Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-08
A CALIFORNIA ROMANCE.
A Bachelor Advertising for n Cook
and Securing a wife.
From the San Franeisco Cali

A Bachelor Advertising for a Cool
and Securing a Wife.
From the San Francisco Call.
He was bachelor who kept house in 8
fine street in a fine city, both Of which
shall be nameless. One day be advertised
for a cook. Twenty-Five young women
and ten old ones answered the advertise
ment. All ofthem had references in theil
pocket, 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 a lady
every inch of her.
preferences" he said to her as she sat be
fore him.
She took off her mended glove and
showed him a fOrefnger rough as a nutmeg
with much sewing.
There's the only proof 1 have that I've
been trying to earn an honest living" she
said.
Gan odd reference for a cook, said be.
"That's for character" said she. "Fll
show you how can cook-Pl give prac-
teal proof of that"
"YOu are not a servant" said he.
"Not vet. l mean to be. I've been
sewing for a living, and am sick Of it,"
said she.
He looked at her from top to toe.
"Family?n
"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 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 evening.
A plump lady, with pink cheeks, sat before
the fire stOniI G Taisins. he did not know
her at first, but as the knowledge dawned
OH him he realized how nearly she had
been TO starvation on the day when be
hired her. All he said was:
''I'd like mysteak brOiled less"
After that he saw her once in four weeks
regularly. She never said anything to him
but "ThanBye, sir" He always found some
fault with something, his eyes fixed on va
cancy the while. He was a trim and big
bachelor of forty, with handsome black
side whiSkels. She was thirty, and a
Warm-tinted blOnde-nOt red haired, though
the kitchen girl thought so. Her hair was
Titian's pet color. lnWardly she called her
master ''that bear" Secretly she thought
him very handsome.
One day the dinner came down untaSted.
'.What fault has he found with it nOR?"
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 in
vestigations was a telegram to the doctor.
Her master, who had always been proud Of
not being yaccinated, had caught the
smallpox.
"You'd batter go. You'll catch it,
said he to her.
sIm not afraid" said she. somebody
must stay, you know"
She stayed. As he got better he rewarded
her--as cOnvalescent men always do reward
their nurses-by scolding her and finding
fault with everything. She had helped the
doctor 10 save his life, and had done all
that mortal could do, but he snapped and
snail led at her.
One day, however, he, being well, though
still in quarantine, had some vile concOc-
ton brought him for his dinner.
''What's this?" he asked.
ats the best l could do" said Bridget,
who, having been a victim to the disorder
in her childhood, had no fear Of it. "COOk
has gone Off"
"Where has che gone?'' asked the master.
$40 the hospital ! said Bridget. "She
did be getting the smallpox and she went"
sit 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; a month passed;
another week; then another; then one eve
ming some one rang the bell.
"COOk is back and wants TO see yOu,"
said Bridget.
N'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.
"l've come to see whether you wanted me
TO cook for you again" she said.
"No," he answered.
"Very we'll" SAID she.
"You had no business TO 90 of that way"
said he.
"WhO'd have taken care Of me?" she
asked.
sit 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? don't want to hurry you, but /
need The money"
"Oh, you dO?" said he.
Then he sat down near her.
"What bear was to you" said he.
ayes, indeed" said she.
'Fretted and found fault with you"
$50 unreasonable, too" said she.
Sand yet you'd cook for me again?" said
he.
"If l suit you" said she.
"You dO,' said he.
"YOu might have said so before" said
she. IT,
"Not as cook" said he. -
"Ohi' said she.
"The kitchen is no place for YOU" said
he.
"It's better than sewing said she.
"But if make you another Ofier," said
he, "will you marry me? like you bet
ter than any woman l ever knew"
"But it's matter of mutual liking"
said she; "nOt Of yours alOne.".
ANSWER my question" said he.
SIT is too unexpected" said she.
"DOn't believe it." said be. eyes or no."
ooh" said she. "Well, no."