Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-12-26
:, . an INDEPENDENT. GIRL
. BY c. 3. LEWIS.

Efiie Rayl was trimming and tying up
a vine at the gate. Along the dusty
road which led to the village and the
railroad half mile away came girl
| with a suitcase. Z.
s'gThat's Mrs. Roberts second girl,
and she has quit her place." unused
Miss Effie, as she caught sight Of the
traveller. .an 0s5" :
7 Miss, .Effie was cutting and trim
ming with praiseworthy energy and
wondering whether Mrs. Roberts had
got angry and discharged Julia or
whether Julia had got angry and dis,
charged her mistress, when the sntt-
ease halted at the gate and SNUFF
fling, voice said: - :: 69R9 10
Ii sItsWallt on your account. Miss
Rayl %s,i79uEh 9dt !. nAT4NCI
"But it can't be- I hardly know Mrs.
Roberts, and this S.the first, time 7
have ever spoken to you" 10 'A'
eyes; but, she, is always criticizing
you and was always standing mp for
you. That has been the trouble. Every
time she has said word against you
l. have answered her back and that
mas au kept d ner i ehe "a At me- "
eyes, miss; how dare she? I asked
her that same question several times"
"And has she had anything more to
say?" r g > -,
"Well, miss, as l am going away, I
might as well tell you that she says
you never had beau, can't get one
and will probably die an old maid. l
must hurry along now or I will hiss
my train" ~'i ~. -
Why should Mrs. Roberts criticize
Miss Rayl at all? Why have the bad
taste to do it to servant If she felt
that she must speak. Miss Fife didn't
stop to figure out an answer. Mrs.
Roberts hadn't talked. She hadn't
criticized She had discharged the
girl, for insolence and inetticiency.
Julia had got even. ..l...l. ,s
"Are you going for ride?" asked
the mother of Miss Efiie came in.
@ "a short one" was answered.
''You look awfully sober about it,
,"And I'll make someone else look
sober before get back" atu-gaG I'D
And she would say no more, but got
ready and rode away.
When you arrive at the residence OF
the woman you are going to lay down
the law to, it is due you to make what
e,4a fo1l
trip up the walk and the steps and
ring the bell, and if it is in the fore
f noon the lady herself may come to the
dosr. You bow .coldly. You look her
: up and down. In tones to remind her
of the North pole, yon lead off with S.
20, MADAM, ! would like a few words
with you !"'ha'y9qzonD oa
Miss Efffs was ready to follow this
Program, but no. madam 8 appeared.
She rang again. The cook was heard.
singing ''Happy Days" at the rear end
of the house, but there was no sight
or sound of Mrs. Roberts. z.
After waiting for five. or six min
utes, the girl turned away. Of course,
she thought, Mrs. Roberts had seen
her arrival and her guilty conscience
had driven her to hide under a bed.
She might escape that way this morn
ing, but there were other days COM
tnv!s1 10 &Gh29Hh7 Nv 1iei Oh N
l. Miss Effie started down thee three
rortfour steps ibut missed herHfootnS
|, somehow andh pitched 1head-first into
!, q rose BUSH rShe sstreariedJ Of course'
That scream brought somebody from
! the house just as she was picking herr
Self up. That somebody was a Young
mansfair. to look duppnlTlMdrs. Roberta
cousin, RAfehie shelbourne, es a-aw nd
toit.A1s tsBeg pardonnWso sorry" he e1T;
! claimed, 9 as he came forward. "You
wanted toslsee Mrs. Roberts?", he
aueried, 5000 9d1 OF 9'dH''"@ y" ra
L""Y-es z she gulped.91G 2HI 9'S" D.'
$50 sOrry; but! she has goneito see
about a, servant and may not be9back
until late this, afternoon Youo came
/ on an errand?", ,,rra1 rneh
1isl@But never ar" mind" And Fife walked
| away without further words. dgHGb
o But the penalty came within b two
minutes. She climbed into the rum
about, but it would not start. -, She She
tried again and again., .Nh' y yrr
"Beg pardon, but fet me assist you"
It was Mr.. Shelbourne at the gate.
/ y Miss Eff1e would not answer him.
She would not even look, his way. AZ
2ter al last DESPERATE But vain attempt
to getd away uin Cthe, machine, seshe
stepped from it t aiaa hsada for home
EH "Wen, I'll be; haan1lsaedd !''iosaasped 5Mr.
shelboqrp.ea as : hsi leekedoafterI heEnel
7 50 The girl reached honevt0 qfing her
hat on, the lfleorI and d1errgloves at the
( cat, and. ignoring stlfeu questioHs of her
] ,mpthsr She soeked herself IN ReeE room
and wept. Fods ht6aGs tiear;,ivhen she
]seeme aowhstaiqts tSsttfl a 'lRSother sai4;:G
s"About a9r hhtGA!l p affit4esEt sNou went up,
I stairs a young manllhteusht your rum
2 about back and put ibTih thee garaige
: and went Afrswitlroutne&ord. What I'D
1.-the mystely?", 90 snihliua j !s144 10
= 1T got outo sssaY 3suesss,3 was
1.-THE reply. 5000 ooJsf yuJ dnBrT 10
43 Then Mrs. Roberts and her cousin
came motoring UP, and while she came
in he stayed in the)machine. f"oI
Julia the discharged servant had
lied like a trooper o Tt came, out after
ten. minutes talk, and Il then things
went happily. setlcuuz