The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-08-16
THE NEW COOK.
"There is one thing you mustn't
forget, Tom?"

1Oh ~ E5NN ~ o.
office and send me cook. The new
girl is good for nothing, and the old
one can't do everything. Young or
old, man or woman, | don't care; on
ly send me up competent cook by
ten o'clock this morning."
"Don't look SO desperate, sis; I'll
remember it. / want things in pref
ty good style for Maxwell; he is used
to it's fond Of good dinners; and l
guess I'll send you a good smart cook
Emma" Mr.. Thomas Maye disap-
peared with reassuring nod. He
had a proverbially bad memory; pref
ty Emma Maye knew it very we'll,
yet in this desperate emergency she
trusted him.
During the two years she had had
the charge of her widowed brothers
family they had been blessed, with
the most skillful cooks; but Joan had
taken a fancy to get married, and
her place was hastily supplied by
one who soon proved incapable.
Just at this juncture Mr.. Maye re-
ceived tidings that his dead wife's
favorite brother, Arthur Maxwell,
just returned from abroad, would pay
him visit. From the first Emma
had been nervous over the response
bility Of entertaining this elegant
young man, whom she had never
seen. She was lovely and accom-
plished; but she could not cook-in
fact she had never tried.
1t was 7:30 o'clock when Mr.. Maye
went to town. He took nothing but
cup of coffee att o'clock, and lunch.
cd at his favorite restaurant at II
o'clock. At $50 o'clock the Mayes
dined, and Mr.. Maxwell was expect
ed by the $3.50 o'clock train.
"There," 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; elf Tom doesn't
forget, and if he sends up cook ev-
erything will be nice enough"
She did not dare to think of the
possibility of Toms having forgot
ten, or that Of the cook not coming
for any other reason; but when, pre-
cisely at ten o'clock, the door-bell
rang u secret weight was lifted from
her heart. She ran herself to an
swer the summons. A medium-siz-
ed, well.dressed, modest looking
young man stood at the entrance,
and she frightened at sight Of him.
81 am very glad you are so punct-
ual; was afraid | should be disap-
pointed" she said, leading the way
to the kitchen without an instant's
delay. "Let me see-ten o'clock. l
shall have to set you to work at once
to prepare a frst-class dinner. We
are expecting company from London,
my cook has left me, and do not
myself know anything about my
cooking. What is your name?" lit
orally bereaving the young man Of
his hat and hanging it as high out of
his reach as possible.
His reply was rather faint, but she
thought she caught it.
"Mac2 You do not look like an Ir.
ishman. But it doesn't make any
difference. Are you good cook?"
The smile Of the young man was
rather puzzling. "I'll 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 10 ad
dress the new cook, who certainly
listened very attentively. "But my
brother has sent up some pigeons-tc
be roasted, | suppose.
"Yes'm."
"Can you make celery salad?"
II think can"
Sand Mayonnaise sauce for the
cold chicken?"
"Yes'm."
'Can you make French soup?"
"Ican."
"Oh, well, l think you will do
beginning to look relieved)
"Be sure the vegetables are not ov.
er done, and the coffee good-my
brother is very particular about his
coffee. And we will have q Flore,
tine puddinp2n with nm innn;r;no