Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 308, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1916 — Mariar’s Last Hour [ARTICLE]

Mariar’s Last Hour

Mariar was going. For a week the housework had stood still, “because, ’ as Mrs. Woodside said, “you can’r ask a maid to do anything * when she 3 leaving.” For a week the kitchen range had been cold, likewise the water tank beside it; and, there being no gas heater lD the Woodside hpme, the grownups hod contented themselves wiih cold baths and the children with such purification as could be accomplished with occasional bediime teakettles of hot water. “I ought to have Mariar start the fire,” said the Mistress, “but it means lyinging op coal from the cellar and I’m afraid to ask her.’ The hour of Mariar’s departure had arrived. She lazied thru the breakfast dishwashing, then disappeared upstairs to pack. Mrs. Woodside went into the deserted kitchen and said, ‘Ncrw I’ll have a fire and boilerful ot hot water at last.’’ She brought kindling and coal from the lower regions, she built the fire and stoked it for an hour, until the water tank gave out a grateful heat. Then she went to look for Mariar. The outgoing maid was not in her room. Mrs. Woodside came down from the third floor perplexed. Could Mariar have gon<?without saying good by? Then from behind the closed door of the bathroom came the joyous sound* of one luxuriating in a porcelain tub filled with glorious hot water. Mariar was taking a bath.’