The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-11-18

tween us we'll get decent lunch for the
young lady from Chicago. As for din
ner-"
"Weil2" again remarked the young
man with the soot- -besmeared nose.
"Providence must provide" sighed
the matron.
"There's an old chintz- colored rooster
in the barnyard," said Tom hopefully
"If / could catch him I'd have chicken
stew"
"Tom," said Mrs. Meredith, "did you
ever make chicken stew p
"No."
"Tben you don't know what you are
talking about" said the lady with some
asperity.
"Yes, do, too," maintained the anna
teur Soyer. "Onions, potatoes, celery,
pearl barley, with pinch Of salt, and"
"Nonsense!" interposed Mrs. Mere.
dith. do pick that lobster out Of its
shell and leave off romancing! You're
a great deal better off at poetry and
newspaper sketches than you are in the
kitchen; though to be sure," with q
lwinge of conscience, goodness knows
what should do without you just in this
particular emergency, you dear old dar.
ling"
The lobster was only half picked out
OF the shell, the buttermilk biscuit was
still unmixed, and Mrs. Meredith, With
a pocket handkerchief tied around her
pretty brown hair, was busting the little
drawing-room when there came ring
at the door.bell. She put her turbaned
head out of the window after a most un-
ceremonious fashion
"Who's there ?" she demanded in q
high contralto. sG -
"Does Mrs. Meredith live here retort-
ed woman's voice; and at the same
moment the young matron caught sight
of neat leather bag. black alpaca dress
and a shawl of the plainest HIGHLAND
plaid.
"It's the new girl, thank Providence!'
said Mrs. Meredith: and she few down
stairs, thanking honest Charley in her
heart for his unexpected promptitude.
"Come in,' she said as she opened the
door wide 81 am glad you are 40 pune
tual. my good girl. From ST. Glars In
telligence Bureau, / suppose3 No,don't
take of your .things up here-the SER
wants room is below stairs; you may as
well come directly down into the kitch-
en-"
She led the way down, followed by the
new girl whose coun,enance bore rath-
er bewildered expression.
"What's your name ?" she asked pat
ronlzingly.
my name7 Oh, it's Marths," au.
swered the girl in some confusion.
"Martha ?" critically repeated Mrs.
Meredith. "What an ugly name. l
think shall call you Patsy. Have you
any referen ?"
"I-I believe so"
81 think" said Mrs Meredith survey
ing her from top to toe, sthat you are q
little overdressed for your station, Pat
sy but of course you have some palmer
clothes in your trunk when it comes 2"
The stranger lifted pair OF gray blue
eyes to the tall form, girded around with
a towel, who was vigorously wrestling
with the claws Of stupendous lobster
at the table beyond.
"Do you keep a man cook, ma'am p
said she.
Mrs. Meredith drew herself up. Seer
tainly not" she said. "This is my
brother, Mr.. Selwyn, who is kindly as
sisling me to make salad"
"But he is not doing it right" said the
new girl. "He'll never get the meet out
of it in that way. Let me show you,
Mr.. Selwyn."
And with deft fingers she loosened
the luscious white fiber from the scarlet
shell in manner that made Mr.. Selwyn
cry, "Bravo!"
Sand now, Patsy" said Mrs Mere
ditb, 81 will showyo where the things
are, and leave you to get up as nice 9
lunch as you can for half-past two
O'Clock. we are expecting my husbands
cousin from Chicago, and want every.
thing in perfect order"
"I'll finish the salad" said Tom who
had secretly began observing the pretty
face and trim figure of the new domes.
tic, snow that I've commenced it. Blu,
you needn't lock so perturbed, Patsy. il
that is your name. I'll be careful not to
get in your way. And you can ask my
sister if I'm not sort of handy fellow
around the kitchen"
Kitty shook her head surreptitiously
at Tom behind the screen; Tom reso.
lutely affected not to see the warning
gesture.
Half an hour afterward he came up in
the dining-room where Mrs Meredith
was arranging her best blue-and-gold
china. ei
"Kitty," said he, "she's a jewel! A
gem OF the first water3 Depend upon
it she's not always worked in the kitch.
en- ! quoted Shakespeare opropes ol
something or other, don't remember
what, and she recognized the grand old
words at once-her eyes frightened, and
you should have seen the color come
into her cheeks!''
II don't believe in high life below
STAIRS" said Mrs. Kitty, disdainfully
The lunch came up at half-past two
In perfect order, but no cousin from
Chicago arrived-no depot hack rolled
up to the door.
"How provoking !" said Kitty. Mis-.
Meredith must have missed some essen
tial connecting train. Charley will b.
80 vexed! But, however, ! don't sc
much mind company coming in at an,
time nov that have such an excellen
grill!
The dinner of daintily roasted quai
and rabbit fricassee, with a dessert o
custard and jelly, was duly served a
precisely seven, at which hour Mr.. Mere
dith bounced in, hot and flushed wit
haste he had made.
"Where is she ?" cried he.
"Where is who ?" cried Kitty.
"My cousin from Chicago
"Oh," said Kitty, 'she hasn't arrived
! "Not arrived p
mo"
J, Mr.. Meredith drew a long sigh c
mingled regret and relief
"Then, after ALL" said he, "it's not 9
unlucky."
! What's not so unlucky2" petulentl