The Washington herald., 1916-10-23

ried Life of Helen and Warren" ap-
pearing exclusively In this paper, is
the only series now being written by
Mabel Herbert Urner.
And always from the left side" in
structed Helen. "A tray? Oh, no, they're
not used any more. You must serve on
a napkin"
"A napkin?" muttered the new maid.
blankly. Where I've stayed. I always
served with a tray"
We'll. here you'll serve on a napkin"
sharply. resenting the note of combative-
ness in the girls voice. Just keep a
folded napkin in your hand to rest the
dish on. And don't fill the soup plates
SO full-last night you had them brim-
ming Mono, lay the butter knives by
the bread-and-b plates"
Jane, who was setting the table under
Helen's insistent directions, seemed ner-
lvoUsly awkward and inefficient.
"Oh, no, the soup spoon goes on the
side with the knives-on the outside AL
ways remember they eat in-that brings
the knife or folk for the last course next
to the plate"
Yes, ma'am."
Never put salt-cellar on the table
Hooking like that" severely. Fill both
of those, and polish these salt spoons.
the celery in this. I'll fix the almonds.
Now. Jane, you'll have to hurry-it's $50"
| 1t was most unfortunate that they
should have to give a company dinner
with a new maid. 1t was only Jane 8
second day, and she was proving slow
and awkward, and was evidently un-
trained.
| When Warren had called up that morn
ing to say the Burnhams were i'll town.
and he had asked them Cor dinner, Helen
had been in despair. She begged him to
take them out but he insisted they
would rather have a home dinner than
go to a restaurant.
So all day Helen had been trying to
drill into the new girl the man prin-
ciples of serving; but Jane had received
ner endless instructions with stolid un-
responsiveness.
Now don't leave the vegetables on
the table as you did last night, again
cautioned Helen. Nothing is to be left
on the table-not even the bread. Every
thing must be kept on the sideboArd and
passed Oh, no, we don't use the butter
dish for dinner. Just PVT a square on
each bread-and-butter plate"
You got a crumb brush and tray.
me'am? I amt seen none"
"Oh, they're not used any more. Just
brush on the crumbs with a napkin
1t was a few moments later that War
rem slammed in with brisk energy.
! Well now goes it?" as no shrugge
on his overcoat.
"Oh, dear, she's hopeless. She has no
more idea Of serving-she can't even ar
-anFe the silver. I don't know what
kind Of people she's been living with"
'She can cook, can't she? Did pretty
well last night"
Yes. I think she's a fairly good plain
cook. but she doesn't know a thing
about relishes or salads"
"Oh, well, don't worry about the
fr!lls. Long as she can give US good
straight grub, guess we can rub along
without the "a las" and he swung OF
to dress with irritating masculine indif
ference.
For the next half hour Helen futtered
back and forth from her dressing room
to the kitchen, constantly thinking Of
something else about which she must
coach or caution Jane.
Though they had never dined at the
Burnhams. Warren had been out there
| for luncheon one Sunday, and from his
| enthusiastic report, Helen was convinced
| that they lived rather pretentously and
| probably kept several sevants. What
would they think OF the awkward, un-
trained Jan?
To tighten the work Of the dinner.
Helen had herself prepared the relish and
/
from a caterer Only the soup. meat.
and vegeta bles were left for Jane.
! When the bell rang, heralding the
Burnhams, Helen. listening tensely.
heard Jane receive them. What was the
girl saying? There was no need for her
to speak at all-she had only to take
| their wraps. There was a murmur Of
voices and James giggling laugh. What
presumption!
Flushed and disconnected, and wonder
ing what break Jane had made, Helen
went in to her guests.
| Mr.. Burnham, stout and genial, was
| engrossed with Warren, while Mrs. Burn
ham was Turing Pussy Purr-Mew with
a beaded tassel on her wristbag.
AS the cocktails and reIishes were
on the table, not waiting for Jane to
announce dinner Helen led the way
to the dining-room.
The anchovy relish was dainty and
delicious, but with the serving Of the
soup began Helen's anxious mortifcation.
In spite of her repeated coaching. the
plates were too full. and Jane carried
| them with her thumb on the rim.
To escape the annoyance of the swing
ing door, she now deliberately propped
1t open, letting in all the cooking odors
from the kitchen. and serenely ignoring
Helen's frowning signals.
| WI hen She removed the soup plates, IN
stead Of taking them out one at a lime,
to Helen's horror she stacked them clat
teringly on the table, and carried them
out all together.
Don't you think so, Mrs Curtis?" end
| ed Mr.. Burnham, in a courteous effort
to include Helen in the conversation.
"Why-oh yes-yes,'' faltered Helen.
who intent on the service had not heard
word, and had not the faintest idea
to what she was agreeing.
Apparently Jane was better COOK than
waitress, for when Warren carved into
the shoulder OF lamb, it was crlsply
Drowned, yet not over-done
! The first plate Jane handed to Mrs.
Burnham, although Helen, anticipating
this blunder, had told her that the host
ess was always served first.
When she passed the baked sweet pota-
toes there was no spoon in the dish, and
Mrs. Burnham was forced to take one
with her fingers
"A spoonw whispered Helen as the po-
| tatoes came to her. And shut that pan
try door,"
The vegetables served, Jane disappear
ed, not noticing that Mr.. Burnham's
glass was empty, and that Mrs Burnha1u