The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-11-03
AN INDEPENDENT GIRL
BY c. B. LEWIS.

u Vine Ut the gate. along tne dusty
road which led to the village and the
railroad half a mile away came a girl
with a suitcase.
That's Mrs. Roberts second girl,
and she has quit her place." unused
Miss Effie, as she caught sight of the
traveller.
Mis- Efie 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 suit
case halted at the gate and a SNUFF
fling voice said:
ITS all on your account, Miss
Rayl!'
"But it can't be. I hardly know Mrs.
Roberts, and this is the first time I
have eve spoken to you"
"Yes; but she is always criticizfng
you and l was always standing up for
you. That has been the trouble. Every
time she has said a word against you
| have answered her back and that
has kept her mad at me-"
"How dare sheg"
"Yes, miss; how dare she? I asked
her that same question several times"
sand has she had anything more to
sayf"
"Well, miss, as l am going away. I
might as well tell you that she says
you never had a beau, can't get one
and will probably die an old maid. /
must hurry along now or 1 will miss
my train"
Why should Mrs. Roberts criticize
Miss Rayl at all? Why have the bad
taste to do II to a servant IL 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 ineficiency.
Julia had got even.
"Are you going for a rider asked
the mother Of Miss Efie came In.
"a short one" was answered.
"You look awfully sober about It."
huu Ill nidhC oOAlCO1C ChSC AOoA
sober before I get back"
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, II is due you to make what
stage folk call an entrance" You
trip up the walk and the steps and
ring the bell, and II 1t Is in the fore
noon the lady herself may come TO the
door. You bow coldly. You look her
up and down. In tones to remind her
of the North pole, you lead of with:
MADAM, I would like a few words
with you'll"
Miss Efle was ready to follow this
program, but no madam 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.
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
ingl
Miss Effie started down the three
or four steps, but missed her footing
somehow and pitched head-first into
a rose bush. She screamed. Of course.
That scream brought somebody from
the house Just as she was picking her
self up. That somebody was a young
man fair to look upon-Mrs. Roberts
cousin, Archie Shelbourne.
"Ah-beg pardon-so sorryi" he ex-
claimed, as he came forward. "You
wanted to see Mrs. Robertsr he
queried.
"Y-esl" she gulped.
$50 sorry; but she has gone to see
about a servant and may not be back
until late this afternoon. You came
on an errandY'
"But never mind" And Ef1e walked
away without further words.
But the penalty came within two
minutes. She climbed into the run
about, but 1t would not start. She
tried again and again.
"Beg pardon. but let me assist you
1t was Mr.. Shelbourne at the gate
Miss Efie would not answer him
She would not even look his way. AT
ter a last desperate but vain attempt
to get away In the machine, she
stepped from 1t and headed for home
on foot.
swell, I'll be hangedl" gasped Mr.
Shelbourne. as he looked after her.
The girl reached home to fling hei
hat on the floor and her gloves at the
cat, and. ignoring the questions OF hei
mother, she locked herself In her room
and wept. Four hours later, when she
came downstairs. the mother said:
about an hour after you went up
stairs a young man brought your run
about back and put 1t In the garage
and went of without a word. What |!
the mysteryr"
at got out Of order. I guess" wal