August 1931
T h e
K i n g ’ s
357
B u s i n e s s
“You blessed children! I think it will be a perfect godsend. And when could you go, Miss Linton?” “I could go tomorrow,” Marian answered quickly, “or whenever she wants me.” And so it was arranged. Mrs. Torrington telephoned her cousin afid made an appointment for the next after noon. The plan of taking up shorthand appealed to every body. It gave to Marian’s humble undertaking the true aspect of only a temporary arrangement, and the girls themselves looked forward with pleasure to spending an evening a week together. She began her course of study at once. Marian was happy at the thought of being settled for a while, but looked forward with considerable appre hension to an experience so novel, and one which might prove most trying. Her trepidation heightened almost to fear as, the next afternoon, in Mrs. Torrington’s car, they stopped before the home of Mrs. Henry Warner Wolfe, in Farside Heights. It was an exclusive little suburb of beautiful residences. The Wolfe home stood alone on a flower-decked terrace, surrounded by shrubbery and trees. It was such a home as Marian herself had enjoyed all her life. She had often visited with her friends in sim ilar homes, accepting the services of a maid as part of the furnishings of the establishment. She was not a snob, but she had never thought of such a person as being only another girl like herself. And now she was to become one of those necessary little cogs in the smooth-running machinery of another’s home. Whatever her misgivings, they disappeared almost with a bound when she saw Mrs. Wolfe. A slight, girlish woman, with one of the sweetest faces Marian thought she had ever seen, came to the door herself and led them into the reception room. During the conversation, it was evident that Mrs. Wolfe had been informed by Mrs. Torrington of the un usual circumstances which led a girl of this type to apply for such a position. There seemed a question in her mind whether such a girl could fit into the requirements. Would she expect to be treated somewhat as a guest? She had heard of that kind, and her husband had decided views against anything of the sort. Would he ever con sent to her employing a maid under these peculiar cir cumstances? It was he who was hard to please. She was so lonely she Would have welcomed a girl like Marian and treated her almost like a sister, but her husband was a stickler for form, and he wanted one who would serve them well and nothing more. Mrs. Torrington was mak ing this a social call more than anything else, but Mrs. Wolfe felt drawn to Marian Linton more and more as they talked of one thing and another. What a joy it would be to have this quiet, lovely, refined girl in the house con stantly! If only Mr. Wolfe were willing11 There was a step on the porch, and quite unexpectedly the master of the house came into the room. His wife had telephoned him of the appointment, but he had not believed he could be present. He was now, however, fully decided against the arrangement which his wife’s cousin had suggested. He would not be troubled with the stranded society g irl! It would never be satisfactory, he was sure, and he would not have Mrs. Wolfe go through the trouble and worry of such an experience as one of his friends had had recently under similar circumstances. He was glad that he had arrived in time to stop matters. He greeted Mrs. Torrington cordially, kissed his wife, and with a quick, businesslike air turned to Marian. And
Special Rates B emember that if you send in four or more an nual subscriptions to T h e K ing ’ s B usiness , you may have the club rate of $1.25 each (in U. S.), and your choice of a number of splendid books. Write for full particulars: T h e K ing ’ s B usiness , 536 So. Hope St., Los Angeles’, Calif. then he stopped, scarcely acknowledging the introduction, while he studied the girl’s face keenly. Where had he seen that face before? Ah, he had it. “Pardon me, Miss—what did you say the name was?” “Marian Linton,” his wife prompted him. “Let me see. Were you on the train from Wellington some two or three weeks ago?” “I was,” Marian answered wonderingly, a look of recognition dawning on her face. This was the man in the Pullman. “And did you take a fretful child from a sick woman and carry it over to your own seat and entertain it for an hour while she rested?” “Yes,” was all that Marian could reply. A warm smile lightened his face. He bowed low be fore her with a courtly air, and then he held out his hand. “I think you were the only true woman in the car that day,” he said. “I hoped I might meet you some day. We are honored indeed to have you in our home. Viv, dear,” he turned to his wife, “this is the girl I told you about, who took care of that little woman’s crying child in the Pullman when no one else would bother to go near her. It was the finest thing I have seen on the train in years of travel.” Mrs. Wolfe’s face was radiant. “Is it all right then for her to come to us?” “Any arrangement you wish to make,” he answered graciously. “Double her salary if you like. A girl who will do a thing like that would be a jewel in any one’s home. And you will not have to worry about the children when they are in her care, I ’ll say.” An arrangement was quickly reached, and at a salary that made Marian gasp. It was more than generous. She was to return the next morning to take up her new duties. With the advent of Marian Linton, there began what the Wolfe family were wont to speak of in after years as the “golden era.” Never had the affairs of the house hold moved so smoothly. Mrs. Wolfe had always prided .herself on taking most of the care of her babies, but it was a joy to her that both of the children, a little girl of four and a boy of two, seemed to fall in love with Mar ian at first sight. They were quite willing to be left with her at any time. Marian was naturally fond of home life, and from a child she had loved to cook, first for her dolls and then for the family, as a pastime. She had even taken a course in domestic science while in college. And now, under the di rection of Mrs. Wolfe, she set herself, with all the earn estness that she would apply to a difficult problem in algebra, to mastering the intricacies of the cookbook, and her progress was swift and certain. She spent much time in her pretty rose and white room, which had really been an extra guest room. She did not learn until afterward that the maid’s quarters
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker