News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-12-07
A CULINARY COUNT.
Story of the Young Lady who Fell in Love
and the Sequel.

and the Sequel.
A certain distinguished Washington
lady, who shall be nameless, advertised
not many months ago for a French cook,
having been persuaded to this step by
her beautiful daughter, the Baroness
-, whose long residence abroad had
welded her to foreign customs and cook
cry. The advertisement led to an anus
ing experience, which [ will relate just as
it was told to me by the distinguished
lady herself:
1--WE were seated at the luncheon
table on the following morning, when
my maid brought me visiting card on
which was engraved NJ. Alphonse de
Bougainville, Paris. Not recognizing
the name, I concluded that the card was
intended for my daughter, who is, as you
know, well acquainted at the French Lee
cation, so I passed it across the table to
her, saying: 1T must be for you, my
dear. She scanned the card for an in
slant, and then replied Indeed, NAM
ma, I never heard of the name before
cat all events I said, it is probably
some gentleman who bears letters of in
PRODUCTION from friends at Paris and as
[ am not dressed to receive visitors at
this early hour, you must entertain him
until [ can make myself presentable
She went into the drawing-room while I
fastened upstairs to make my toilet
| but before I had time to make any
changes in my dress, she came in and
said, laughingly: You needd't dress,
mamma, for it is only the French cook
for whom you advertised.
Feeling half-provoked at the mistake
L descended to the drawing-room, where
| distinguishing parsonage arose from
a lounging chair, and, after profoundly
deferential bow, announced that he had
come to solicit of me the honor of pre-
siding over my kitchen. [ don't say that
those were his precise words, but he said
something to that effect, and then, after
| politely placing chair for me, he stood
waiting respectfully while L questioned
him as to his capacity, salary expected,
| etc.
''He could not have been more obse-
quiously polite had been a queen and
he an humble serf, yet the man was so
well-dressed, so well-bred and even
polished in his manners that there was a
something absurdly incongruous in the
idea of his becoming my chef de cuisine.
Notwithstanding his elegance, however,
he was shrewd at making a bargain, ask
ing fifty dollars per month for his services.
and STIMULATING that he should have a
scullery maid and an assistant.
Finally, after some talk, [ agreed to
give him a trial, although [ confess I
was somewhat dubious as to the result of
the engagement. Well, he came and was
duly installed in the kitchen, where he
overpowered the other servants by his
Frenchy airiness of manner and the polite
cOndescension with which he met their
friendly advances. His cooking, how
ever, proved to be execrable, and [ was
soon compelled to discharge him, where
upon he departed as grandly as he had
come and with many deprecating shrugs
of regret because Madame was not pleased
with his services
Now for the sequel. A pretty and
wealthy young lady of the West End
called last week on the distinguished
Madame before mentioned, and afte
some conversation on ordinary topics,
the young lady said ''You are well ac-
quainted at the French Legation, Mrs.
-; pray, tell me if you know Count
LIE Fargo, who is one of the attaches
there?"
81 never heard of him, was the reply,
given without moments hesitation.
''But think again, pleaded the girl,
earnestly. "Surely either you or your
daughter must have met, or at least,
heard of him. To be perfectly frank
with you, 1 have special interest in
this gentleman, for he has made pro-
posal for my hand. [ have not yet
accepted his offer, because, although I
like him very much, our acquaintance
ship has been very brief, and L really
know nothing about him except what he
has himself told me. The Count =
rolling the title with apparent relish-''is
tall, quite handsome and his manners are
simply Incompatible. No one could look
upon him without being assured of his
noble lineage.
"Stay!'' she said suddenly, opening
her handbag and taking therefrom a
photograph. ''This picture may refresh
your memory. Look and see if you do
not recognize the face" Madame took
the photograph from the extended hand,
but no sooner looked at it than she let
it fall with an exclamation of amazement.
''You recognize it," cried the young
lady, in an agitated tone. Tell me, L
beseech you, where you saw him last.
What do yon know of him %
81 met him last in my kitchen, and [
know nothing Of him except that was
my cook p
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