The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-04-04


the calico soa: becoming, after
all.
There was not great dinner to get.
Rosamond had only to bake few pota-
toes, stew some tomatoes and brOil
steak; but the things were all good and
had an appetizing smell, that made Prue
hungry, especially after the coffee was
ground and set to steep.
g. thought housekeeping was ter
rible hard thing to learn" sh. said.
g But you seem to find it easy enough"
II am only in the A B c of it," an
swcred Rosamond, laughing" II really
know very little more than what you have
seen me do. These are all very simple
dishes AMI learn them one at time.
Ofcoursc look ut my cookbook. You
don't know, Prue, how much happier I
am than ever was before in my life.
But ! do think it would wear my life out
il Ihad to begin with great house and a
lot of servants
Prue wondered. TIL csc few little rooms
and these few things to do with! But in
the light that Rosamond set it, housekeep.
ing really seemed to he great fun and full
Of happiness. But, oh! how dcrisively
her cousins would laugh, if she should 20
home and tell them she had seen Rosa
mond Grey washing potatoes in tin
pan.
Meanwhile Phillips step was heard on
the stairway, and Rosamond sent the
children to meet him, while she heated
the plates and laid the last things on the
table. The table looked very pretty, set
off with some Of her wedding presents,
and dainty Prue found nothing to offend
her eye or palate in the simple dinner
In fact, she thought it delicious; and
Phillip Grey rs head Of household
seemed to her three times the man he
used to he in the old dancing days. lie
and II >samond talked gaiiy and happily
to each other and laughed as if they
hadn't care in the world; while poor
little Prue, under her momentary cheer
fullness, felt her heart beating. oh! SO
sadly.
When dinner was over and she was
putting on her things to go home, Rosa
mond said.
"We'rc gong to furnish our spare bed
room next week, Pruc dear, and want
you to come and stay over Christmas with
us. Well have real good time, and
Harry can spend all his evenings here.
I'm go,n to buy dripping pan before
then and practice first ON chicken, so
may be we shall have turkey Christmas.
l haven't learned to roast yet, and that's
why ut present we starvc on porter house
steaks and oyster stcws."
Prue laugncu. swept little courtesy
and said she would accept the invitation
with pleasure.
"What made you tell her about the
drirpingpan, Rosy?' asked Philip
when their guest had gcnc.
"oh, | do 50 enjoy her Ama.cmcnt,'
ssid Hosamond, with laugh, as they
turned back into their cozy little parlor,
where, after getting the children to sleep
they sat down for delightful evening
with 'Dcirlrc.'
Prue did not see her friends again till
Christmas week; but she heard of them
now and then. Her Cousin Julia, coming
home one afternoon from an Essipotl
matinee, said she had got quite a new
idea bout the trimming of her winter hat
from seeing the enc worn by Mrs. Phil
! lip Grey, directly in front Of her.
Pruc had one note from Rosa nond, re
minding her of her promised visit, and
adding few words Of cheer, which the
poor girl sorely needed in the contest in
which she was engaged, with love on one
side and the world, her old familiar world
of fashion, on the other hand. Her aunt
had been seriously taking her in hand, in
j series of "plain talks" in which she de-
monstratcd that. as Prue could not do q
single useful thing in the world, and az
her various costumes in year cost quite
as much as the whole of Harry's salary, il
was the height of loolishness to talk of him
any loager, and she had best end the nat
ter while Mr.. Doane was still in a propi
tious state of mind. She did not seem tc
consider that Prue's heart might beat
happier under q fifteen dollar cloak thar
under one that cost hundred.
"Yet l am as strong as Ros;.moni
Grey" said Pruc, in flash of resistance
"And i'm no fool. suppose l could
learn to TO few useful things"
But, althoug this did occur to her, sh.
did not tell Harry so; for, although sh.
could have died for him. or have beer
perfectly happy with him in desert o.
desolate islands, she felt that it required
in her case far greater heroism to take ur
IA life of homely cares, and be busy with
brooms and kettles, instead of her piano
and embroidery. AS tor Harry, he hac
never thought Of asking her to do such :
thing. He never dreamed Of any thing
but waiting till he had resorces enough
to supply his pretty Prize, at least parti
ally, with her accustomed luxuries. Sc
they met and parted time after time, ir
kind Of dull patience, and looked Al
each other with sad, weary eyes OF love,
which saw not yet how sweet is tho din
ner of hcrl 81
Rosamond was busy with her Holiday
preparations the day before Christmas
when Prue came in, all in a tluttcr, hcl
checks crimson.
give fairly run away" she exclaimed
laughing. aunt had accepted an invi
tation for us all to spend Christmas al
old Mrs. Doanc's house; and she was fu-
rious when l insisted on keeping my pre-
vious engagement. I'm going to stay
until she gets over it. 1 told Julia t.
send me word"
81 have looked for you ali the morning, ,
said Rosamond, with a kiss of welcome
"Here's your room all ready for you; and
you can sit in the parlor and read the
magazines, or you can come out into the
kitchen with me and the children.
must go right back there, because there
are cookies in the oven."
"Ill 90 with you," said Pruc; and she
went. Seating herself in one of the kich.
en- chairs, she watched all the perform
ances with deep interest, and even went
so far as to stone raisins and pare apples
to help Rosamond.
"You've done good deal since I was
here" she observed. How pretty thai
broad window looks, with all those plants
And do you mean to say you hang pic
lures like those on your kitchen walls?'
eyes, indeed" said Rosamond. "Thil
is one of my sitting rooms; and you dom
know how pleasant it is in here when tn.
work is DONE And it is so warm anc