Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-11-21

style I like it, But you can see fine
gowns and bonnets any day in the Wash
ington street windows and my idea OF a
woman is one whose dress is her least at
| traction.
SsDo YOU recollect fathers former part
ner, Adam Lane ? hes a clever old gen
tlenan, and a millionaire, and father has
the greatest liking and respect for him.
He has two daughters one married years
ago and the other, much younger, father
fixed upon as a desirable wife for me.
rather think the two families had talked it
over together at any rate, Miss Matilda
came to Greenland for long summer Wis
it. She is an amiable girl, so petted and
spoiled that she is absolutely good for moth
! ing undeveloped in mind and body. She
| looked very gay in the evenings, attired in
the latest importations. But she WAS al
ways late at breakfast /; she didn't dare
ride on horseback she couldn't walk
without stopping to rest on every stone
and once when asked her if she had read
the account of a battle Of Sedan, she look
ed up in her childish way, and said, No
Mr. Foster, Newspapers are so tiresome.'
Bless me What should [ have done with
such baby ?"
GA year ago this summer I was very
much confined at the store and when
August came instead ofspending the whole
month at home, thought I would have
little change, so I went down for a fort
hight to the Cliff house on-Beach. 1t
was quiet, pleasant resort, and you'll al
ways find fifty or a hundred people there
during the season. The landlord is a good
fellow, and a distant relative of mine. [
thought he looked Hurried when | went in
and after few minutes he took me on
one side, and said
NsTom, you've come at an unlucky time,
I had a very good cook that got from Ros-
| ton, at twenty dollars week: but she's
| high tempered woman, Last evening she
quarrelled with her assistants; this morn
ing the breakfast was all in confusion. and
now she's packing her trunk to leave by
| the next train. In two or three days | can
probably getanOther one down in her place;
but what we're to do meanwhile, | don't
know.'''
FBut Norton" said I, "isn't there some
one near by OF in the house who can take
| it %
II doubt it, he replied. GIVE half
dozen girls from the vicinity doing up
stairs work-one of them from your town,
the best water in the dining-room. But
suppose all of them would either be afraid
of the responsibility, OF think it beneath
them to- cook; though they would have
plenty of help and earn twenty dollars
where they now earn three"
tEWho's here from Greenland % asked
for [ knew something of almost every one
/ in that place.
''Mary Lyford."
.''Mary Lyford? A black-eyed, light
footed girl, about twenty years old, with
two brothers in Colorado, and her father
farmer over toward Straham ~
"Y es, the very same, y
'Why, she's the prettiest girl in Green
| land-at least thought so two years ago,
when I danced with her at the Thanks
giving party in the village; and [ heard
last Fall that she took the prize at the
Manchester fair for the best loaf Of bread.
But why is she here!'
/ ooh, you know farmers haven't much
ready money, and [ suppose she wanted to
earn something for herself, and to come to
the Beach, like the rest of US. You said
she took the premium for her bread [ be-
lieve | III go into the dining-room and pro-
pose to give the cooks place to any one of
the girls who would like it, and who feels
competent to take it. | must do some
thing,'' and looking at his watch he Went
EoRt.
Ten minutes later he came back, clasp
ing his hands, and exclaimed:
S'Mary Ilyford says she will try it.'
=" Hurrah for Greenland " cried I;
''isn't that plucky? By Jove, I hope she'll
succeed, and believe she WILL
L
Norton. s'Things are all topsy turvy in
the kitchen, and it'll take some time to get
them Strengthened out"
i Just then new arrival claimed his at
| tention, and with a serener face he turned
away.
Dinner was poor that day; supper was
a little better. And, in spite of Norton's
caution, began to be afraid that Green
land WAS going down. But the next morn
olyfo 1,n1 T,,,o
steaks, hot potatoes, delicious rolls and
corn bread, griddle-cakes, that melted in
your mouth, coffee that lost no aroma in
it's making. Thenceforth every meal was
triumph. The guests praised the table,
and fastened to their seats at the first
sound of the bell. Norton was radiant with
satisfaction, and | was as pleased as if |
had been the landlord OF cook myself. Sew
eral times | sent my compliments and con-
gratulations to Mary but she was so con-
stantly occupied that never had glimpse
of her till the night before | was to leave,
I was dancing in the parlor, and had just
led young lady Of the Matilda Jane stamp
| to her mamma, when [ saw Mary standing
with the dining room girls on the piazza.
I went out, and shaking her by the hand,
told how interested I had been in her src-
cess, and how proud [ was to find a Green
land girl so accomplished. She blushed
and thanked me, and said, in modest way
that she was very glad if all was suited,
and then Norton came up and expressed his
entire qualification with what she had done.
AS she stood there in white pique dress,
wi tn a scarlet bow at her throat, and her
dark hair neatly arranged, she looked every
inch a lady.
s'Do me the favor, Miss Lyford," said I,
'9to dance the next cotillion with me p
''Ah! Mr.. Foster,' she replied, looking
archly at Norton, 'sthat isn't expected of
the help
."The help!'' said, Indignantly. "You
are queen of the establishment, and | i'll
vite YOU to dance, and so does Mr.. Nor
ton"
"Certainly. I do, he answered. go and
show the company that you are at home IN
the parlor as well as in the kitchen" So
smiling and blushing, she took my arm.
s'Didn't we make a sensation when we
went in? Perhaps there was no fellow
there with better social position (you
know the phrase) than [; and had been
quite favorite with the ladies'. Some
laughed, some frowned, some whispered to
their neighbors, but [ paid not the slight
est attention to it all, and Mary looked so
pretty, and went through the dance with
such grace and dignity, that before it was
over I believed all regarded her with adml-
ration didn't wait for comment, but
escorted her out as if she had been the
sGood night, Miss Lyford, . I said when
we reached the hall. II am going in the
morning, but I shall see you again when
YOU get back to Greenland. j."
'sGood night MI. Foster" she replied,
4 thank you for your kindness" Then,
she added, laughing, Have you any or
ders for breakfast 20
s,Why, yes. should like to remember
er you by plate of mullins such as we had