Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-23
f" WANTED, A COOK"
i'm TWO PARTS PART II

I may as well say at once that my
mother-the best and most indulgent of
women-had sent me, Reginald Hunter, to
travel on the Continent before / settled
down in lie. 1 was an only son, and had
Just left college, and was thinking about
the Bar as a suitable profession but
most discriminating uncle having left me a
good fortune, [ was not very anxious about
future briefs. Still, was not to enjoy the
good mans money till / was twenty five
wears old, as he had enormously consid-
cred that age more suitable for his heir
than the generally recognized and legal
tEenty-one.
My knowledge of French not being very
great, usually sound it safer to speak
English at the various hotels. Thus it
happened that at Cologne, on certain DAY
In July, marched boldly into the Hotel
d'AIbion, and requested in English TO be
shown good room looking out on the
river. The landlord Bowed low and said {:
Exactly so, sire" Yet I fancied taere
was an anxious look on his face as I fol
lowed him up the stairs. We passed the
first door, then the second but here l
made stand.
am not going up higher, " said with
true British doggedness.
Very sorry, fire, but these floor is en-
gagged. The FIRST foor engaged, the second
floor engaged, and tho third floor is full all
but this room" phsgeupon he threw open
the door of what in reality was small
dressing. room.
Beautiful view. sire. spacious and not
IN the sun"
Very well, said resignedly; as it
Is only for enc night, / must put up with
1t" What on earth did the fellow mean
by having all his rooms occupied2
Wha5 name, sir 2 he next said, and
gave him nay card and left him to fill up
the customary form. After reading Hunt
er out 10 Varioas RECOMMENDATIONS, he re-
marked blandly: "Phere is letter for you,
sir; 1 will send it up, and presently was
refreshed with the sight of honest English
handwriting. 1t was a letter from my
mother.
drew dusty red-vslyat armchair to
the window. and with the soft summer
breeze blowing Ia from the Rhine read the
home news. viii not record all that was
In it, because fond mothers do write good
many things that eaIho5 be repeated bat
this paragraph amused me not little:
i have been in great trouble, dear Reg
gle, with the servants. Yesterday cook
gave warning because Sir Henry SeymOur's
footman has Tilted her, and she says it will
break her heart to see daily the house
where he 'in5abits Then Jsne, you
know, the pretty housemsid, said if cook
went she must 90 too. think this was her
only reason; bat the parlor maid declares
she can't possibly stay, as / am always
changing. Il - the first time this has
ever happened, but really am so worre ed
that do see, dear boy, If you cant make
inquiries about foreign cook for me,
French or German. At sll events they
conld not Immediately fall in love if they
did not know a word OF English"
Fancy asking me to look out for q COOK
The dear mother must have taken leave Of
her senses.
/ looked at my watch it was o'clock,
and table note was In hslf an hour. So
I determined to put oil going out till after
dinner, and prepared to make myself as
clean as foreign ways permitted.
At this moment / heard a clatter Of
many footsteps On the stairs; next, the
music Of endless voices, high pitched and
sonorous sounds mingled together. At
first, faucled the house must be on fire,
or, perhaps. the cathedral; but suddenly
the truth lshed upon me. There can be
no doubt abont it. | was IN for q Cook s
Personally Conducted Tour. Abomin-
able Why should they travel where /
was travelling? They would eat everything
up, and, worss Of all, they would be at the
table d'hote.
/ went down to the dining-room with no
pleasant feeling, snd awaited Their arrival
vita undisguised annoyance. On they
came, CATERING down the stairs-men,
women, young ladies', young gentlemen F;
all in the highest of spirits, aud, as had
foreseeu, ready to eat up every thing. a
waiter assigned me seat, and found my
self between the last Of the Cooks and
5 very deaf old lady travelling with a COM
panion.. ] had intended to devote myself
to the old lady, but was forced to give up
the attempt and seek for some AMUSEMENT
on my other side. The tongues were soon
unloosed, and would have drowned the
noise of battle, believe. At the head
OF the table sat the conductor q clever
looking man, who kept the two young
ladies' at his side in fits Of laughter But
the chief of the conversation was kept up
by q little red-haired man, whose every
word elected roars Of merriment. The
young ladies' nudged each other and gig
gled, exclaiming, "Oh, doctor y and the
Inatrous painted out, Really, doctor,
you're too bad you have such curious
way Of saying things +
q It's an awful shame" I said to myself,
az for these sort OF people to travel IN ouch
numbers. one can have no chance for con
versing with interesting Foreigners But
at thie point / was startled by my neigh
Dor, stout, high-calored Bfitisher, turn.
ing toward me with the remark:
Il hope you're thinking of joining oul
party. SIR 2
No, thank you; Pm going another
way" AT least | feryently hoped so.)
perhaps you don't like a good party.
That's like my Janet here she's so quiet
there's nc getting her 20 say anything.
Janet was, presumed. seated beyond
the portly man, for / could only catch 8
glimpse OF her. Not that / was at all
anxious to do so.
At last the dinner was over. / rose, hop.
ing / should enjoy my next meal better,
but in my hurry to get away l trod on g
Iady's dress. She was IN front OF me, and
while my foot was on her skirt she tried to
move on. In moment heard the noise
of rent. Now, few accidents are more
terrible for man than when he tears some
part of a lady's attire, for it generally
brings him into dreadful disgrace with the
fair one, and he is very fortunate If he
escapes with only frown. | began to
stammer an apology as the lady turned
round, and at that moment my stout neigh
Dor came up, and said in loud voice
Well, declare, Janet 1t looks, my
dear, as if that dress was done for" OF
course he lssghed at this last joke, and /
looked up into Janet's face, dreading what
should see. My words OF apology died
on my lips from sheer surprise, for there
stood before me tall, graceful girl, with q
face so soft and beautiful that 1 at once
thought of some Madonna ] had lately
en- az Antwerp. She was fair, with