The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-01-26
klTTY'S DOUGH- TRAY.

Ills HILL.
Presently The door opened, and Mar
garet, the housekeeper, entered, bear
ing a dainty supper on a tray. He
watched her as she drew up the mahog-
ony stand and arranged the viands up
on it. After she had completed the task
he said:
Margaret, sit down. I wish to talk
to you"
"Yes sir" said the woman, smoothing
out herr black silk apron with both
hands.
"Ah, Margaret" began the gentleman,
somewhat dolefully, "that was a sad
piece of business for me that Jacob
transacted when he bought that tract of
land down the Ohio. Inever suspicion
ed that he would emigrate, or l never
would have dissuaded him. But the
trouble is, what am to do, Margaret,
when you are gone. Jacobs place l can
easily supply; but you have always kept
everything in such excellent order that
l am afraid to trust the house to the
care of any one else Can you tell me
what to do?''
"Thank you, Colonel Rider, for your
nice compliment, but I don't like dirt
any better than you. If you'd take my
advice, sir, you'd go and get married"
"Why, Margaret, you have told me
yourself that most of the girls don't
clean their dough-trays more than once
a week, and many not for six. Do you
soppose that l could endure that? l
wish1 had married you, Margaret" he
added, sportively.
80, sir" she said, laughing, Il have
loved Jacob ever since l can remember;
and then was married before 1 came
here. There's Laurette Genin; she's a
likely, tidy young lady, 1 guess. OF
course, you would not marry poor, sir"
"She is French, and l dislike the
French. Can you think of no one else ?"
"There are some right good house
keepers among those not suited to you,
sir"
"There's Kitty Scheffer, she's so pret
ty," he said, half to himself, not noti-
cling her last remark.
80, sir, all she is worth is to do fancy
work and read. You'd better see Lau-
rette. She'd suit you best"
"Well, well, I'll see about it, as you
say so. But must see what sort of a
kitchen she keeps. You may go now"
He ate his supper leisurely, thinking
of the change that must necessarily take
place in his affairs.
Colonel Rider was an old bachelor, a
German, and immensely rich. His IA
ther had been a wealthy baron in Ger
many, but being younger son he could
not inherit the property. At an early
age he was sent to Paris to obtain mil
itary education. When the great French
revolution broke out he left France and
came to New York, where he engaged
in the merchantile business, and in q
few years amassed a large fortune. Grow
ing tired of city-life, he went West, and
bought large tract of land on the Mon
ongahela River, in Pennsylvania. Here
he built himself an elegant mansion, and
furnished it in European style. But, to
the envy and chagrin of all the old
maids and despite the covetous sighs of
anxious mammas and marriageable
daughters for miles the country round.
Colonel Rider still remained bachelor
-invincible, too, they began to think.
He was an old bachelor, with what
some would suppose, rather singular
prejudices. He had a great adherence
of dirt, and a dough-tray that wasn't
secured as clean as soap and water could
make it every baking day, was his par
ticular aversion. He had been so fortu.
nate as to secure housekeeper that en-
tirely suited him, but after many years
he found himself in an unexpected di-
lemma. Her husband was about to en-
igrate to the West, and he would be left
with no one to superintend the servants.
The fact was horrifying to contemplate,
bu. he Diet ermined to do the best he
could.
We left him at supper. BY the time
he had finished slipping his wine, he had
evidently come to decision about some
thing for he set his glass down with an
air of satisfaction, and smiled, half quiz
zically, half complacently, to himself
Next day, early after dinner, the
groom brought his masters favorite
saddle horse, and Colonel Rider noun
ted ana rode away.
Having arrived at the Geniu mansion,
he inquired for Laurette, and found her
in the sittinp-room, in soiled morning
dress, with frowsy hair, reading "Thad-
deus of Warsaw" SO fascinated had
she become with the book that she had
even neglected her toilet. Upon the
Coloners entrance down went the book
and up jumped Miss Laurette in fnr
ry.
Colonel Rider! Tn so glad to see
YOU! But" she added, somewhat rue
fully, "you must excuse my appearance.
| have been reading, and forgot to i'm
prove it..
Certainly, Miss Laurette. Give your
self no uneasiness on that account"
After few minutes Indifferent con-
versation upon the weather, Laurette
said:
''Pray, sir. let me have your horse
sent to the stable, and let us have the
pleasure of your company to tea"
"Thank you. intend only to make
you a short call but if you will be so
kind as to give him white drink l
shall be very much obliged. The scra-
pings of the dough tray will do very
nicely. hopeit it will not be too much
trouble"
"Oh, no trouble at all. Molly dreams
the dough tray once a month, and this
is the day, guess. will see to it, i'm
mediately. Excuse me, sir"
"a very pretty girl, but a decided
sloven," he thought, as he rode away