The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-09-03
San Francisco Call.

"That's for character" said she I'll
show you how / can cook-Iu give
practical proof of that"
You are not servant" he said.
"Not yet. mean to be. I've been
sewing for living, and / am sick Of
it" said she.
He looked at her from top to toe.
"Family ?"
"Myself only" said he.
She nodded.
"Dinner at six ?"
She nodded again.
"Soup every day ?"
She nodded once more.
"For the rest, variety"
Gall 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 O bewildered stare.
After that he did not see her for four
weeks, but his meals we're delicious.
AT the end of the time he went down
stairs to pay her wages. 1t was late IN
the evening. A plump lady, with pink
cheeks, sat before the fire stonIng rals-
ms. He did not know her at first, but
as the knowledge dawned on him he
realized how nearly she had been to
starvation on the day when he hired
her. All he said was.
ed like my steak boiled less"
After that he saw her once In four
weeks regularly. She never said any
thing to him but "Thankye, sir" He
always found fault with something, his
eyes fixed on vacancy the while. He
was a trim and big bachelor of forty,
with handsome black side whiskers.
She was thirty, and a warm tinted
blonde-not red-haired, though the
kitchen-girl thought so. Her hair was
Titian's pet color. Inwardly she called
her master "that bear" Secretly she
thought him very handsome.
One day the dinner came down I'M
tasted.
"What fault has he found with it
now ?" she asked.
"None," said the girl. "He's sick"
At breakfast no one came to the table.
Then the cook assembled the stairs, and
finding a pair of boots outside one door,
knocked at it.
Come in" said faint voice.
She went in, and the result of her in
vestigations was a telegram to the
doctor. Her master, who had always
been proud of not being vaccinated,
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"
She staid. AS he got better he re-
warded her-as eonvalescent men al
ways do reward their nurses-by scold-
ing her and finding fault with every
thing. She had helped the doctor to
save his life, and had done all that
mortal could do, but he snapped and
suarled at her.
One day, however, he, being well,
though still in quarantine, had some vile
concoction brought him for his din
ner.
''What is this ?" he asked.
cts the best could do" said Bird
get, who, having been victim to the
disorder in her childhood, had no fear
of it. "Cook has gone off.
"Where has she gomez" asked the
master.
"To the hospital !" said Bridget.
She did be getting the smallpox and
she went"
at wasn't for one just out of a sick
bed to use the language the master did
after that" Bridget said, in relating
the incident.
But he was yet an invalid and he 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-
gacity. "The wages were owing, and
he trunk in the bedroom. Cook would
Uome back.
So "the master" waited month
passed another week; then another /;
then one evening some one rang the
bell.
Cook is back and wants to see
you," said Bridget.
"The master" went into the parlor.
There sat the long -absent woman. Her
hair had been cut short and curled up
about her temples; but her complexion
was not spoiled, though she was thin
and worn again.
GIVE come to see whether you wanted
me to cook for you again, she said.
"No," he said.
every well" said she.
"You had no business to go off that
way" said he.
"Who'd have taken care'of me ?" she
asked.
cit was my duty to see to that, after
all you'd done for me, +" said he.
"Not at all, said she. "And about |
the wages2 1 don't want to hurry you,
but I need the money"
ooh, you do ?" said he.
Then he sat down near her.
"What bear ] was to you," he said.
eyes. indeed, F" said she.
"Fretted and found fault with you"
$50 unreasonable, too" said she.
"And yet you'd cook for me again ?"
said he.
"If suit you," said she.
"You do" said he.
"You might have said so BEFORE"
said she.
"Not as cook" said he.
"Oh :" said she.
''The kitchen is no place for YOU"
said he.
''It's better than sewing" said she.
"But if / make you another offer ?"
said he
"Will you marry me? 1 like you
better than any woman / ever knew"
"But it's a matter of mutual liking"
said she "not of yours alone"
"Answer my question, said he.
eft is too unexpected" said she.
"Don't believe it," said he eyes or
MOP"
"Oh," said she "Well, no."
."Now you are angry" said he.
"You are in a temper" said she
80 not l."
"I'll ask you a second time" said
he twill you have me?"
"Second thoughts are best" said
she. |