Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-09-08
The NEW GIRL.

"Now. Charlie, you'll be sure to re-
member"
"To remember whatY said Mr.. Mere
dith, with n hopeless expression of
insanity ON his cOuntenance. Kate
Meredith dropped both hands despair
ingly at her sides.
"Charles" she exclaimed. "yOu don't
mean TO say that you have forgotten
alreadyY'
"My dear" said Mr.. Meredith, fun
bling In the depths OF his overcoat
pocket for a missing glove. II haven't
forgotten, but / don't exactly remem-
ber."
"The oysters" suggested his wife.
ooh, yes" the oysters" said Mere
"And the two ounces Of double
zephyr"
Exactly"
"ADd the depot hack To be waiting
mt two o'clock for your cousin from
Philadelphia"
Mr.. Meredith slapped his hands ON
the table. "She Is coming to-day. /
declare To goodnessI" he calculated.
"And dozen Havana oranges for
dessert, and two pounds of white
grapes. and some of those delicious lit
tie Naples biscuit-oh. and let them
send up girl from st. Clair's."
"A--whichY
IA girl, you goose For general
hOusework. Phebe went home this
morning with faceache, and 1 can't
be left alone with company coming
and all. Mind she's a good cook and
understands waiting at table"
And Mr.. Meredith rushed of TO
catch the $50 express. with Kaleido-
scopic confusion of zephyr wool, depot
hacks. oysters and servnnt maids ca
recring through his brain, which boded
III for Mrs. Meredth's domestic plans.
While that lady. Clasping both hands
over her head I'm sort Of tragic de
spair. rushed down into the kitchen.
where a very gOod-looking young man
Of two or three and twenty was ON
his knees in front Of a range, trying 10
coax most unwilling fire To burn.
"WollY" said he.
Tom" cried she hysterically. "cln
you make a lobster saladY"
alike n book" said Tom.
"And coffeeY'
II learned I'm Paris"
Good. And | can make butter.
milk biscuit-and between us we can
get up n decent lunch for young lady
from Philadelphia. AS for dinner"
"Welly again remarked the young
man with the soot.bespangled nose.
providence must provide" sighed
the matrOn.
There's an old chintz-cOlored rooster
in the barnyard. If could catch him
III have q chicken stew"
tom, did you ever make chicken
stewY'
"NO."
"Then you don't know what you are
talking about" said the lady with some
asperity.
"Yes l do. too. Onions. potatoes,
celery. pearl barley. with a pinch of
salt"
NONSENSE interrupted Mrs. Mere
dith. "Do pick that lobster out of its
shell. and leave off romancing. You
are deal better at poetry and news
paper sketches than you are i'm the
kitchen; though TO be sure" with a
twinge Of conscience, goodness knows
what should do without you Just mt
this particular emergency. you dear old
darling"
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 dusting the
drawing room, when there came ring
at the door bell. She put the perturbed
head out of the window i'm the most un-
ceremonious manner. "Who is there ~
she demanned in high contralto.
"Does Mrs. Meredith live hereY" re-
torted woman's voice. And at the
same moment the young matron caught
sight Of neat black leather bag, a
black alpaca dress. and a shawl Of the
plainest Highland plaid.
"ICs the new girl. thank Providencer"
said Mrs. Meredith. rs she ran down
stairs, thanking honest Charlie in
her heart for his unexpected prompti-
tude.
"Come In" said she, opening the
door wide. 81 am so glad that You are
punctual, my good girl. From St
ClaiTs Intelligence Bureau, 1 suppose.
No. don't take Oft your things up here /;
the servants room is down stairs; you
may as well come directly down TO the
kitchen"
Sine led the way down, followed by
the new girl, whose countenance bore
a rather bewildered expression.
"What Is your name" she asked.
patronizingly.
my name? Oh, It's Martha" re-
piled the stranger, IN confusion.
"MarthaY critically repeated Mrs.
Meredith. "What an ugly namel /
think i shall call you Pattie. Have
you good referencesY"
IL believe So"
81 think" said Mrs. Meredith sur-
veying her from top To toe s.you are n
little overdresSed for your sitnaiiop.
but OF course you have palmer clothes"
Inc stranger lifted n pair of blue
eyes 10 the tall form girded with a
toMei, who was vigorously wrestling
win the claws of n stupendous lobster
at the table beyond.
do you keep a man cookYp asked
the girl. 'N'"
Mrs. Meredith drew herself nm
certainly not This is my brother.
MT Selwyn, who is kindly assisting
me TO make n salad.
"But he Is not doing il right. He
viii never get the meat out of the sbeIl
In that way. Let me show You, Mr..
Selwyn."
And with deft fingers she loosened
the white hbre from the shell In a man
nor that made Mr.. Selwvn cv-v s,,,. ~, .,