A Veiled Reflection

by Tracie Peterson

  “Don’t worry about anything.” Jillian went to the door and glanced out into the hallway. The entire floor appeared deserted. “I doubt anyone would tell or do anything to interfere with your happiness. Even Charlotte finds Mother’s constant harassment toward matrimony to be an annoying inconvenience. I’m certain she would applaud your desire to marry for love.”

  “How long has Charlotte worked as Mother’s personal maid? Fourteen, fifteen years?” Judith questioned, wiping at her tears. “You’d think after being around this family that long, Charlotte would long to run away to Arizona herself.”

  Jillian imagined that might well be true. In fact, the more she thought about her sister’s appeal, the more attractive the idea sounded. Why not go west and pose as Judith? After all, what harm could there be? The two were identical in looks, and even though their personalities were a definite contrast, Jillian could pretend to be outgoing and exciting. Couldn’t she?

  * * *

  Silently contemplating her next move, Jillian barely heard the supper conversation around her. Her father grumbled and growled disappointment in Judith’s plans to return to the Harvey Company, and her mother addressed the issue of taking Judith and Jillian to Europe, where she could get both of them married off before they passed an acceptable age for matrimony.

  Jillian gazed at the immaculate room with its gilded gold-framed paintings and portraits. Bavarian ancestors stared down at her from the wall as if to question her decision to help Judith, while overhead a crystal chandelier bestowed electric light in a warm and steady glow. Would she miss it? Would she find the rustic nature of Judith’s tiny Arizona water stop to be an unbearable punishment?

  I’m twenty-three years old and I’ve never even contemplated living on my own, Jillian reasoned. And in truth, she hadn’t. For all of her mother’s meddling and continuous parade of suitors, Jillian had simply taken it in stride like a good daughter. She had been raised to be ornamental and lovely, gifted in singing and playing the piano, and graceful and elegant in dancing and formal entertainment. She had been trained for one purpose and one purpose only: to be the wife of an affluent, noble-born man. And if not of a noble birth, then certainly one given over to privilege and wealth.

  “Jillian, you haven’t said a word all evening. You aren’t ill, are you?”

  Jillian snapped to attention at her father’s words. “No, Father. I’m just a bit weary.”

  He nodded. “Yes, well, with my mother gone to her reward, I believe it might do you and your mother both a great deal of good to travel abroad.”

  Gretchen Danvers smiled lovingly. “But it would be tiresome without you by my side. I cannot even think of it unless you would consider joining us.”

  “I’m afraid that’s impossible,” Colin Danvers said, wiping his mouth with his linen napkin. He dropped it down beside his plate and signaled the servant to remove his dishes from the table. “I have an elaborate affair to see to, one that will take me to Chicago for the better part of two weeks. I leave tomorrow.”

  Jillian and Judith exchanged concerned glances. If their father was to be at the train station anywhere near the time of Judith’s planned departure, it could prove to be a problem.

  “Judith leaves tomorrow as well,” their mother interjected before either of the girls could question their father. “Perhaps you could ride together to the station.” Jillian tensed and tried hard not to look in the least bit concerned.

  “I’m afraid that won’t work. I’m leaving first thing in the morning. Judith’s train isn’t until evening.”

  Jillian exhaled rather loudly, causing all eyes to turn her direction. Putting her hand to her mouth, she feigned a yawn. “I’m sorry. I suppose I’m more tired than I realized.”

  “An early evening would do well for all of us,” her father replied, apparently unconcerned with Jillian’s reaction.

  No doubt had it been Judith, he would have questioned what the young woman was up to. But Jillian had never given her parents any reason to believe ill of her. It had always been Judith who had climbed the trees and gotten herself hurt, Judith who would shimmy down the drainpipe at night and slip off to do all manner of nighttime marauding with her friends.

  Jillian caught her sister’s gaze and smiled. And now it would be Judith who was venturing into matrimony and married life.

  “I quite agree with your father. I suggest we retire directly,” Gretchen said, slipping her own napkin quietly beside her plate. “I have several letters to write, and I know Judith must still have packing to see to.”

