The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-04-06

statue in ebony behind my chair. He
said nothing until the desert was before
me; then he opened his lips.
Excuse me for speaking, sir" he
said; but since the arrival of that Valen-
tine she's gone up two pegs, sir. ] never
seen such elevation, sir. She's more i'm
pertinent to me than ever, SIR"
Indeed before the meal was completed
cook surprised me again by opening the
door, peeping in and and asking:
"Was it good, sir?"
replied: Exceedingly"
Cook clasped her hands together, said
"I'm so glad" and vanished.
81 begin to believe that she's intoxi-
Gated, sir" said Abbot.
But this was to be day of surprised.
That evening I went to a little musical
party where hoped to meet Hetta Len
nox. 1 did meet her. We sat near to-
gether, but for long time she never
glanced toward me. At last approach
Good evening, Miss Lennox,' l said
"Ah! Good evening, Mr.. Parker" she
answered.
But she did not take my hand, nor
did she utter one other word.
We had been friends for two years. l
had fancied she even liked me little. 1
had believed that my Valentine would
be received with favor, but nCw-yes, l
should have been blind or idiotic not to
see that Hetta Lennox intended to snub
me.
went home in q state of mind that
battles description. l sat down at my
desk and wrote ten different letters, beg
cling for an explanation, and tore them
all up and and burnt them to finder. 1
walked the floor and tossed about on the
sofa, and made addresses to an invisible
familiar, and comported myself like
madmeE generally. At last I decided
that she was a cold, mercenary girl, and
that she intended to rebuff the advances
of p poor young man who had only two
thousand year salary. and decided
thnt she intended to marry 4. old Moses
Graz. who was her grandfather cotem-
porary and millionaire.
Ny Valentine had been an absolute
offer of hand and heart. She could not
misunderstood il, and the outer envelope
bore my monogram.
The DAYS that followed only brought
more rage and modification. Hetta alb
solutely cut me in the street. Weceased
not only to speak, but to look at each
other.
had loved her very dearly, and
ITO be wroth with one we love
Do work like madness on the hrain.'
was very wretched. Perhaps cook
perceived it; at all events she stayed me
with hagons and comforted me with APP
pies. Not day passed but some deli
cious morsel reached me from the
kitchen. Something sweet. or tart, or
savory. Cook herself often opened the
door for me, and always beamed upon
me kindly, and at last, one Sunday even
ing, as assembled the steps, / heard my
name uttered in the area. Looking down
1 saw cook smiling up at me.
''There amt nobody in the kitchen.
SIR she said.
''Indeedv' said I.
"Not a living SOUL" said cook.
"Cham bermaid has got leave, and nurse
has got leave, and that Abbot he is out
too, thank fortune. Yes, I'm all alone,
SIR"
"You must be lonesome, COOKE"
said 1.
"Oh, I am, just" replied cook.
"Eh?"
81 didn't speak" said l.
"Ah!' said cook.
All this time had been feeling in my
pockets.
"Hang it, haven't my latch key"
said I. 81 won't give you the trouble
to come up cook-I'll come in that
way"
Eyes, SIR" said cook.
1 descended into the area. The front
basement was the laundry. 1t was in
solemn Sabbath order and loneliness. In
the kitchen behind, bright fire burnt in
the range, and two chairs were placed
before it. All glittered with cleanli-
ness.
"Do walk ID and sit down, sir" said
cook.
It scarcely seemed polite to refuse,
though the request was an odd one. l
did walk in. also sat down. As did
80 cook sat down very near me and
looked bsshfully ct the floor.
"Tve been expecting You every Sun
day SINCE" said she, but suppose you
didn't know when the coast was clear
and him and her msyn't like it-folks
takes such airs. / knows as there was
difficulties in the way, but l have ex-
pected you ever SINCE"
"Since when, cook?" asked, bewil-
dered. "Since when?"
''Since that there valentine" replied
cook.
She looked at me now; looked at
her.