Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-06-28
ears, and bright eyes sparkling vel.

steps at a time, and presented himself
before the small damsel of twelve who
was the only domestic that economical
Catherine Verdon kept.
Where's your mistress, Polly?'
Sure, sir, she's gone to see a pic
turo gallery, she told me, down town
And when is she coming back p
demanded Mr.. Verdon, biting his lips
with inward vexation.
'She said she mightn't be back be-
fore night
Where are the children
Gone to their grandmama's, in
Yorkville, sir
And what am l to do for dinner p
Sure, sir, | don't know
Here's a pretty fix grumbled Mr..
Verdon to himself, as he stamped de-
spairingly about the kitchen. And
I've asked Howard and Talboys to
dine here at three. What demon has
entered into Cathie? Why couldn't
I have held my tongue the other night !?
l should really like to know what
am to do
He tore his hair in dire perple1ity,
Polly!
'Sir?'
What is there in the house for din
ner?'
There's a tongue, sir; and cod
fish; and a cabbage, | believe
Bring 'em in, Polly, and I'll cook
'em myself. You boil a tongue, DON'T
you?
1 don't know, sir
I wish I had a cook book groan- :
ed Mr.. Verdon, in great tribulation.
Anyhow, you fry fsh-aid cabbage
is very good boiled,wi butter. Fetch
on the frying pan, Polly, and bring
lots of kindling. I'm afraid this cod
fish is a little tough and dry,-con-
found the creature, how it sticks to the
pan. Polly, you set the table while
strip all the nice, big cabbage leaves
those little sprouts aren't any use,
down the middle! III send to the
bakers for an apple pie, l ggess. |
wouldn't have Howard and Talboys
suppose We didn't keep a professional
cook, tor any money. If Cattle were
only at home
Mr.. Nerdon dropped the cabbage
leaves one by one, meditativeIy into
the pot as he spoke.
Sure, sir " interposed the staring
hand maiden, missis always washes
them first
Washes EN- p calculated Mr.. Yer,
don.
What's the use of that, wlen the
pot is half fulI of water? But wo-
men always 90 to work by the hard
est. Give US that tongue, Polly, and
a sharp knife. l suppose the plaguey
thing has got to be skinned. Hal
loor
Mr.. Verdon uttered an agonized
howl as the knife slipped, inficting q
disagreeable cash on his hand. He
tied it up with his pocket handkerchief
and went on with his rather difficult
job.
There he exclaimed triumphant
ly, .jamming the tongue down among
the cabbage leaves, that's done. Bu
I'm afraid my fish is quite old, it don
fry at all fayorably. Perhaps | oughr
to grease the pan
He took the fish out by the tail anC
anointed the kissing pan literally will
butter, then set the establishment OF
the fire once more.
But just as he was bending over thu
fire, his sleeves turned back and BIZ
cOuntenance dripping with perspira
tiOn, there was a sudden sibilatiol
and an upward blaze; the butter hat
taken fire, so had Mr.. Nerdon'8 hal
and shirt sleeves.
Luckily he had presence of mint
enough to dip his face and arms in
simultaneously in the pail Of water tha
stood in the sink; and at the momen
that he stood there scOrched and drip
ping, with singed hair and no coat
over the highly favored ruins Of tn
lucklesS Goldfish, Polly threw the kitch
en- door wide open and announced:
Please, sir, two gentlemen.
And Messr5. Howard and TaIboy
entered, considerably surprised at til
state Of things before them.
'Halloor exclaimed Talboys.
why, what's the matter, Verdon
queried Howard. Not a case Q
spontaneous combustion, eh?
While Alexander, scarlet and cor
fused, fumbled vainly for the line
cuffs, garni8hed with gold sleeve bu
, tons, that had blazed into light cinder
long ago.
I-l-he stammered. very Stupl
of the girl to bring you down here
l just came down for glass of waite
J let me escort you up stairs
He preceded his guests up the nal
, row stairway, blissfully unaware o
q the ash-besprinkled neither garment
, and sooty ccuntenance that gave h:
: friends such task to keep their coul
= tenances.
Excuse me one minute, gentlemen
he said, growing hot all over as
caught a glimpse of himself in the pa
lOr mirror, and lodged out to rem
F.. vate his toilet, muttering to himseI
' What has become Of Cathie?
give hundred dollar note if she wei
L here.
As he issued once more from
> room, a soft familiar voice sounded
! his ear, and his heart gave a gre
bound Of delight. Cathie had retur
ed. Yes, she had returned in vel
4 truth, and was in the parlor at the j
= slant, talking to his friends.
. 'Cathie? p he whispered, holding I'll
= y door ajar. 'Cathie 2
+ But she was too busy descanting {
the merits of some Pre-Raphaelite a
h tist to pay any attention to her hu
/. bands husky summons.
? It's burning, Cathie ! he whispt
If ed, coming into the room, and gent
q twitching her sleeves. l smell t
q. cabbage quite plainly
~ But Cathie never stirred nor bro
., off in her pretty enthusiastic chatter
IS Il think l ought to have greas
the inside OF that pot, thought n