  And with that it was decided. Jillian felt relieved that her father would not expect her to entertain them at the piano. And better still, that he would not spend what might have otherwise been a pleasant evening berating Judith again for her decision to take up a job with Fred Harvey.

  After waiting for their father to give them the signal to rise, the women graciously swept from the room, pausing at the stairs only long enough to exchange good-night kisses.

  “Sleep well, Jillian. Tomorrow evening I have arranged for that dashing Mr. Nelson to come and join us for dinner. I think you will find him most pleasant now that he’s had that bad tooth pulled. His face isn’t swollen at all anymore.”

  Jillian looked to Judith, hoping her sister would interject something, but it appeared Judith was struggling just to keep from laughing out loud.

  “Good night, Mama,” Jillian said, kissing her mother’s cheek.

  “Good night, my dears.”

  Judith quickly kissed her mother, then looped her arm through Jillian’s. “Come along, sister. I shall see you to bed.”

  Jillian took hold of her pink silk skirt and lifted it in the precise way her mother had taught her. There were rituals and routines for every part of life, and even ascending the stairs had its do’s and don’ts. A lady was never to climb the stairs in a hurry; in fact, a lady was never to do anything in a rushed manner. She should appear, as her mother had stated on many an occasion, as if she had all the time in the world to accomplish her task. This was to be true whether mounting stairs or visiting with guests. One showed poor manners when appearing pressed for time.

  When they reached Judith’s room, she quickly pulled Jillian inside and let out a laugh that could no doubt be heard throughout the house.

  “I thought I would die when she talked of Mr. Nelson. As if that bad tooth was the only reason his face was swollen. Why, the man must weigh three hundred pounds if he weighs an ounce. See, my sending you to Arizona will be a lifesaving event.”

  Jillian smiled and nodded, feeling her budding excitement override her previous apprehensions. “No doubt you are right. I sat there tonight and wondered if I would miss the grandeur and opulence of our home, but I’ve decided there are things that make life here seem anything but lovely.” She sobered. “I just hope Mother won’t be too disappointed in me. I hope she won’t be lonely.”

  Judith patted her sister’s arm. “Mother will be fine. She has her charities and socials, and of course she has Father to tell her when and where to go. He will no doubt be just as pleased to tell her whether or not she can feel sorrow in your absence.”

  “I know what you’re saying, but seriously, she will have no one after I go. Grandmother Danvers has passed away. You’ll be married and living somewhere else, and I’ll be in Arizona.”

  Judith seemed to comprehend the situation for the first time. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. Well, you will simply have to write her many, many letters, and I shall endeavor to see her on a daily basis. Father will not like my marrying Martin, but he will settle down soon enough. Then I will be able to come and visit with Mother often. Maybe Father will even help Martin in his new business.”

  “Which is to be what?” Jillian asked.

  Judith beamed proudly. “He’s setting up a shop to sell books! Won’t that be marvelous?”

  “For your sake,” Jillian replied, “I hope it is. I hope you are inundated with customers.”

  Judith nodd
ed. “We’re sure to be. Now, here.” She went to the closet and pulled out her suitcase. “I’ve packed what little I brought with me. Your uniforms are back at the Harvey House. Just take your cue from Kate and Louisa.”

  Jillian stiffened at the mention of Judith’s roommates. “I nearly forgot. What about Kate and Louisa? Won’t they realize I’m not you? I mean, you’ve shared your hopes and dreams together. I know because you’ve written to me about things they’ve said.”

  “And because of that, they’ll never have a clue as to you being anyone else but me.”

  Jillian looked at the suitcase and then at her sister. “I have a sneaky feeling someone will figure it out rather quickly.”

  TWO

  FROM THE MOMENT JILLIAN nervously stepped off the train in Pintan, Arizona, it became clear that things were not going to be as easy as Judith had planned. The Harvey House, clearly marked and situated beside the depot, beckoned her in a brick and adobe welcome. Judith had explained that there were two floors, the upper one being devoted to housing the girls who worked there and the bottom floor containing the dining room, kitchen, and gathering rooms for off-duty activities and entertaining.

