The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-05-21
Ill believe so.

veying her from tip to toe, "you ar,
little over-dressed for your situation,
Pattie; but of course you have palmer
clothes in your trunk, when it comese''
The stranger lifted pair of grave
blue eyes to the tall form, girdIed
around with a towel. who was vigorous
ly wrestling with the claws of stu,
pendous lobster at the table beyond.
"Do you keep man cookF asked
the girl
Mrs. Meredith drew herselfup. Scr
tainly not. This is my brother, Mr.. Sell
wyn, who is kindly assisting me to make
q salad"
but he is not doing it right. He
will never get the meat out of the shell
in that way. Let me show you, Mr..
Selwyn.'
And with deft fingers she loosened
the white fibre from the shell in a
manner that made Mr.. Selwyn cry
'Bravor'
.'And now, Pattie, 1 will show you
where the things are. and leave you to
get up as nice lunch as you can, for at
2:3O o'clock we are expecting my hus-
bands cousin from Philadelphia. !
want everything in perfect order"
q l will finish that salad" said Tom,
who had secretly been observing the
pretty face and trim figure of the new
domestic, ''now that have commenced
it. But you need not look perturbed,
Pattie. if that is your name. l will be
careful not to get in your way. And
you ask my sister if am not a handy
sort of a fellow around the kitchen"
Kate shook her head surreptitiously
at Tom behind the screen, but he reso-
lutely affected not to perceive the warm
ing gesture. ~
Half an hour afterward he came up to
the dining-room, where Mrs. Meredith
was arranging her best lilac and gold
china.
"Kate, she is a jewel. A gem of the
first water! Depend upon it, she has not
always worked in Kitchen. Iquoted
Shakespeare, apropos of something or
other, l do not 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"
"Quoting Shakespeare to common
kitchen girlr' cried Mrs. Meredith, in
But / tell you she is not common
kitchen girl. 4"
81 don't believe in high life below
stairs" said his sister disdainfully.
The lunch came up at 2:30 in perfect
order, but no cousin from Philadelphia
arrived, no hack rolled up to the door.
How provoking" said Kate, "Miss
Meredith must have missed some con-
Meeting train. Charlie will be SO vexed.
But, however, L do not so much mind
coming in at any time, now
hat have got an excellent girl"
The dinner of delicately roasted quail
md rabbit fricassee, with a dessert of
:ustard and jelly, was duly served at
precisely seven o'clock, at which hour
Mr.. Meredith bounced in, hot and
1ushed with the haste he had made.
''Wherc is shep''
where is whop" cried Kate.
My cousin from Philadelphia.
30! She has not come"
"Not Gomez"
"No."
Mr.. Meredith drew a sigh of mingled
'egret and relief.
Then, after all, it is not so very un-
ucky." said he.
"What is not SO very unluckyP NV
lear Charles, you are expressing your
elf altogether in riddles"
"That ! forgot all about the oysters
nd the zephyr wool and the servant
.irl."
"Forgotp'.
Yes-forgot! Isn't that plain En-
,lish?''
But you did not forget" remon-
trated Mrs. Meredith. "You sent her.
he is here now in the kitchen"
Mr.. Meredith started. I" have sent |
% one. Never thought of the girl |
rom that moment to this. give you
ny word and honor"
Then who did send her?'' ejaculat-
d his wife slowly.
Ring the bell. Let us have her up |
ere. Who knows but she is one of |
hose confidence women, with an eve to |
he forks and spoonsp''
As he spoke he jerked the bell cord
nth some energy. In q minute or SO
ne new girl came up courtesying.
Mr.. Meredith uttered an exclamation
amazement.
"Why, it is Martha Meredith!' shout
q he. ut is my cousin from Philadel-
hia."
And he clasped her in his arms with
hover of kisses which made honest
'om's hair stand on end.
81 wish she was my cousin from Phil
delphia," he uttered, in q stage whis-
er. aside.
Kate turned as scarlet as pepper
cd.
"Oh, good graciousr' she cried, clasp
x her little hands nervously, land l
)Ok her for cook. I"
"And / am q cook when occasion re-
uires, cousin Kate" said pretty Mar
"a Meredith, making her peace with
ISIS. Don't be vexed at me for humor-
g the joke; indeed could not help it.
nd l will show you how to make
leringues, glaces, and the Neapolitan
,-morrow