The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-05-17
heart for his unexpected promptitude

as we'll come directly down to the kitch
en-"
She led the way down, followed by
the new girl, whose countenance bore 9
rather bewildered expression.
"What is your name ?" she asked pat
ronizingly.
"My name7 ., it's Martha" replied
the stranger, in confusion. u
"MarthaY' critically repeated Mrs
Meredith. "What an ugly name!
think l shall call you Pattie. Have yor
good references ?"
"I-I believe So"
81 think" said Mrs. Meredith, sur
veying her from tip to toe, '.you are .
little over-dressed for your situation
Pattie; but of course you have plaine
clothes in your trunk, when it comes p
The stranger lifted pair of grav'
blue eyes to the tall form, girdled around
with towel, who was vigorously wrest
ling with the claws Of stupendous lob
ster at the table beyond.
"Do you keep man cook2" asked
the girl.
Mrs. Meredith drew herself up. Seer
tainly not. This is my brother. Mr.
Selwyn, who Is kindly assisting me tc
make salad"
"But he is not doing it right. HI
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 shell in manner
that made Mr.. Selwyn cry "Bravow
"And now, Pattie, I will show you
where the things are, and leave you tc
get up as nice lunch as you can, for a,
2 80 o'clock we are expecting my hus
bands cousin from Philadelphia
want everything in perfect order"
81 will finish that salad" said Tom
who had secretly been observing the
pretty face and trim figure of the new
domestic, snow that have commenced
it. But you need not look perturbed
Pattie, if that is your name. I will be
careful not to get in your way. And
you ask my sister il 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 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, abe is a jewel. A gem OF the
first water! Depend upon it, she has
not always worked in kitchen. Iquo-
ted Shakespeare, apropos 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"
"Quoting Shakespeare to a common
kitchen girl" cried Mrs. Meredith, in
amazement.
"But l tell you che is not common
kitchen girl"
81 don't believe in high life below
stairs" said his sister disdainfully.
This lunch came up at 2:30 in perfect
order, but no cousin from Philadelphia
arrived, no hack rolled up to the door.
SHOW provoking" said Kate, "Miss
Meredith must have missed, some con-
Meeting train. Charlie will be so vexed.
But, however, / do not 80 much mind
company coming in at any time, now
that l 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 flush
ed with the haste he had made.
"Where Is she3 I"
ssWhere is who ?" cried Kate.
"My cousin from Philadelphia"
90! She has not come"
"Not GOMEZ"
"No.n
Mr.. Meredith drew a sigh of mingled
regret and relief.
"Then, after all, it is not so very un.
lucky" said ne.
"What is not SO very unlucky2 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"
"Forgot2"
"Yes-forgot! Isn't that plain En-
glish ?"
"But you did not forget" remonstra-
ted Mrs. Meredith. "You sent her
She is here now in the kitchen"
Mr.. Meredith started. II have SEN
no one. Never thought of the CIR
from that moment to this. l give yor
my word and honor"
"Then who did send her ?" calculated
his wife slowly.
"Ring the bell. Let US have her u,
here. Who knows but she is one o
those confidence women, with an eye tl
the forks and spoons?"
As he spoke he jerked the bell corr
with some energy. In a minute or 81
the new girl came up courtesying.
Mr.. Meredith uttered an exclamation
of amusement.
"Why, it is Martha Meredith r. shout
ed he. SIT Is my cousin from Philadel
phia."
And he clasped her in his arms witt
shower of kisses which made homes
Toms hair stand on end.
II wish she was my cousin from Phil
adelphis," he uttered, IN a stage whis
per. aside.
Kate turned as scarlet as a pepper
pod.
"Oh, good gracious !" she cried, clasp
ing her little hands nervousIy, "and
took her for cook"
."And am cook when occasion re
quires, cousin Kate" said pretty Mar
tina Meredith, making her peace with
kiss. "Don't be vexed at me for humor
ing the joke; indeed l could not help i,
And / will show you how to make mel
ingues, glaces, and the Neapolitan to
| morrow"
And they all sat happily down to
| gether to the roast-quails and fricassee
rabbits. And Kate and Martha went
the International Bureau on the mol
row, established q Milesian damsel
the roundings, and Tom, leaning ovt
his sisters shoulder, whispered:
q "Didn't l tell you she was a gem {
~