  With an appearance of confidence that she herself did not feel, Jillian boldly braved her new world. Suitcase in hand, she entered the Harvey House with the other passengers, only to be inundated with questions and greetings.

  “Miss Danvers, it’s good to have you back with us,” a rather plainlooking woman said as Jillian moved out of the rush of passengers. Jillian studied the woman and decided that this had to be the housemother, Gwen Carson. She opened her mouth to acknowledge the woman’s words when a vivacious young woman with a wet apron appeared.

  “Miss Carson, I’m off to be changin’ me apron. Oh, Judith!” she said, spying Jillian. “It’s really yarself come back to work. I wasn’t at all sure ya’d be gracin’ our halls again.”

  Jillian smiled weakly. “Well, here I am.”

  Miss Carson nodded. “Go on and change, Kate, before all the passengers get seated. Hurry now.”

  Jillian sighed with relief. She’d managed to meet Kate and Gwen without any mishaps or misunderstandings, but that was to be her last moment of ease.

  “Look, Judith, we’re shorthanded,” Gwen stated rather quietly. “I’ve had two girls quit since you left, and you know we were already two girls short at that time. So I need you to go right upstairs and get changed. I’ll need you to work this shift.”

  Jillian felt her mouth go cottony. “Very well, Miss Carson.”

  “Thank you, Judith. I knew I could count on you!”

  Gwen hurried off to see to the passengers now being seated in the dining room. Jillian picked up her case and cautiously moved down the hall to where she’d seen Kate disappear. Judith had informed her that the front stairs were normally quartered off, and sure enough, there was a red velvet rope, much like the Kansas City Opera House used, barring the way upstairs. The back stairs, Judith had explained, were down the hall from the front entrance and past the last of two parlors.

  Jillian hurried to make her way through the house. She knew her mother would disapprove of her unladylike conduct, but she supposed there would soon be much that her mother would disapprove. Juggling suitcase and skirts, she mounted the stairs quickly. Perhaps she would catch Kate in the process of changing her apron and then ask any questions that came to mind. But Kate was rushing out of the room just as Jillian topped the stairs.

  “So yar to be put to work, are ya?” Kate called out as she raced past Jillian.

  “Yes, I suppose what with being shorthanded, it’s to be expected.”

  “Aye. Lana and Betsy left inside of two days of each other. Yarself wasn’t gone an hour before Lana came bounding down the stairs announcing her intentions of marriage. Betsy showed up a day and a half later and said nearly the same thing. Miss Carson was fit to be tied.”

  By this time Kate was already halfway down the stairs. “Go on with ya now, I’ll cover yar station until ya get there.”

  Jillian could only nod, but Kate didn’t see her. The tiny blackhaired woman was already on her way to the dining room. Jillian glanced down the hall and drew a deep breath. There were four doors on each side of the hall, two sets on either side of the stairs. Judith had said that the first door to the right was the bathing room. The door after that was Miss Carson’s, and the room across from hers was the one Judith shared with Kate McGee and Louisa Upton.

  Timidly, as if intruding on a stranger’s privacy, Jillian opened the door to this room and stepped inside. Three beds were positioned in dormitory fashion with a chest at the foot of each one. This was where they were to keep any personal articles.

  The bed nearest the door was Judith’s. The sides of the simple brown wool cover had been tucked neatly under the mattress, and the iron frame of the headrail and footboard stood soaking in jars of water. This, Judith told her, was to discourage scorpions and any other manner of pest from climbing into bed with you while you slept. It was also the reason that covers were tucked in tight and not allowed to drape along the floor.

  Putting the suitcase down on the bed, Jillian tried to remember all of Judith’s admonitions about life in the desert. There was much to remember, for it seemed that danger and harm could come at nearly every turn.

  With this in mind, Jillian went to the closet and opened the door cautiously. She easily found the iron poker that Judith had directed her to use for the purpose of beating her clothes before taking them out of the closet. Again, this would lower the risk of sharing her uniform with the strange desert vermin that had a tendency to be poisonous.

