The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-08-12
A DOMESTIC ROMANCE.
ADVERTISING FOR A COOK AND sECUR-
ING A WIFE.
From the San Francisco Call.

young women was a slim creature 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 fore6nger, rough as a
nutmeg with much sewing.
"There's the only proof have that
I've been trying to make an honest
living" she said.
"An odd reference for a cook, said
he.
"That's for character" said she.
"I'll show you how can cook-I'll
give 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.
"All 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 assis-
tant received her with bewildered
stare.
After that he did not see her for
four weeks, but his meals were de-
licious. 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, set before the
FIRE stoning rasins. He did not know
her at first, but rs the knowledge
dawned on him he realized how near
ly she had been to starvation on the
day when he hired her. All he said
was:
I'D like my steak broiled less
After that he saw ner once in four
weeks regularly. She never said any
thing to him but 'thankye, SIR He
always found some fault with some
thing, his eyes fixed on vacancy the
while. He was trim and big bach
elor of forty, with handsome black
side whiskers. She was thirty, and
q warm tinted blonde-no. red haired
though the kitchen girl thought So
Her hair Was Titian's pet color. In
wardly she called her master ''that
bear Secretly she though him very
handsome.
One day the dinner came down un.
tasted.
"What fault has he found with it
now?" she asked.
"None,' said the girl. "IIe's sick.
At breakfast no one came to the
table. Then the cook ascended the
stairs, and finding pair Of boots out.
sido one door, knock at it.
"Come in,' said faint voice.
She went in, and the result of her
investigations was a telegram to the
doctor. Her master, who had always
been proud OF not being vaccina,ed,
had caught the small pox. "Yoa'd
better go. You'll catch it, said he
TO her.
"Im NOT afraid" said she. "Some-
body must stay, you know"
She staid. As he got better he re-
wxrded her-as convalescent men al
ways do reward their nurses-by
scolding her and finding fault with
everything. She had helped the doc
tor 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
dinner.
"What is this? he asked.
"lt's the best ! could do," said
Bridget, who having been a victim
to the disorder in her childhood, had
no fear of it. ''Cook has gone off,
"Wherc has she gomez asked the
master.
'.To the hospital" said Bridget
"She did be getting the smallpox
and she went"
'.It wasn't for one just out of sick
bed to use the language the master
did after that" Bridget said, in relat-
ing 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 where
abouts, but Bridget showed some sa.
gacity. "The wages were owing,and
the trunk IN the bed room. Cook
would come back
So the master waited; month
passed; another week; then another
then one evening some one rang the
bell.
sCook 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 up about her temples; but her
complexion was not spoiled though
she was thin and worn again.
Il have come to see whether you
wanted me to cook for you again, "she
said.
"No," he answered.
"Very well," said she.
"You had no business to go off tina,
way" said he.
"Who'd have taken care of me?'
she asked.
ut was my duty to see to that, af
ter all you'd done for me-" said he.
"Not at ALL" said she. And abou
the wages? l don't want to hurr,
you, but | need the money.
.sOh, do you?,' said he.
Then he sat down near her.
"What bear I was to you," sal
he.
eyes, indeed" said she.
"Fretted and found fault with you.
$50 unreasonable, too" said she.
| "And yet you'd cook for me again? ?
said he.
l suit you," said she.
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