The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-10-02
HE AND SHE.

All of them had references in their pockets,
as per requirement. Among the twenty
five young women was slim creature in
the shabbiest shawl and bonnet, with ex-
actly enough flesh on her bones to hold
them together, but-a lady every inch of
her.
Referencen' he said to her, as she sat
before him.
She took off mended glove, and show
ed him fore finger rough as a nutmeg
with much sewing.
"There's the only proof have that I've
been trying to earn an honest living" she
said.
can odd reference for a cook" said he.
"That's for character" said she. "Pll
show you how l can cook. I'll give you
practical proof of that.
"You are not servant ?" said he.
"Not yet. l 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
"All right
He named the wages, and took her down
into the kitchen, where the young person
who was general assistant received her
with bewildered stare.
After that he did not see her for four
weeks, but his meals were delicious. At
the end of that time he went down stairs
to pay her wages. 1t was late in the even
ing. A plump lady, with pink checks, sat
before the fire, stoning raisns. He did not
know her at first; but as the knowledge
dawned upon him he realized how near she
had been to starvation on the day when he
hired her. All he said was:
81 like my steak broiled less"
After that lie saw her once in four weeks
regularly. She never said anything 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 was a tinted
blonde-not red haired, though the kitchen
maid thought SO. Her hair was Titan's
pet color. Inwardly she called her master
"that bear 90 Secretly she thought him
very handsome.
One day the dinner came down untasted.
"What fault has been found with it
now ?" she asked.
"None,' said the girl. "He's SICK
At breakfast time no one came to the
table. Then the cook assembled the stairs,
and, finding a pair of boots outside the
door, knocked at it.
"Come ill.," said faint voice.
She went in, and the result of her inves-
LEGATIONS was a telegram to the doctor.
Her master, who had always been proud of
not being vaccinated, had caught the small
pox.
"You'd better 90. You'll catch it,"
said he to her.
"I'm not afraid" said she. "Somebody
must stay, you know"
She stayed. AS he got better he reward
ed her, as convalescent men always do re-
ward their nurses, by scolding her and
finding fault with everything. She had
helped the doctor save his life, and had
done all that mortal could do, but he snap
ped and snarled at her.
One day, however, he being well, though
still in quarantine, had some vile concoc-
ton brought him for his dinner.
"What is this % he asked.
g" It's the best l could do" said Bridget,
who, having been victim to the disorder
in her childhood, had no fear of it. "Cook
has gone off,
"Where has she gone toe" asked the
master.
"To the hospital, said Bridget. "She
did not be getting the small pox, and she
went.
cit 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 he did
not know the cooks name. She had never
told it to him. He tried in vain to dis
cover her whereabouts but Bridget showed
some sagacity: "The wages were owing,
and the trunk in the bedroom. Cook
would come back
So the master waited. A 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 about her tenn
pies; but her complexion was not spoiled,
though she was thin and worn again.
GIVE come to see whether you want me
to cook for you again." she said.
No." he answered.
every WELL" said she.
"You had no business to 90 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 ALP said she. "And about the
wages? l don't want to hurry you, but l
need the money"
"Oh! you do ?" said he. Then he sat
down near her. "What bear l was to
you!' said he.
Yes, indeed.'' said she.
"Fretted and found fault with YOU"