The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-05-26
She led the way down follo,oa

What is your name?', she asked
patronizingly. '~7 >o''
My nameP o, it's Martina, replied
the stranger, in confusion.
" "Martha?' critically repeated Mrs
Meredith. .'What an uoly nameI T
1hlnk t shall call you Pattie. Have YOU
IL believe so.'
think" said Mrs. Meredith. sur-
Ve5ylng her from tip to toe, "you are
nt.e over-dressed for your situation.
fattle; but of course you have palmer
clothes In your trunk, when it comes?"
The stranger lifted pair of grave
olue eyes to the tall form, girdIed
around with towel, who was yigorons-
| ~ wrestling with the claws of a stu-
pendous lobster at the table bevond.
the girl. 'A0'
Mrs. Meredith drew herself up. Seer
talnly not. This is my brother, Mr.. Sell
Wyn, who is kindly assisting me to make
salad.''
60 But he is not doing it RIGHT. He
will never get the meat out of the she'll
IN that way. Let me show you, Mr..
Selwvn'
And with deft fingers she loosened
the white fibre from the shell in a
manner that made Mr.. Selwyn cry
"Bravor'
And now, Pattie, l will show YOU
where the things are, and leave YOU to
get up as nice lunch as you can, for at
Z:5o o'clock we are expecting my hus-
bands cousin from Philadelphia. ]
want everything in perfect order"
:" will finish that salad" said Tom,
who had secretly been observing the
pretty face and trim figure of the new
domestic, ''now that Ihave commenced
1t. But you need not look perturbed
Fattle. II that is your name. / will be
| careful not to get in your way. And
you ask my sister if l am not handy
sort OF fellow around the Kitchen
Kate shook her head surreptitiouslv
at Tom behind the screen, but he reso-
lutely affected not to perceive the warn
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 jewel. A gem of the
first water! Depend upon it, she has not
always worked in Kitchen. I quoted
Shakespeare, dprOp0s of something or
other, 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.
''Quotin9 Shakespeare to common
kitchen girlr' cried Mrs. Meredith. in
amazement.
But | tell you she is not a common
kitchen girl.
Il don't believe in high life below
stairs" said his sister disdainfully
The lunch came up at 2:3O in perfect
order, but no cousin from Philadelphia
arrived, no hack rolled up to the door.
chow 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
company coming in at any time, now
that have got an excellent girl"
The dinner of delicately roasted quail
and rabbit fricassee, with dessert of
custard and jelly, was duly served at
precisely seven o'clock, at which hour
Mr.. Meredith bounced in, hot and
flushed with the haste he had made
Where is she?"
"Where is who?n cried Kate
"My cousin from Philadelphia.
go! She has not come"
mot come?'
mo"
Mr.. Meredith drew sigh of mingled
regret and relief.
''Then, after all, it is not so very un-
lucky" said he. s-.
''What is not 50 very unlucky? ! My
dear Charles, you are expressing your
self altogether in riddles"
"That forgot all about the oysters
and the zephyr wool and the servant
girl.''
''Forgot?"
Yes-forgot! Isn't that plain En-
glish?'
'.But you did not forget" remon-
strated Mrs. Meredith. ''You sent her.
She is here now in the Kitchen
Mr.. Meredith started. Il have sent
no one. Never thought of the girl
from that moment to this. l give you
my word and honor
g Then who did send her?" ejaculat-
ed his wife slowly.
'' Ring the bell. Let us have her up
here. Who knows but she is one of
those confidence women, with an eye to
the forks and spoonsP" IL
AS he spoke he jerked the bell cord
with some energy. In a minute or so
the new girl came up courtesying.
Mr. Meredith uttered an exclamation
of amazement.
"Why, it is Martha Meredithr' shout
ed he. ''It is my cousin from Philadel-
phia.''
And he clasped her in his arms with
shower of kisses which made honest
Toms hair stand on end.
Il wish she was my cousin from Phil
adelphia," he uttered, in a stage whis-
per, aside.
Kate turned as scarlet as pepper
pod.
.'Oh, good gracious" she cried, clasp
ing her little hands nervously, land l
took her for cook"
And / am cook when occasion re-
quires, cousin Kate" said pretty Mar
tha Meredith, making her peace with a
kiss. ssDon't be yexed at me for humor-