listening"
When Nora brought in the salad her
eyes were lowered, but Helen saw her
hand tremble as she put down the
dish. How much had she heard?
For the rest Of the evening Helen
felt vaguely uncomfortable. She
thought Of Nora out there broodine
alone, thinking, no doubt, they were
still talking her over" She could
never bear to feel that they were two
against one-and Nora was SO alone !!
Finally, yielding to her uneasiness,
she went out to the kitchen. The
door of Nora's room was open, but she
was not there.
Moral" she called, uncertainty.