Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-05-28
TOO GOOD TO LAST.

TING-A-LING-LfNG-LI -LING-LtNG went the
hall door bell, gently, evenly, clearly.
Mrs Lucas social ear was tolerably sharp.
She knew 1t was no book agent nor char
ity collector, neither was it one of her
friends IVA lJt.. g. Aai
Broom in hand, she stood moment.
A frown grew between her beautiful blue
eyes. She had half mind not to go to
the door ---
Mrs MolIie Lucas was born mistress
and madi me. She was possessed of dec
orative and conversational talents. But
the daily well-being of the household
after all, depended upon the hired serv-
ant. Whenever her one "hired grip
left, the brilliant young mistress settled
down into shrew. Many a witty
woman fails of being shrew simply
from lack of suitable occasion, and nice
Uersd. q, Not that Mrs. Mollie was igno
rant concerning tie lower domestic arts
Oh, no; she was home.bred. She could
keep house nicely; had the lady's gift
of sweeping both thoroughly and dust
lessly; could cook and serve an artistic
dinner. But she could not do these
things in aslady's toilet and in lady's
temper, and her good looks were pecul-
iarly dependent upon both of these con-
passionate heart of a young Juliet, and
loved her handsome husband, and that
her handsome husband expected and ap-
preciated both natural and artistic per-
fection in the woman he had chosen, you
will perhaps understand her distraction
when the "girl' left. She had early
found that talking over the balcony with
Romeo and getting breakfast for Romeo
were two different things, that moon
light and stove-heat have wholly oppo-
site effects upon the complexion. Still
Romeo's business hours (he was a retail
merchant in small village and kept
only one clerk) obliged her when desert
ed by her servant to rise in haste, tuck
her hair in q net, don Il linen collar and
print apron, and to preside at table in
the same array. At such times Romeo
read the paper and Juliet suffered vari-
GUS secret miseries.
This morning, when he had stepped
back in hat and Overcoat to kiss her as
usual, he had playfully touched her
hair and collar. There's something
wonderfully mysterious in the fashions,
Mollie. All the old ones make you la
dies look plain, while the new ones are
becoming Do be nice at dinner-that's
good pussl FlaXman ii be in town, and
| shall bring him up"
The "good puss" had pulled away
from him, had given him look which,
we'll, it reminded him of something he
had forgotten to tell her.
Its too bad, Mollie. But he'll ex-
pect it, you know. wish could send
you somebody. Iput an advertisement
in the Journal last week, and I've hoped
it would bring some one. Perhaps it
will yet"
But Mrs. Lucas was considering a
JulieRne soup. Families in villages, if
you must be told, don't have soups and
courses" except upon great occasions.
She secretly knew that Flaxman had at
one time in his life lived upon bread and
| cheese. None the less she felt con-
| strained to make soup, have fowl, flesh
and fish in correct succession, with at
least one or two-of the proper wines. 1t
| all went with the peculiar bouquet of the
table-ta when he was present. 8 E
Well, there were wines and meats and
fruits of the finest in the house, together
with winter roses, and-yes, there was a
| good cook too; only Flaxman needed
dressing for as well as cooking for. She
had long ago OWNED that the artist
would turn from Venus if she should
present herself at modern dinner-table
in her loose robe and glrdle. To-day he
would probably be entertained by the
cook in tolerably correct copy of that
antique costume.
Still she had made heroic haste, Sc.
cretly hoping to dress. But at nine
| o'clock the countless drudgeries had
done their work with her temper. She
had still to go out for oysters, the parlol
fires were to be lit, the sitting-rooms
were not touched, the fruit-casks were
to be opened and the wood-boXes were
empty.
Just then the door-bell rang.
| Finally she took of her cap and gloves
and giving her hair smooth with hel
hands she went to the door.
1t was stranger, as she had supposed
AIRS. Lucas hovered between the
words lady" and woman"
The strangers dress was good, but no
stylish, being plain and short. Perhaps
therefore, Mrs. Lucas was more strucl
by the picture-like face. The exquisite
mouth, the fine, large, gray eyes, chin
cheek and brow had the steadiness anC
finish of a clear engraving. There was 1
peculiar quiet gray tone about her alto
gether which suggested culture instead
of style and fashion-culturea and strength
Halt a dozen famous names suggested
themselyes II the stranger had an
nOunced herself by either Mrs. Luca
would not have felt unduly surprised.
just little Mustered she threw opel
the parlor door, with ii still open, apollo
gized for the absence of fire, and wa
turning toward the. sittihg-r0om whei
the stranger detained her. She displayed
bit of newspaper, which she must hav,
had ready in her gloved hand, "lf it i
Mrs. Lucasf-Mrs, Lucas assented="
am here ip answer 10 tllis'A She hapde'
her Ms. Lucasl ahvertisement III
| considering the woman's face and al
and her e; cellent English, Mrs. Luca
looked at her in astonishment "Ther
must be mistake; but you viii com
in, Miss"
hesitating, "it you are not the Mrs. IL
cas-, or don't wish a servant, | do no
need to detain you"
81 am the Mrs. Lucas-please com
this way-and / do very much wish
only think you do not understand wha
style of help-YE 90 fGH es
She looked back with kind smile
She paused in surprise. Miss Truesdel
had evidently started to follow, but hal
become petrifed. With her head turne,
oYS lheT shoulder she stood locking int
tht parl6r. The colorhal left her face
Her eyes had dilated there was a strang
expression In them-a look OF consterna
tion, with the hidden personality fash
ing out through ii.
MFs. Lucas waited a moment, thel
made the fact of her waiting manifest
Miss STruesdells started, looked arolln,
her with queer smile, and followed.
"Do you yourself wish the placer
require some one to do fun and genera
housework."