The Washington herald., 1916-10-16
"Well. Is che going today7..

ten by Mabel Herbert Urner.
We'll. is she going todayr'
Yes. don't forget to leave the
money" Helen reached for his empty
coffee cup. How much is lit Have
her month up7"
'T'l do 1t now. Let's see-when's
her month up
The twenty-third," as she handed
back his cup.
This is the NINTH" Warren was
figuring on the back Of an envelope.
That makes seventeen days. At SIS
q month, that's 50 l-3 cents a day
s14.17. Want to make it sl5T"
NO. I don't" Helen's voics was
sharp. Wen pay her just what we
owe her-not cent more. She's leav-
ing at her convenience-Pm not dis
charging her"
With a shrug. Warren drew out his
lar bills.
There you are. ia give her the
hfteen-but do as you please"
"Oh. dear don't lay 1t on the ia
blecloth." frowning at the soiled bills
Put 1t on the sldeboard."
Helen had always a horror Of han
ding paper money at the table. but
Warren, with masculine disregard OF
germs. let the BUYS lay by his plate.
We'll, what'll We do tonight?", push
ing back his chair. Have dinner hare
or go out?'
"oh. we oughtn't to go out-thereS
so much in the house. I'll get din
ner and leave the dishes. Mrs. OGra-
dy's coming tomorrow"
"AIl right, I'll be home at seven
sharp" and Warren swung through
the pantry door into the kitchen
well, good-by. Dora. Mrs. Curtis
says you're leaving today. Hope you'll
get a good place"
Warren was always SO kindly consider
ate Of any one who worked for him.
Helen could just catch the girls num-
bled thanks.
Don't forget to SEND that suit to the
tailor" he cautioned, as Helen stood
in the hall while he waited for the ele-
vator.
With the grim, sullen look of a maid
about to leave, Dora was clearing on
the table when Helen came back into
the dining-room.
There's some money, ma'am." She
had laid the bills on chair.
"Oh yes" picking them up, annoyed
at having forgotten them. Dora knew
1t was for her. and would now expect
the whole drteen dollars.
"D'you want to count the silver.
ma'am?" folding up the tablecloth.
Though not doubling Dora's honesty,
Helen. as a matter Of form, got out the
list and checked of the silver.
Here is the two good cloths and the
Napkins" opening the lower part of the
china closet Here's the everyday cloths
five with the one just took OF, and
ones in the wash D'you want to count
the bed linen7''
"Oh, no, Dora. I'm sure IT'S all there. "
Until the very last, Helen had hoped
that she would not go. Even now there
was the tantalizing uncertainty that she
might be persuaded to stay. But her
pride rebelled against making any over
lures.
If only she could be sure that the girl
had no other place. She said she was
though truthful about her work. Dora
was not above telling an untruth about
a thing like this.
From the thought of breaking in a new
maid Helen always shrank with sick
dread. Should she pocket her pride and
try to keep her? 1t would mean giving
in about the rugs.
Every Saturday one room was cleaned
thoroughly and the rugs were taken UP
on the roor. But Tor several Saturdays
there had been company for dinner, and
to make the work easier Helen had paid
the house man to take up the rugs. Since
then, Dora complained that they were
too heavy for her to handle.
Last Saturday was the day for clean
ing the dining-room, but instead of tax
ing the rugs up, Dora merely went over
them with the carpet sweeper When
spoken to about II, she was suIlenly de-
hant, and Helen. intensely provoked, had
said II she could not do the work she
would have to let her go.
But she had been sick about II ever
since. Dora was so capable and trust
worthy. She was a good cook, a good
waitress, scrupulously clean-and careful
about the china. 1t would be very hard
to replace her.
After all, the rugs were not SO impor-
tant. She could arrange with the house
man to take them up every Saturday
for $50 a month-less than 80 cents a
week. Dora's economy and carefulness
would more than save that.
Yet It would mean giving in" The
girl might think that since she was so
Indispensable she could take advantage
OF Helen's. yielding in this to be assertive
about other things
I'm going down to the laundry ma'am,
to wash out the mop and floor cloths, -
announced Dora.
When Helen heard the kitchen door
close after her, she went out to look
around. Everything was spotless. She
had even polished the stove and put