The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-08-12
A California Romance.

Hertl66Iueubs bs
in their pocket as per requirement..
Among the twenty-five young women
was a slim creature,. in the shaDDlest
shawl and bonnet there, with exactly
enough flesh on her bones TO hold tnem
together. but a lady, every inch OF her.
SReterences?" he sad TO her as she sat
before him. 4.sA t...ias ., t...-s :.
She took off her mended glove, and
| showed him forefnger rough as . nut
meg with much sewing. ~ 'sost
| There's The only proof have thai I've
been trying TO earn an honest Hvlng,"
she said. ......,.
IAN odd reference for cook" said
| he. ...I...,. 80.
"Thats for character said she. "I'll-
show you how can coOk-Pil gave prac-
| tical proof OF that" ,..
"You are not servant" said he.
.tNot vet. / mean TO be. I've been
sewing for living, and am SICK OF it,"
| said she. s-t.. . ..t
He looked at her from top to toe.
"Family?' .t.,.... ....
"Mysell only" said she.
She nodded.
"Dinner AZ six."
She nodded again. ......
"Soup every dayW
She nodded once more,
For The rest variery.v
..AlI right,v said She.
He named the wages ard took her
| down into the Kitchen, where the young
person who was general assistant re-
ceived 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
evening. A plump lady with pink cheeks
sat before the tire stoning faIsins. He
did not know her at first, but as the
knowledge dawned on him he realized
how nearly she had been 10 starvation
on the day when he hired her. All he
sald was: I..t.
"Pd like my steak br0iled less"
After that he. saw her once in four
weeks regularly. Sue never said any
thing to him but 'sThankye, Sir" He
always found some fault with some-
thing, his eyes fixed on vacancy the
| while. He was a Trim and big bacnelor
| of forty, with handsome black side whis-
kers. She was thirty, and a warm tint
ed blonde-not red haired, though the
kitchen girl thought SO. Her hair was
Titian's pet color. Inwardly she callea
her master .'that bear" Secretly she
thought HIM very handsome.
One day the dinner came down un-
tasted. t.s..s
What fault has hetound with it now?"
she asked. .a....
"None," said the girl. s'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 i'll, and the result of her in
| yestigations was telegram to the doctor.
Her master, who had always been proud
Of not being yacclnated, had caught the
smallpox.
"You'd better go. You'll catch it,''
| said he to her.
ssrm not afraid" said she. ssSome-
body must stay, you KNOW" !.
She stayed. Alter he got better he re-
| Warded her--aS cohvalescent 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,
but he snapped and snarled at her.
One. day, however, he being well,
though still in quarantine, had some
vile concoction brought him for his din
ner. 49, - Cs.r- sff.tr-
ssWhat is this?' he asked.
eIts the best Lcould do," said Bridget,
who having been ayictim to the disorder
in her childhood, had no fear OF it.
ssCook has gone off" ..s,..s- ~ r..
"Where has she gone" asked the mas
ter. =.
"To the hospitaIl' said Bridget. ssShe
did be getting the smallpox, and she
went" s4. MAX
sIt wasn't for one just out Of sick
bed for one TO use the language the mas
ter did alter that" Bridget said In re-
lating 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 whereabouts, but
Bridget showed some sagacity. "The
wages were owing, and the trunk in the
bedroom. Cook Would come back.0
So "the masteio waited; month
passed; another week, and another;
then one evening s0me one rang the beIl,
'sCook is back and wants to see YOU"
said Bridget. ~
.sThe master went. Into the parlor,
There sat the long absent woman. Her
hair had been cut sliort and curled up
about her temples; but her complexion
was not spoiled, though she was thin
and worn again. 4
~ll've come to see whether you wanted
me to cook for you again." she said.
= "No,N he answered.
ssVery WELL" said she. 100
"You had no business to go off that
way" said he.
Who'd have taken care Of mel ?" she
asked.
sit was my duty to see to that, after
all you'd done for me-" said he.
s'Not at ALL" said she. "And about
the wages ? don't want to FURRY you,
but need the money"
.'Oh, you dor" said he.
Then he sat down near her
"What bear l was to you,h said he.
"Yes, indeed" said she.
sFretted aud found fault with you."
$50 unreasonable, too" said sne.
"And yet you'd cook Tor me again ?" |
said he.
'sIfI suit you," said she.
"You do" said he.
"You might have said SO before,m said |
she.
s'Not as a cool" said he.
"Ohw said she.
"rne kitchen is no place for you." said