The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-05-27

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cookery, | have that appreciation c
geometrical precision requisite for neat
ness and order, and think will promis
moderate returns for hints toward wha
ever refinements you desire"
/ Mrs. Lucas smoothed the stare fror
| her face as best she could. But nigh
| she not stare at "help" that spoke O
| geometrical order and the aesthetics O
housekeeping? 1t was all so in keeping
| however, with the strong, refined fac
| that she could have no doubt of tn
| strangers sanity; and she engaged her
Still an indetnable feeling-not curl
| osity-prompted her TO one abrupt ques
| ton: " But you are an educated woman
pardon me If call you Miss Helen"
You are at liberty to address me il
the usual way; | am, of course, simply
Helen to my mistress-or, indeed, tht
English Truesdell, if you PREFER She
said this with an indescrisable quietness
Then she replied to the question: 81
am somewhat acquainted with books
school books and others; but | trust that
does not incapacitate me for the duties
Of u servant"
g Why do you need become a servant?'
Mrs. Lucas longcd to ask But the un-
gloved hands, brown ana not too small,
confirmed the story of accustomed use
ful1ess.
But her own course as mistress toward
such servant presently embarrassed
her. She rose-paused. She hesitated
TO take woman with brow as fine as
Margaret Fuiler's, with such beautiful
eyes, with such expression" about face
and figure, up the back stairs "Honor
to whom honor is due" she said to her
self at last, with a thrill of fine selfscorn.
She took Miss Truesdell up the front
staircase, and made up her mind farther
as she went. She allotted her one of the
guest-chambers, and, as cordially as if
she were a guest, she assured her Mr.
Lucas would have her trunks sent up
from the stage office, and then, with
delicate attention or two, left her.
Reaching the hall she stopped at the
still unclosed parlor door. She tried to
look IN with the strangers eyes. She
saw nothing to hold a strangers gaze,
unless 1t were those two portraiss-por-
traits of her brother, Rolfe Guinness,
and Fred's sister, Clara Lucas. 1t must
have been Rolfe's great eyes cleaning
out of the dimness here. FlaXman did
outdo himself with Bulbs eyes. | dare
say she would appreciate them"
FlaXman suggested dinner and dinner
dress. She hurried out. Her assistant
was already there-had evidently discov-
cred the back stairs for herself. She had
picked up an apron and a broom, and
was CO npleting the sweeping; had evi-
IDENTIFY replenished the dying wood fire.
Sweeping completed she glanced at the
clock, at the various preparations for
dinner, at the anxious mistress. If
could hear the plan for dinner"
Thank you;" and then Mrs. Lucas
laughed. The truth is, l don't know
how to give orders to IA woman that
speaks correct English, Miss Truesdell."
Perhaps were you to address me as
Helen it would come easier"
Pray attoao me to call you Miss Trues-
dell, said Mrs. Lucas, IN her sweetest
tone. "ADd-well, if you could prepare
the vegetables" She gave her the
menu, the dinner hour and the amount of
leisure she personally craved.
Miss Truesdell considered a moment,
allotted the dressings, the salad and the
liable to the mistress, professed herself
luite equal to the balance, and, giving
her hair a little backward push, silently
ook Q@Ra22fhheea 2f hear hdF half an hour
At the end of the half hour she breathed
mere piece of animated, muscular igno-
.ance. For once, unless Pm in dream,
[ have an intelligent, artistic woman to
keep nv house. But ] fear it's 100 good
10 last"
No wonder she felt so. Every move
ment was as dainty as it was swift and
sure; every question was that of per
son educated, reflective and refined.
Moreover, it had all happened 50 sud
denly.
When she looked at the clock again,
She smiled The morning deadlock was
straightened out, the kitchen in dainty
order. There was an odor of fragrant
roasts and savory steams, sound OF
merry boilings aud aromatic buildings;
sauces, salads and creams were in readl-
ness; the b0lttORHitrfs of roses were tied;
and Miss Truesdell, if she didn't know
about the right wine glasses, did know
how to use a hammer, and had opened
the fruit-casks.
Basling her laces in her dress, Mrs.
Lucas considered "a problem which had
often troubled her friends in the little
aristocratiC village, where help was ire
quently obtained from farmers families
-AmeriDn girls, who generally rebelled
against CtIttiIl S''tif.l ANiilfii SOAAA
mon enough in cities. Mrs. Lucas, howey-
er, had never sacrificed the cozincss of her
table; but even SIZE hesitated To suggest
to this Portia-like person that she was
to take her meals by herself after her
master and mistress had leisurely dis
posed of theirs.
Dear me! / shall wish l hadn't en-
ployed her, unless, indeed, in all matters
l. l. fT,. l,nr
Tint was like lady, think
The grayeycd servant was In the DIN
ing-room relying a wayward flower when
the mistress returned, lovely IN her blue
silk and soft laces, her blonde hair dis
posed so as to show what sweet Greuze
face it was when allowed to be. Miss
Truesdell looked at her a moment with
an expression which rendered her, with
out any change of dress, quite as lovely,
it being the admlring look of sweet
natured, unenvious, and appreciatIve
woman.
Before this sweet look Mrs. Lucas
I Fblushed a little, and then she made hel
serving woman a beautiful little bow OF
thanks Presently she was relieved o1
certain little anxieties, for Miss Trues
dell said: Perhaps you would give mt
a few hints about the waiting, for | dare
say I'm not du fat concerning the usage:
| of town table, and | would like to b'
well. not awkward"
Mrs. Lucas directed explicitly. Still i
was as one lady would show another thu
ways of some new, dainty art, and thu
| while she thought to herself: What /
pleasure she seems to make of SERVING
me, and what pleasure, in turn, i
would be to treat ones servants thus
| These relations would not be SO trouble
some if one might have ladies to be abou
one. | quite Understand the EIgiisl
| Lady Rose Mary Cras,shay with he
retinue of lady help; l quite envy heI
| too"
In fact, the field of domestic reforr
was swept by Mrs. Lucas quick brai
while she sat waiting. She wished sh
| knew halt dozen women like this Hele
Truesdell willing 10 go into kitchens
She believed that even among her ow
friends she could find half a dozen mis-
tresses to correspond.
II, who am called most difficult mi
tress, after three hours Of Helen True
dell, am ready to declare that the idei
servant would speedily develop the idei
mistress"
As she sat there she resolved upon VI
rious tributes to her ideal servant-lei
ures, refined surroundings. Here 81
paused.
She was much afraid of the name r
. former She never became infectt
with sympathy with fancied evils. Bl
facts exerted upon her their normal il
fluence. In this instance, to retinemen
, education, skill. and charming persO