The Hawaiian gazette., 1875-08-25
ADoncstic Iaomance.
Advertising for Cook, aud securing a WIN

shall be nameless. One day he advertised
for a cook. Twenty-Five young women
and ten old cues answered the advertise
ment. All of them had references in their
pockets, as per requirement Among the
twenty-five young women was a slim crea-
| ture in the shabbiest shawl and bonnet
there, with exactly 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.
She took off mended glove and
showed him a forefnger, rough as nut
meg with much sewing.
"There's the only proof have that I've
been trying to earn an honest living, " she
said
An odd reference for cook" said he
.'That's for character" said she. 81 Il
show you how can cook, III give practi
cal proof of that,
"You are not a servant" said he.
"Not yet. l mean to be. Eve been
sewing for a living, and l 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 2"
She nodded once more.
"For the rest, variety"
All right" said she,
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 the time he went down stairs
to pay her wages 1t was late in the even
ing. A plump lady, with pink cheeks,
sat before the fire stoning raisins. He did
not know her at first, bnt rs 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,
I'D like my steak broied less"
After that be 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 hand
some black side whiskers. She was thirty,
aud warm-tlnted blonde-not red-haired,
though the kitchen girl thought so. Her
hair was Titians pet color. Iuwardly she
called her master that bear" Secretly
she thought him very handsome.
One day the dinner came down untas-
ted
"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 pair of boots outside one door,
knocked at it.
"Come in" said faint voice.
She went in, and the result of her inves-
LEGATIONS was 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 stayed. As he got better he re-
warded her as convaleseent men always
do reward their nurses-by seolding her
and finding fault with everything. She
had helped the doctor to save his life, and
had done all that mortal could do, but he
snapped and snared at her.
One day, however, he being well,
though still in quarantine, had some vile
connection brought him for his dinner.
"What is this p he asked.
"It's the best could do, said Bridget,
who, having been victim to the disorder
in her childhood, had no fear of it. 4" Cook
has gone off"
"Whero has she gone ?" asked the
master.
"To the hospitalr' said Bridget. "she
did be getting the smallpox, and she
went"
at wasn't for one just out of sick bed
to use the language the master did after
that" Bridget said, in relating the Incl
dent
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 whereabouts, but
Bridget showed some sagacity. The
wages were owing, and the trunk in the
bedroom. Cook would come back"
So " the master" waited 4 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 inso 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 answered.
Very well" she said.
"You had no business to go off that
way" said he.
dwho'd have taken care of me p she
asked.
at was my duty to see to that, after
all you'd done for me-" said he.
Not at all" said she. "And about
the wages j.? l don't want to hurry you,
but need the money"
"Oh, you do" said he.
Then he sat down near her.
What n hear 7 vas To Won - said no