Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-10-16

looking like a birds nest of which no
self respecting bird could be proud.
There was a smell in the room of eau
de-cologne, stale biscuits and camphor.
With half closed eyes and in a thin,
weak voice, Emily Skinner explained
that this was "one Of her bad days"
The worst of ill-health is said
Miss Emily in melancholy tone,
that one knows what burden one
is to everyone around one"
'Lavinia is very good to me. Lavvie
dear, I do so hate giving trouble but
if my hot water bottle could only be
filled in the way 1 like it-too full it
weighs on me SON the other hand,
if it is not sufficiently filled, it gets
cold immediately
I'm sorry, dear. Give it to me. l
will empty a little out
Perhaps, if you're doing that, it
might be refilled. There are no rusks
in the house, 1 suppose-no, no, it
doesn't matter. can do without Some
weak tea and a slice of lemon-no
lemons? No, really, l couldn't drink
tea without lemon. I think the milk
was slightly turned this morning. 1t
has put me right against milk in my
out my tea. Only do feel so weak.
Oysters, they say, are nourlShlng. l
wonder if I could fancy few No, no.
too much bother to get hold of them
so late in the day. 1 can fast until
tomorrow"
Lavinia left the room murmuring
something incoherent about bicycling
down to the village.
Miss Emily smiled feebly at her
guest and remarked that she did hate
giving anyone any trouble.
Miss MARBLE told Edna that evening
that she was afraid her embassy had
met with no success.
She was rather troubled to find
that rumors as to Gladys dishonesty
were already going around the village.
In the postoffice, Miss Wetherby
tackled her: MY dear Jane, they gave
her written reference saying she was
willing and sober and respectable, but
saying nothing about honesty. That
seems to me most significant! I hear
there was some trouble about brooch.
I think there must be something in
it, you know, because one doesn't let
a servant go nowadays unless it's
something rather grave. They'll find
it most difficulty to get anyone else.
Girls simply will not go to Old Hall.
They're nervous coming home on their
days out. You'll $50, the SINNERS
won't find anyone else, and then, per-
haps that dreadful hypochondriac
sister will have to get up and do
something!"
Great was the chagrin OF the vii
lage when it was made known that
the Misses SINNERS had engaged. from
an agency, new maid who, by all ac-
counts, was a perfect paragon.
"A three years reference recon-
mending her most warmly, she pre-
terS the country, and actually asks
less wages than Gladys. I really feel
we have been most fortunate"
We'll, really" said Miss MARBLE, to
whom these details were impaired by
Miss Lavinia in the fishmonger's shop.
1T does seem too good to be true"
1t then became the opinion of st.
Mary Mead that the paragon would
cry off at the last minute and fail to
arrive.
None of these representations came
true however, and the village was able
to observe the domestic treasure, by
name, Mary Higgins, driving through
the village in Reeds taxi to Old Hall
1t had to be admitted that her ap-
pearance was good. A most respectable
looking woman, very neatly dressed
When Miss MARBLE next visited Old
Hall, on the occasion of recruiting
stockholders for the Vicarage Fete,
Mary Higgins opened the door. She
was certainly most superior looking
maid, at guess forty years of age,
with neat black hair, rosy cheeks, a
plump figure discreetly arrayed in
black and white apron and cap-"quite
the good, old fashioned type Of ser
want" as Miss MARBLE explained, aft
erwards, and with the proper in
audible, respectful voice, so different
from the loud but adenoidal accents
of Gladys.
Continued Next Week.