Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-11-17

glanced down at her pretty muslin dress
and bows of pink ribbon, and began to
think that Miss Calhoun had taken an
unfair advantage Of her.
If she could only have heard the rapid
and energetic colloquy which transpired
between the two sisters in their dressing
room when first Alice came up stairs,
she would perhaps have better compre-
hended the drift of things.
Good news - Miss Calhoun had
cried, waving her scented pocket hand
kerchief in the air. "Tvc got girl in
the kitchen !"
"No" said Miss Bell, fair headed
cream. complexioned damsel with pale
blue eyes and perpetual smile
''Rachel Ramsay" nodded Alice. -
"Come up here, in her best bib and
tucker, to spend the day. OF course |
confiscated her at once"
THE bold, pushing thing" said Bell
with disdainful gesture
she's deal too pretty to bring into
the drawing-room for Haroldson and Ar
mine Dallas to flrt with" added Miss
Alice, knowingly 'And | don't see
any way that | could have avoided it If
it hadn't been for those lucky chickens
and Bridgets fortunate ct of temper. -
Make haste now They'll be here in a
minute. And know little Rachel is n
first. class cook, for I've been there to
tea. !"
SO the young ladies of the. Tower
were enjoying the feast of reason aud
the flow of soul in their cool drawing
room, with books, new gathered roses
and bue-ribboned guitars, while poor
Rachel Ramsay wac broling in the
kitchen over peach-tarts and Neopoitan
creams.
She had not forgotten her disappoint-
ment, but, artist-like, she had thrown
herself into her occupation with cngross-
ing interest and she was stirring the
creams with quick, energetic hand,
when a step crsscd the threshold.
"Hero are some fresh trout. Bridget,
to surprise your mistress" said clear
voice.
And to her infinite amazement, Har-
old Haroldson stood before her, in his
hunting costume, with fishing rod
lightly balanced on his shoulder
'I'm not Bridget" said the girl,
laughing but stirring on. 'l'm Ra-
chel."
miss Ramsay" he exclaimed, lifting
his cap. GLOW in the name of all that
is wonderful came you here ?"
And then, not without humor, Ra-
chel detailed tho manner and incidents
of her capture.
81 am the maid-of-all-work, if you
please" she SAID. with courtesy
Then let mo help you" said Mr..
IIaroldson, briskly tying a second bib
apron around his hunting suit. Il
used to be pretty good hand at spider
and gridiron when Icamped out on Lake
Cupsuptic, up in Maine"
"But you're not engaged" said Ra-
chel, half-pleased, half-frightened.
II can volunteer" observed the young
man. "Give me the oil and vinegar,
and you will SEQ what dressing a Ia
nlayonaaisc ! can provide for that salad
of yours"
And if ever pair Of cooks spent
delightful, unconventional sort Of morn.
ing in tho kitchen this pair did
They laughed, they made innocent
jokes, they behaved like two school
children.
And ut last, when Rachel had run
out into the garden to gather some water
crosses to deck the newly roasted fowls,
Mr.. Haroldson heard the voice of Miss
Bell Calhoun calling down the stairway.
"Rachcl Rachel You may serve the
dinner Every one is here but that tire
some Haroldson p
And he's here too, " calmly respond.
cd that gentleman, who was washing his
hands at the pump.
"Whm ~ cried Bell, shrlly.
"The cook and butler are expected
to take their meals in the Kitchen"
said Mr.. IIaroldson, with commendable
gravity. "And I've no objection what
ever to that arrangement.
And nothing could induce Harold
Haroldson to come up TO the dining
room. He and Rachel ate their picnic
ing sort Of repast, and washed the dishes
although the matter somewhat lost its
spice when the Misses Calhoun and their
company all adjourned, en- nrasse, to the
kitchen, and persisted in joining their
ranks.
And when the purple sunset came
dreamily down over the dark cednrs
that oyerhung the brawling stream, and
the gay guests had all departed Alice
and Bell Calhoun gazed obviously at
each other.
WAS ever anything so provoking"
said Bell
"lIo has actual gone home with
her !" said Alice, bursting into angry
tears.
"And after all the pains we took to
keep them apart p sighed Bell
ut was all your fault " petulently
exclaimed Alice. Noticing the farmers
daughter, and dragging her out of her
sphere III tnhb bOrt OI way
"But it was you that plumed your
self on getting hor into the kitchen, "
scolded Bell. "And nice mess you've
made Of it !"
But how were we TO tell that il was
going TO end SO p groancd poor Alice.
n Il n n n
"Well, Rachel" said Granny Ram.
say. when the girl came in, just as the
lamp was lighted, "wbat sort Of day
did you have y
80, charming !" said Rachel. ~ en-
joyed myself more than ever did be-
fore at tho Tower, aud ! never went out
Of the kitchen. They had company,
and | helped get dinner"
"Ilumph !" gruntod Granny, "Tbars
queer way Of entertaining visitors. -
But p'raps that's city manners"
Perhaps it is," said Rachel de-
murely
"Who was it came home with you :"