Evening star., 1928-11-02
Dora Takes Up Reins.

&< ~ THEIRS may come; others
az may CO." wrote Dora, then
stopped. hunting for fit
~ ting climax for the paper
she was preparing to be
read at the next meeting OF the
Shakespeare Club.
She stared at the half-fllled sheet IN
front of her in search of inspiration;
None came. The door half opened and
a voice said: II am going, Mrs. Read" p"
'What?" said Dora, staring 1ncredu-
lously at her highly paid cook-general.
who lounged in the doorway of the liv-
ing room She looked at the clock.
1t was only 9--the breakfast dishes
had lust been cleared away. There
was a thump in the hall-t was
a taxi man for the maids trunk.
Going! But why?"
TITS too quiet for me here. am
girl who has always been accustomed
to a bright life, and might as well be
a mushroom here for all the fun get
Then she was gone.
Dora rather disliked housework, but
she began poking the kitchen fire and
then looked the kitchen over. Her SIX
months at the School of Domestic Sci
ence had certainly taught her to be a
good cook, but it had not taught her to
like the. work.
Dora carried out ashes and gasped
as she lifted the lid off the coalbin::
Here was great army Of food that had
been thrown in there. Not only food.
but cakes of soap. And then she lookeo
at her pots and pans and the SINK.
Well. after that she went to her room
and put on an old dress and apron.
There was some job ahead OF her
She washed up-a thing she detested.
The cupboard doors were thrown open.
Then Dora more than frowned. She
filled a large pan with water, tumbled
in soda, placed the pots and pans in
the water and placed it over the stove.
BY this time her hands were appalling,
but Doras sporting blood was up.
Never in her life before had she known
the sacred frenzy of house cleaning, put
now the eternal, world-old houSeWlfely
instinct welled up and she abandoned
herself to it thoroughly.
She scrubbed, she soaked, she pol
aShed, she Salvaged dish towels and
napkins. 1t was o'clock before sne
knew it.
The bakers boy called with bill.
He said: eff this bill is not paid we will
stop delivering. This is the fifth time
we have been here"
Dora looked at the bill It was a
4arge one. Goodness knows what that
maid did not do The milkman came
next. It was double the usual amount
The maid had run up another bill for
herself.
Dora continued her onslaught. She
unearthed some old family portraits
that were hidden under stairs, the only
place for them, and mighty glad she
was later that she did. Her husbands
relatives. One was portrait Of a
man in a rather good-looking frame.
Dora decided it was good enough to
hang up to cover damaged place in
the wall. Up it went after a good
cleaning.
Then in came another man-Doro
thought another tradesman. He asked
If he might leave note for her hus-
band. He stared at the picture she
had just hung up.
They both stood there, stock still.
Then the man moved forward, Dora
following, and stared at the portrait
11xedly.
Hin" he said, turning to Dora. ''Do
you know who that is, my girl?"
"a relative of my husbands" said
Dora, entering into the spirit of the
thing, but edging toward the hatStand
where one of her husbands canes
stood.
ANY more?" asked the stranger
Dora edged nearer and put her hand
carelesSly upon Rogers golf bag-a golf
club was heavier than walking stick.
Would one take a driver or braSSie?
"I mean, where are the other por-
EraitS?"
Doras shook her head.
That's the only one up"
The little man almost Simpered.