Connecticut western news., 1875-08-13
A DOMESTIC ROMANCE.
Advertising for n Cook, and Securing

which shall be nameless. One day he advertised for cook. Twenty-Five young women and ten old ones answered the advertisement. All of them had references in their pockets, as per re- quirement. Among the twenty five women was 8 slim creature in the shabbi- est shawl and bonnet there, with ex- actly enough flesh on her bones to hold them together, but lady every inch of her. ?
 References" he said to her as she sat before him. as s's
 She took off mended glove and showed him forefnger, rough as nut meg with much sewing.
 "Theres the only proof I have that I've been trying to earn an honest iv- ing,' she said.
 "An odd reference for 8 cook" said he
 That's for character" said she. "I'n show you how I can cook, I'll give prac- tical proof of that.''
 ' You are not a servant, said he.
 "Not yet. I mean to be. I've been sewing for living, and am sick of it, D said she.
 He looked at her from top to toe... , #
 "Family2" t,.>. :. .:s g.,i-
 "Myself only" said he. .;..-:: .<,sc.. She nodded.
 ." Dinner at six 2" z' 5.5-- < ,t.t. -E
 She nodded again. .'.sli s,., "Soup every days"
 | She nodded once more. "Ft " For the rest, variety. l,' .f:- '-s "Al right, said she.
 He named the wages and took her down into the kitchen, where the young person who was general assistant re- ceived her with bewildered stare 'fs' | After that he did not see her for four weeks, but his meals were delicious. At the end of the time he went down stairs to pay her wages. It was late in the evening. A plump lady, with pink cheeks, sat before the fire stoning raisins. He did not know her at first, but as the knowledge dawned upon him he realized how nearly she had been to starvation on the day when he hired her. All he said was: s ssI 9e1Nha. !.Ea5iI T'fs ."I'd like my steak broiled less.'' .-=5 After tbat he saw her once in four weeks regularly. She never said any thing to him but :" Thankye, sir. :, He always found some fault with something, his eyes fixed on vacancy the while. He was trim and big bachelor of forty, with handsome black side whiskers. She
 
 not red-haired, though the kitchen girl thought so. Her hair was Titian's D bet color. Inwardly she called her master "that bear" Secretly she thought him. very handsome.
 One day the dinner came down ;uns tasted. sG 5 ASI CSr
 "What fault has he found with it now 2" she asked. Nona co;5- +R,o cid -st Ho,- ;; s1a ,, At breakfast no one came to the table. finding pair of boots outside one door, knocked at it.
 "Come in,'' said g. faint voice. 2. She went in, and theresult of her in vestigations was telegram to the doc tor. ', Her master whoshad always been proudf of not being Svaceinated, had caught the smallpox.
 "You'd better go. You'll catch it, :" said he to her.
 :" I'm not afraid" said she. ''Some- body must stay, you know" ill.,
 She stayed. As he got better he re- warded her as convalescent men always do reward their nurses by scolding her and finding fault with everything. She had helped the doctor to save his life, and had done all that mortal could do, bu5 he snapped and snarled at her.
 One day, however, he being we'll, though still in quarantine, had some vile concoctioh brought him for his dinner.
 "What is this ?" he asked.
 "It's the best could do, D said Bridget, who having beena victim to the disorder in her childhood, had no fear of it. "Cook has gone off" s yz,~ csIN Ll.. master. =. sy. >s2 Y. | s.l IT
 "To the hospital p said Bridget. "She did be getting the smallpox, and she went. e-. =1 ss
 It wasn't for one just out of sick bed to use the language the master did after that, Bridget said, in relating the incident.
 But he was yet an invalid, and did not know his cooks name.
 She had never told it to him. He tried in vain to discover her where | abouts, but Bridget showed some sa- gac1ty. 's The wages were owing, and the trunk in the bedroom. Cook would come back &# ,
 So the master" waited; month passed; another week; then another; then one evening some one rang the bell. ooOh Ao OohCh 6&Atu WthuGS tO S90 you, said Bridget. !, 3j EjIt#it}iG3 'iIEf5
 "The master went into the parlor. There sat the long absent woman. Her hair had been cut short and ctlrIed up about the temples; but her complexion was not spoiled, though she was thin and worn again : -(.1] =; - /
 " I've come to see whether you wanted me to cook for you again" she said.
 |" No, ,' he answered. .5.-s-, az
 Very we1I," said she.
 You had no business to go off, that way" said he.
 "Who'dihave taken. care of me2" she
 " It was my duty to see to that, after all you'd done for me, said he ,yu5 ss
 Not at all," said she. 'And abou the wages ? ltdon't want to hurry you but need the money"
 "OhS youldo,'' said he. .
 Then he sat down near her.
 What a bear was to you," said he.
 "Yes, indeed,". said she. .l5a-
 Greeted, and found fault with you. 5
 "So unreasonable, too, said she.
 =" And yet you'd cook for me again ?'
 If I suit you, ? said she. {. l..
 "You do, ssaid he.s \ '5-a >J H
 "You might have said so before, :" '''ts aSot Not, As cook, said he. k "Ohl" said she. as P ssThe kitchen is no place for you, :"