The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-04-22
MIR. MAYE's MEMORY.

MIR. MAYES MEMORY.
:" There is one thing you muslin for
get, Brother Tomp''
"What is that, Emmap"
'sDon't forget to go to the help Office,
and send me up a cook. The new girl
is good for nothing, and the old one
can't do everything. Black or white,
young or old, man or woman, l don't
care, only send me up a competent cook
by ten o'clock this morning."
Don't look so desperate, sis; I'll re-
member it. Iwant things in pretty good
style for Maxwell; he is used to its
fond of good dinners, and i guess I'll
send you up a good, smart hancock,
Emma"
u hope Mr.. Maxwell won't expect
things too nice, but I'll do my best in
other matters, Tom, if you'll only pro-
vide some one capable of serving good
dinner"
Mr.. Thomas Maye disappeared with q
reassuring nod. He had proverbially
bad memory, pretty Emma Maye knew
livery well, yet in this desperate emer-
gency she trusted him. Dangerous, but
what could she doP During the two
years she had had charge of her widowed
brothers family, they had been blessed
by the most skillful of cooks; but Joan
had taken fancy to get married, and
herplace was hastily supplied by one who
soon proved incapable. Just at this
juncture, Mr.. Maye received tidings that
his deceased wife's favorite brother,
Arthur Maxwell. just returned from
Europe. would pay him visit.
The Maxwell family were noted for
their wealth and good breeding, and
Arthur especially was distinguished for
his agreeability.
From the first, Emma had been ner-
vous over the responsibility of entertain
ing this elegant young man whom she
had never seen. She was lovely and ac-
complishcd, but she could not cook-in
fact she had never tried. Certainly, it
seemed task enough for young lady of
twenty to superintend family consist
ing of her brother and herself, two boys
and their tutor, two little girls and their
nurse-maid, with two other servants.
But though arduous, it had been well
performed.
The house was the perfection Of neat
ness and taste, the children well trained,
and Emma was much beloved in her
brothers family. The latter she had
been devoted to in sickness and health,
and he gratefully intended to make her
tasks as light as possible. But, as have
said, he had proverbially bad memory,
and, unfortunately, Emma had been
obliged to trust to it.
1t was half-past seven when Mr.. Maye
went down town. He took nothing but
a cup of coffee at seven, and lunched at
his favorite restaurant at eleven. At
half-past three the Mayes dined, and
Mr.. Maxwell was expected by the three
ten train.
"Therer' sighed Emma, when, two
hours after her brothers departure, the
house was in its usual exquisite order,
and the viands and flowers sent up for
dinner; "if Tom doesn't forget, and If
he sends up good cook, everything will
be nice enough"
She did not dare consider the posi-
bility of Toms having forgotten, or that
of the cook not coming for any other
reason; but when, precisely at ten
o. clock, the door-bell rang, secret
weight was lifted from her heart. She
ran herself to answer the summons.
A medium-sized. well-dressed, modest
looking young man stood at the en-
trance, and she frightened at sight of
him.
81 am very glad you are SO punctual;
was afraid should be disappointed, !"
she said, leading the way to the kitchen,
without an instant's delay. "Let me
see-ten o'clock. / shall have to set
you to work at once to prepare first
class dinner. We are expecting COM
pany from New York, and my cook has
left me, and do not myself know any
thing about cooking. What is your
namep" literally bereaving the young
man of his hat, and hanging it as far
out of reach as possible.
His reply was rather faint, but she
thought she caught it.
'.Macp You do not look like an
Irishman. But it doesn't make any
difference. Are you q good cookp'
The smile of the young man was
rather puzzling.
I'M do my. best, he said pleasantly.
"You see there's nothing in the house
but cold chicken" continued Emma,
unconsciously wringing her little hands
as she continued to address the new
cook. who certainly listened very 1T
teutively, but my brother has sat