The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-08-28

Inn. soon got over the parting with
my mother and sisters, and was trying
hard to think no more Of Harry. though
1 had made up my mind-minds are
easily made up at seventeen-to live un-
married, for his sake. Thus the summer
wore away, the harvest passed, md the
dull da7s Of November came on. 1 had
got accustomed to tho ways OF the
house. Though good It was an old
one. There was the best parlor and the
best kitchen opening from it; numbers
Of pantries, closets and cupboaris, and n
stair behind the old dresser, leading
right up to Mrs. Williams own room.
twas over the porch, and had windows
on three sides, which gave her view OF
all who came or went. Her accounts
were kept there in an old fashioned ash
desk, 10 were her choice recipes, aud
she had them for making everything.
There was cupboard set in the thick
walls, its doors not to be distinguished
from the rest OF the wainscot, in which
Mrs. Williams kept the most rare aud
curious Of her stores. Iwas once per-
mitted to see them as great privilege,
for she never trusted the key 10 any
hand but her own. There were spices
aud essences, costly at tho time OF my
story, but not common yet, old China
which had been brought in by the first
OF tho East India Compauy's ships; mix
lures for taking out stains, powders for
destroying moths, and n poison for rats
invented long ago by some Of the Cor.
nish people, and Of o terrible nature. So
Mrs. Williams told me. and I can ro-
member now that the poison resnmbled
nothing I ever saw but red pepper, an
expensive luxury at that time, and kept
in the cupboard also.
Itmay be believed that I was in great
favor, for not only were her treasures
shown to mo, but I had ten with Mrs.
Williams in the porch room every even.
ing. She took kindlyto me from the
first, because exerted myself to learn
housekeeping, which my mother said
was the principal thing for young
woman eIrCcting to have q home Of her
own, and still more because I kept quiet
and sober, and had no looks OF levity.
Nothing Of that kind would haye been
allowed at the Golden Sheaf, .iuu though
it was, tho house being kept with the
greatest propriety. There were no
jokes, and very little gossiping, plenty
Of work, for almost everything was made
at home, and q great deal Of coming and
going. Our Quictest time was about tho
middle Of November, Just before the
winter fairly begun. Then Mrs. vii
liams got her cattle killed, aud her meat
salted, and most of the servnuts were
busy about tho work In tho yard and
butiery. -sy- 81
Ono close, cloudy day, such as come
80 ofteu Mt the Martinnas time, I was
sitting in the best kitchCn, close by the
window, doing some needle work, and
Mrs. Williams WAS iu her Own room set
thug the accounts, for IL was in the
afternoon. The sounl Of a horses hoof
upon the road malu me look out, and
there was n gentleman handsomely
mounted, with servant after him, as
gentlemen did in those days. They
looked as il they had Travelled far, and
were coming to rest at the inn.
When tho gentleman aligLte1, l saw
he was toll and handsome, somewhere
about thirty.five, and had n jovial, good
uatured look, like one who was well
pleased with himself and everything
about him. He walked in not at all
strange like, and asked me in the most
civil and courteous manner il Mrs. Vii.
liams lived here, and il he and servant
could have dinner. Tho first question
was in low tone, tho second in a lJuder
key and before I could answer it Mrs.
Williams camo down. Judging from
her look he was quite new conner. |
thought the gentleman glanced curiously
at her first, aud then, seeming satisfied
that AL was right, repeated his question
about tho dinner, saying that ho was q
stranger in that part OF the country, but
that lie had heard so much Of the Golden
Sheat that be wished TO stop and dine at
the house. ,--TggI .H.s. nose
never saw Mr.. Williams receive any
gentleman with more respect and cere-
inouy. She courtesiPd him into her best
plrl0r, called her hostlcrs to help lis
servant with tho horses, took his orders
for his dinner, and set about cooking il
herself, for the cook was hard at work
III the buttery. My first notion was that
sbe had discovered him to DO some great
person travelling in disguise. md I hall
expected 10 lie told OF it. Mrs. Will
lnms used to talk tO mo good deal
when wO were alone i'll quiet afternoons
brt now she went on cooking aud making
things without saying q work, and there
was a queer, fixed looked in her face
which i could not understand, but II
Kept me- from talking. / laid down my
work and rose TO mako the eel soup il
was one OF the things for which the
house was famous--a Cornwall dish,
believe aud had bsOn trusted with
the making Of it Of late to my great OK
ultation, but now she stopped NC. "No,
Mary finish your sewing; those linens
will 10 wanted. I'll make the soup my
sCli." ,....-a. D., rBrsFszr
Isowcd nway, wondering who tue gsn,
tIemau could be-. anl wlmt had got over
Mrs. Williams, till, happening to look
up, I missed her out OF the kitchen,
sho hid gone mp to her own ROOM
but sho cnme buck in minute with Q
paper in her hand which she shook into
the soup, and then throw 1t into the
Gro. -...
"That's tie red pepper; it will dc
uow," said she. tHking mp n spoonful
ard making believe to taste, but she dit
not. Istitched on for q minute or two
though my blood WIS running cold, Rut
tho boiling OF The soup in the largo
quiet kitchen sounds through my heat
even now, Mrs, Williams was standing