The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-08-25

ever been so careful of the china-and
the laundry. She pictured her best
tablecloth with scorched streaks from
the careless ironing of new maid.
And just now it was most difficult
to get any kind of a maid. Only YES
terday she had read about the jncreas-
ing shortage Of domestic help.
Why had she spoken about that
lemon? What If Dora did use couple
OF lemons week? 1t was only few
cents. Now she must pay four dollars
to an agency for another maitland
one not nearly so competent.
The telephone was welcome inter
ruption to her broodings. Gladly she
accepted Mrs. Stevens invitation to 20
driving, for she longed to get away
from the apartment, and to be with
some one with whom she could talk it
over.
When, a little later they were
whirling out through the cool, rest.
full greenness of the park, Mrs.
Stevens, with a woman's intense in.
terest in any servant trouble, listened
sympathetically.
"Oh, well, you can only keep them
certain length of time," was her COM
forting theory. "They all grow sullen
and dissatisfied after a while. I've
never been able to keep any girl over
a year."
But Helen could not accept this
philosophy. The more she thought of
Dora's leaving, the more depressed she
grew.
mo, can't let her CO." desperately.
'I'll pocket my pride when I get back,
and offer her $50 if she'll stay"
you'll be very foolish" shrugged
Mrs. Stevens. "When a girl once
makes up her mind she wants to go
don't try to keep her. She'll never be
satisfied-and she'll always take adj
vantage of you afterward."
AS they turned in for tea at coun-
try roadhouse, one of the tires blew
out, and the delay was over an hour.
1t was after six when Helen got
home. Warren was already there,
lounging in his shirt sleeves by the
open library window.
"Just met Will Holcomb," he an
nounced as she kissed him. They're
in town for a couple of weeks, and
asked them for dinner Thursday. That
all right? Nothing on for that night,
have we?"
Thursday was the day after tomor-
row. Could she get a new maid and
break her in for a company dinner in
only one day?
ooh, dear, can't you make it next
week? Is it too late to changer"
whats the matter with Thursday?
Got to go to Albany next week."
Just then she had not the courage to
say that Dora was leaving. Warren
would only flare out about her never
being able to keep maid.
Worried and distraught, she went
into her room to dress for dinner. At
the door she paused in amazement.
The windows were curtainless!
Helen's heart leaped with flashing
hope. Did it mean that Dora was 60
ing to stay? Last week she had
spoken about washing the curtains,
but they had not decided on the day.
Surely she would not put them to soak
If she intended leaving tomorrow!
Should she speak of it, or not? Dora
was very peculiar. If she had chosen
this way to imply that she wanted to
stay--it might be more tactful to ig-
more it.
But at dinner Helen's desire to
know, to end her suspense, could not
be repressed, and as Dora held the
dish of string beans at her elbow, she
asked with studied careiessness, "You
put the curtains to soak, Dora?'
"Yes, tomorrow's about the best day.
couldn't do 'em Friday with the sill
ver-and the front rooms to be
cleaned Saturday"
Eyes, perhaps tomorrow will be the
best day." controlling the joyous relief
in her voice. II hope it'll be clear so
YOU can hang them out"
Then as the girl swung through the
pantry door, Helen sprang up, darted
over to Warren's chair, and kissed him
with an exuberant hug.
"Hold on there" angrily. "What're
you trying to do?" as her strenuous
embrace shook a morsel Of shad from
his half-raised fork.
"Oh, you looked as though you want
ed to be kissed!'' with irrepressible
gaiety, rumpling his closely cropped
hair.
"You sit down and behave yourself !!
What's struck you anyway" as Helen
danced back to her chair.
Warren could not know that this
sudden hilarity was due solely to the
fact that Dora was going to stay. The
dread of new girl lifted from her,
Helen felt effervescently care-free.
"Dear. of course Wen have the Hol-
combs Thursday I don't know what
I was thinking of-Pd love to have
themw
The glance Warren gave her was
strongly suspicious. That something
was back of this exuberancy, he knew
but Just then he was more interested
in the elimination of shad bones than