  Judith’s uniforms were neatly hanging to the right. They were positioned just as the beds were with Judith’s, then Kate’s in the middle, and Louisa’s on the left. Licking her lips, Jillian picked up the poker and began pounding it against the first of Judith’s starched and ironed aprons. She felt quite silly doing so. What kind of life was it where a person had to beat at their clothing as a ceremonial routine?

  Convinced that she’d adequately abused the apron, Jillian pulled it from its hanger and moved on to the rest of her uniform. Within moments she had stripped from her forest green traveling suit and donned the regulation Harvey Girl attire. The uniform fit her a little loosely. Judith had always carried a bit more weight on her hourglass figure, but not enough that it should matter. Folks would merely believe her to have cut back on desserts or perhaps even think she had simply laced her corset a bit tighter.

  Checking her hair, Jillian made a few brief adjustments, then decided it would suffice for service in Mr. Harvey’s dining room. Now all that was left was to trade her cream-colored heels for the regulation black shoes.

  Shoes! Where did Judith say her black shoes were kept? Jillian searched the room but couldn’t find them. She shook her head and strained to remember. Where were her shoes?

  Deciding there was nothing to be done about it, Jillian prayed that her skirt would cover her feet and keep the others from noticing the obvious deviation from the prescribed uniform. Realizing the time, Jillian hurried back downstairs to face her new job.

  The dining room was utter chaos, as far as Jillian was concerned. Black-and-white clad Harvey Girls bounced back and forth from the kitchen to tables, their hands full of a variety of articles. Some held pitchers, others carried plates teeming with mouth-watering food. It dawned on Jillian as a whiff of succulent roast beef assailed her nose that she was quite hungry.

  “Miss Danvers, is there a problem?” Gwen questioned, coming up from behind Jillian.

  “I guess I’ve just been away too long,” Jillian said, in awe of the entire operation. The scene that had appeared chaotic only moments ago now proved to be neatly ordered. Each girl held a specific task and knew without a second thought exactly what was required of her. Every girl with exception to Jillian.

  “Well, get over there and help Kate with the coffee,” Gwen suggested with a chuckle, “and I’m sure it will all come back
to you.” Jillian nodded and hurried to join Kate.

  “I’m sorry I took so long,” she apologized as Kate swept by her.

  “Don’t be frettin’, just grab up the pot. Some of the passengers are ready for a second cup.”

  Jillian went to the sideboard where an artfully crafted silver coffeepot awaited her attention. She picked it up, surprised at the weight, and headed out across the dining room floor.

  It wasn’t long before any remaining semblance of her sanity fled. Jillian was confused by the questions asked of her by the passengers, as well as frustrated by the whispered comments of greeting offered her by the other Harvey servers.

  I was crazy to ever consider this, she thought. Leaning over, she poured a cup of coffee, only to hear a woman shriek at her.

  “I was drinking tea!”

  “Oh,” Jillian said, noting the slice of lemon that now floated rather strangely atop the black liquid. “I’ll get you another cup of tea right away.”

  She said it without thinking, then glanced up to see what was to be done about the situation.

  “Take the cup and saucer, Miss Danvers,” Gwen told her as she approached the table, “and bring this woman another cup of tea immediately.”

  Just then a gong rang out amid the clatter of noise. A dark-skinned man in an immaculate white coat announced, “No need to rush now, folks. This be the fifteen-minute warning. Enjoy your meal.”

  Jillian felt her hand shake as she picked up the cup and saucer and headed toward the kitchen. Before she made it that far, however, Kate popped out the door with a white china cup and saucer.

  “Here’s yar tea. I’ll take that coffee.”

  Jillian nodded and headed back to the table feeling rather breathless. What else could go wrong?

  It was not a question she should have contemplated. Before the passengers exited the dining room for their final boarding call, Jillian had managed to break two dishes, spill coffee on three tablecloths, and burn her own fingers. It was only as the train was chugging out of Pintan that Gwen made her way to Jillian’s side.