Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-02-08

indner-F
"Wel3" again remarked the young man
with the SCOT besmesred nose.
providence must provided sighed the
matron
"There's an old chintz colored rooster
"If l could catch him I'd have a chicken
stew"
Tom" said Mrs. Meredith, ibid you
ever make a chicken stew2'
No"
"Then you don't know what yoy're talk
ing about" said the lady, with some
asperity;
Soyer. Onions, potatoes, celery, pearl,
barley, with pinch of salt, and"
"Nonsensel" interposed Mrs. Meredith.
$40 pick that lobster out of its shell and
leave off romsncingl You're deal better
at poetry and newspaper sketches than you
are in the kitchen; though to be sure"
with q twinge of conscience, goodness
knows what should do without you just
in this particular emergency, you d ar old
darling"
The lobster was only half picked out of
the shell, the butter milk biscuit was still
unmixed, and Mrs. Meredith with a
pocket handkerchief tied around her pref
ty brown hair, was busting the little draw
ing room when there came ring at the
door-bell. She put her turbaned head out
Of the window after most unceremonious
fashion
who's there" she demanded, in high
contrato.
docs Mrs. Meredith live here!n re.
torted womans voice. And at the same
moment the young matron caught sight Of
neat black leather bag, u black alpaca
dress, and a shawl of the plainest High
land plaid.
otis the new girl, thank Providencei"
said Mrs. Meredith; and she flew down
stairs, thanking honest Charley in her
heart for this unexpected promptitude.
Come in" said she, opening the door
wide. II am glad you are so punctual,
my good girl. From st. Chars Inteli-
gence Bureau, suppose? Now don't take
off yolr things up here-the servants room
is below stairs; you may as as we'll come
| directly down into the Kitchen" -
| She led the the way down, followed by
the new girl, whose countenance bore
rather a bewidered expression.
Whats your name?" she asked pat
ronizingly.
my name2 On, it's Martha" answer
| ed the girl, in some confusion.
''MsrthaF critically repeated Mrs.
Meredith. what an ugly namel think
l shall call you Patty, Have you refer
ences2"
III believe SC"
II think, )" said Mr. Meredith, surveying
her from top to toe, that you are little
overdressed for your station, Patty; but
of course you have some palmer clothes
| in your trunk when it comes7"
The stranger lifted pair of gray blue
| eyes to the tall form, girded around with
towel, who was vigorously wrestling with
the claws of stupendous lobster AT the
table beyond .tff
do you keep man cook, ma ami" said
She
! Mrs. Meredith drew herself up. Ger.
tainly not" said she. This is my brother
Mr.. Selwyn, who is kindly assisting me TO
make asalad.h
"But he is not doing it right" said the
new girl. Hell never get the meat out OF
the shell in that way. Let me show you,
Mr.. Selwyn,"
"And with deft fingers she loosened the
luscious white fibre from the scarlet shell
in a manner thai made Mr. Selwyn cry,
'bravol"
And now, Patty" said Mrs Meredith,
l will show you where the things are, and
leave you to get up as nice a lunch as you
can for halt past two O'clock; we are ex-
pecting my husbands cousin from CHICAGO,
and | want rything in perfect order"
I'm finish the salad" said Tom, who
had secretly been observing the pretty face
and trim figure of the new domestic, now
that I've commenced it, But you needn't
look 50 perturbed, Patty. if that's your
name. III be careful not to get in your.way.
And you can ask my sister if Pm not a
handy sort of u fellow around the kitchen"
Kitty shook hor head surreptitiously at
Tom behind the screenj Tom resolutely
affected not TO perceive the warning ges-
ture. .Fr-
Half an hour aflerward he came up to the
dining room, where Mrs Meredith was
arranging her best lilac and gold china.
Kitty" said he, she's a jewell A
gem Of the first water Depend upon it
she's not always worked in the kitchen. l
quoted shake peare apropos of some thing
or other. / don't remember what, and she
rec ognised the grand old words at once
her eyes frightened, and you should
have seen the color come iuto her cheek ~
Il don't believe in / Ugh lie below
stairs said Mrs. Kitty, disdainfully. -
The lunch came up at half two, in
perfect order, butnp Cousin f'om Chicago
arrived-no depot hack rolled up tnc the
door. hee%hm
"How provokingl" said Kitty. "Mi's
Meredith IN ust have missed soma essential
connecting train. Charley will be so vex.
ed. But, however, Idon't so much mind
company coming in at any time now that
| have such an excellent grill
The dinner of daintIy roasted quails and
rabbit fricassee, with dessert of custard
and jelly, was duly served at precisely
seven, at which hour M. Meredith bounced
inc bet and flushed with the haste he had
made.
Where is she?" cried he
"Where is who?" said Kitty.
my cousin from Chicsgol"
"OhI' said Kitty, - he hasn't comel"
Not Gomez"
mo"
Mr.. Meredith drew long sigh of min
gled regret and relief
Then, after all" said he, 'ifs not so
WHATS not SO unlueky2" petulantly
demanded his wife. my dear Charles,
you are expressing yourself altogether in
riddles"
THAT forgot all about the oysters and
"Yes-forgot, Isn't that plain Eng
lish enough2'
"But You didn't forget" demonstrated
Mrs Meredith "You sent her. She's
here now in the kitchen"
Mr. Meredith started 1--WE sent no one,"
said he. Never thought Of the girl from
that moment to this, give you my word
of honori'
Then" slowly ejsculat Kitty, "whO
did send her2'
Ring the belll" said Mr.. Meredith,
Lets have her upl Who knows but
what she's one of those regular women
with an eye to the forks and spoonsln
And es she spoke he jerked the bell cord
with some energy. ra
In a minute or so the new girl came up
smiling and courtesying. Mr.. Meredith
uttered an exclamation of Amusement.
N 1.als ~ NAA