The Lincoln County herald., 1872-05-09
him at his country home.

And thus it happened, that when the
summer came, Roland Archworth went up
to Lanarl's pleasant home. He was a
young man Of 6ve and twenty, and was,
to use the expression Of one who knew
him we'll, "every inch man." lie had
inherited fortune from his father, and
was now partner in the house which his
father had founded. There was no spec
ulation in the business which be followed.
With banking capital fully equal to the
greatest possible emergency, the house
pursued a legitimate course, and its
wealth was constantly increasing.
Is it q wonder that Mrs. Lanark's
heart futtered when the prospect dawned
upon her that the young banker might
possibly seek one Of her daughters for
wife ? Sho cared not whether he chose
Isabel or Bertha. They we're both ac.
complished, and either would make
worthy mate for him.
And we do not do the Judge injustice
when we say that even he allowed him
self to hope that the son Of his old class
mate might find it iu his heart to love
one Of tho girls. He had studied the
youths character we'll, aud he believed
it to be one Of the purest and best.
Aud Isabel and Bertha. OF course
there was rivalry between them; but
they agreed that they would abide the
issue. Ii Isabel were selected to preside
over the home Of tho youthful millionaire,
Bertha would not complain and should
Bertha prove to be the fortunate one,
isabel was prepared to yield.
One thing happened very unfortu
natcly. On the very day Of Archworth's
arrival the cook was taken sick. What
was to be done
"Never mind" said Kate, with smile.
II will take the reins till cook gets WE'LL
But for morcy's sake" implored Isa.
bel, "don't let Mr.. Archworth know it'll
He belongs to sphere which would be
shocked by such gross improperly.
tie would look down on US as belonging
to the cdndiike."
But there was no present help for it.,
and Kate went into the kichen, and took
command Of the forces in that quarter.
"Will you have some Of this cake, Mr..
Archworth ?" asked Mrs. Lanark. lifting
the silver basket Of frosted niceities.
"No," replied the visitor with smile.
"If you will allow me to exercise my own
whim you will please me. This plain
bread is luxury such as do not often
meet. 1t takos me back to boyhood' g
days. have not eaten such bread since
| eat the bread which my own mother
made. If fever keep house for myself l
think shall ask you to send me your
cook"
For tho life of them they could not
help the betrayal Of emotion. Poor
Kate, who sat opposite the speaker,
blushed until 1t seemed as though oil the
blood in her body wer. rushing to her
face while Isabel aud Bertha trembled
as they might have trombled had they
found themselves unexpectly upon tho
verge Of frightful prscipics. Tho
Judge laughed outright.
"You get our cook into your house,
and you'd find you'd got Tartar. my
boy" he said. And then to turn the
subject, he added
81 remember your mother very we'll,
Roland and | have eaten her bread"
And thus the conversation softened
down into the poetry Of other days.
Touching Roland's associations with
Lanark's daughters, he seemed to enjoy
the society Of them all. Ii he seemed
more eager to talk with one than with
another it was with Kate, not, perhaps
because he had found her more attractive
but because she kept herself hidden away
from him SO much. During the brief
interviews which had been permitted him
he had found her not only highly accom-
plished, but he thought he had detected
IN undercurrent Of plain, practical com
mon sense which had not appeared in the
others. And, again, once when he bad
been speaking of his mother, ne had no
ticed Kate's eyes grow moist with synpa
thetic light, while her sisters had only
smiled in their sweet pleasant way. HI
fanced that through the gathering moist
ure of those deep blue eyes be had looked
down into q warm and tendor hcart-,
heart true and reliable.
One bright morning Roland Archwortt
arose with the sun, and walked out into
the garden. BY and by he came arounc
by the porch, and entered tho kitchen tt
ask for drink Of milk, for he had seer
the gardener just bring brimming pail
from the stable. lie went in, and saw
Kate Lanark at the moulding board, hel
white arms bare to the shoulders, knsad
ing a snowy pile of dough. She did no
see him at first, and he had moment fol
thought, and in that moment the truth
flashed upon him. Here was the cook
whom be had praised-the cook whom
hs had declared hs would have in his owl
house if he could get her! And h.
could now understand the blushing of the
maiden, and the laughing rejoinder o
tho Judge. And he remembered now O.
having overheard Mrs. Lanark speak
ing with a member of her family abou
The sickness Of her cook, how unfortunate
it was, and so on. With clear sense
and guick comprehension. aided by keer