, 1881-09-09

SAID MIS-. MtftultI, dS Sllt ran N'"H ''N
stairs. thanking honest Charlie IN her
heart for his unexpected promptltude.
Come in said she, opening the door
wide. I'm so glad that you are pune
tual. NV good girl From the Glars
Intelligence Bureau, L suppose. No,
don't take off your things up here; the
servants room is down stairs; Eou may
as well come directly down to the
kitchen /
She led the way down, followed by |
the new girl, whose countenance bore Il
rather bewildered expression.
What is your name?" she asked, pat
ronizingly.
"Mv name? Oh. it's Martha, replied |
the stranger. in confusion.
Martina" critically repeated Mrs. |
Meredith. What an ugly name! L
think | shall call you Pattie. Have you
good references"
II believe So
Il think" said Mrs. Meredith, sur
veying her from top to toe, you are a
little overdressed for the situation; but
OF course you have palmer clothes when
IL comes"
The stranger lifted pair of blue eyes
TO the tall form girdled arouDd with
towel. who was vigorously wrestling
with the claws of stupendous lobster
at the table beyond.
''Do You keep Il man cook" asked the
girl.
Mrs. Meredith drew herself up.
Certainly not. This is my brother,
Mr.. Selwyn, who is kindly assisting me
to make salad"
But he is not doing it right. He will
never get the meat ont of the shell In
hot I or
wyn."
And with deft fingers she loosened
the white fibre from the shell in man
ner that made Mr.. Selwyn cry bravo!
And now, Pattie, l will show you
where things are, and leave you to get
up rs nice lunch as yOu can, for at 2:3O
o'clock we are expecting my husband
cousin from Philadelphia. / want
everything in perfect order.
II will finish that salad" said Tom,
who had secretly been watching the
pretty face and figure OF the trim new
domestic, "now that 1 have commenced
it. But you need not look perturbed,
Pattie, if that is you name. L will be
| careful not to get IN your way. And you
ask my sister if am not a handy sort of
Il fellow around the kitchen"
Kate shook her head surreptitlously ut
! Tom behind the screen, but he resolute-
! ly affected not to perceive the warming
/ gesture.
Half an hour afterward he came to
! the dining room, where Mrs. Meredith
( was arranging her best lilac and gold
/ china.
/ Kate, she's "A jewel; II gem of the first
water. Depend upon it she has not al
ways worked III a kitchen. l quoted
! Shakespeare, apropos of something or
| other, and she recognized the grand old
words at once-her eyes frightened, and
I you should have seen the color come in
| to her cheeks
Quoted Shakespeare to a common
| servant" cried Mrs. Meredith IN amaze
ment.
But told you she is not common
| kitchen girl"
II don't believe in high life. below
! stairs" said his sister disdainfully.
| The lunch came up at 2:3O in per-
| feet order, but no cousin fIom Philadel-
phia arrived, no hack rolled ur to the
| door.
"How provokingr' said Kate. ''Miss
1 Meridith must have missed some con-
Meeting train. Charlie will be SO yeXed.
| But, however, don't mind company
coming at any time, now that L have
such an excellent girl"
| The dinner of delicaiely roasted quail
! and rabbit fricassee, with dessert of
custard and Jelly, was duly served at
| o'clock, at which hour MIR. Meredith came
| in, hot and flushed with the haste he had
/ made.
where is she?"
'Where is who?" cried Kate
''My cousin from Philadelphia.
"Not come"
| "No."
| Mr.. Meredith drew breath of mingled
relief and regret.
''Then after all, it is not so unlucky," !"
said he.
"What is not so very unlucky? My
dear, you are expressing yourself alto
gether in riddle"
THAT forgot all about the oysters
and the zephyr wool, and the servant
girl"
'Forgot?"
"Yes-forgot? Isn't that plain Eng
! lish?"
"But you did not forget, demonstrated
Mrs. Meredith ''You sent her. She is
here now in the kitchen"
Mr.. Meredith started. 'I have sent no
one. Never thought of the girl from
that moment to this, give you my word
and honor"
'Then who did send her?" calculated
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 spoons?"
AS he spoke he jerked the bell cord
with some energy. In minute or so the
new girl came up curtseying.
Mr.. Meredith uttered an exclamation
of amaZement.
"Why, it is Martha Meredith shout
ed he. 1T is my cousin from Phila-
delphia."
And he clasped her in his arms with IA
shower of kisses which made honest
| Toms hair stand on end.
81 wish she was my cousin from Phila-
delphia, he uttered in n stage whisper
aside. Kate turned as scarlet as a pepper
pod.
"Oh, good gracious!" she cried, clasp
ing her little hands nervOusly, land /
took her for a cook.
And 1 am cook when occasion re-
quires, Cousin Kate, said pretty Martha
Meredith, making her peace with kiss.
Don't be vexed at me for humoring the
| joke; indeed could not help it. And 1