The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-02-11
BEAUTIFUL MAID MARY
By HARMONY WELLER.

sesssssssssssssssessssssss
Mary Perkins did not answer the ad.
vertisement for maid out Of 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 remuneratiye 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 one to look
after his home and he was old-fash.
ioned enough to feel that a woman and
not man should do it.
When he answered Mary Perkins
ring at the door bell Everly 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 dull, almost
Indian hue.
II have come In answer to your ad-
vertisement for maid" she said. and
Everly opened the door.
His writing den was nearest to the
entrance, and thither he led Mary Per.
kins.
AL that is essential for me is," he
said to her that you can keep house
intelligently-and quietly" He looked
at the girl in SO helpless way that
Mary was tempted to laugh. If you
could manage in half day / would
much prefer your being here only from
ten o'clock until after my dinner In tho
middle Of the day.
THAT will suit me-" Mary replied.
And from the very beginning Mary
took complete possession Of Everly's
establishment.
So excellent was Mary's cooking
that Everly ventured to suggest one
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 Everly, 1T is easy
II Mary will stay and serve dinner"
He went forthwith to the door and
called her.
When she stood bcsice him, Everly
found his eyes opering trifle wider
than was usual with them. Mary
seemed so different, so altogether dif'
ferent from the girl she had be-. II
took him moment or so to l"S :l1e
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.
81 called the old Mary. What have
you done to yourself?'
Il grew tired of looking so plain"
she admitted. when applied for the
position I was very much in need and
/ felt certain you would not engage
me as a maid if" she broke off with
downcast eyes.
81 most certainly would not" said
Everly with conviction. He sighed q
second later and Mary asserted her
rights as a successful domestic.
my fingers have not lost their cum
ming with the culinary art just because
am less homely than you thought me-
can serve as good a meal and keep
your house as clean as I ever did,
81 am perfectly we'll aware OF all
these facts" Everly admitted, but
that does rot alter the fact that you
are far too lovely, too altogether beau
tiful to-" he broke off and smiled at
the humor Of the situation.
"Too beautiful to what? asked
Mary.
"Well-the fact u.s." admitted Ever.
ly, that it has been the dream OF my
life to have a home to which | can in
yite my friends. l wanted, next Sat.
urday night, to give small dinner
party to six men, that is-provtding
you would have been willing to ar
range everything 1or me.
And Why may not? 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 yying with
each other for your attention when
they see you-no, thanks" Because
Everly was completely mystified as to
his own sudden emotions and quite un-
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
was severely drawn back.
"IJou rnanv covers shall / arranga