The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-11-29


the fish, it was their usual Tuesday dinner
Her father had sent home the salmon, be
cause the Judge was unusually fond of it,
and it must be prepared. He was himself
an epicure, and easily put ont of temper il
disappointed in his dinner.
To do Mary justice, she was quite equal
to cooking an elaborate dinner nicely. Mrs.
Vennor was very sensible woman, and had
taught both her girls to cook, but the cir
cumstances were secretly very trying to
Mary. She had never seen Judge Avon,
and wished to appear to advantage Instead,
she must seclude her oerspiring brow and
burned face in the kitchen. It was impos-
sible for her to be presentable at table. LIZ
tie Sallie could not dish up the dinner any
more than she could cook it. Dorette would
sit at the head of the able in lieu of theii
mother, and what more natural than thai
Bland as well as the Judge should consider
her the chosen one2 She knew Just how
charmingly Dorette could preside at a table.
Poor Mary. The tears came into her darh
eyes as she went into the terrible inferno
of that glowing kitchen.
There was barely time to prepare the
dishes. By some mistake the turkey was
not drawn-having been purchased of q
neighboring farmer not accustomed to pre-
pairing for the market; the fire was down, to
start with, and the eggs not TO be found.
Mary soon grew hurried and nervous in
spite of little Sallie's sympathizing assistance,
and when she had torn her bingham dress,
smutted her white apron, burned her hand,
and sent in dinner five minutes late, she sat
down in the cinders, like Cinderella, and
cried.
1t was little consolation to know that,
with all her drawbacks, 1t was beautifully
cooked. She could hear the gentlemen's
jovial voices as they dispatched it,-Dor-
cite silvery laugh. She sent in coffee with a
bursting heart.
Ono one thinks of me; am glad they do
not, such fright as am !" she murmured,
pushing back the moist hair from her throb-
bling temples.
She drew a long sigh. She thought she
was alone. Having adjusted the draughts
of the terrible range, she involuntarily re-
treated from the consuming monster-into
somebody's arms.
"Poor, tired girl Was there no help for
this ?" asked Bland Avon. "And you have
burned your handi"
He lifted it to his lips and kissed it.
"Ohi" gasped Mary, and yielding to his
hal,
il, she sobbed for moment upon his
shoulder.
al AM so tired and nervous" she gasped,
TREMENDOUSLY. "Oh, don't mindi"
81 do mind. How have you ever done
this? You are girl in thousand. But
come out of this dreadful place. want to
present you to my father He has seen no.
body but Dorette."
Nobody but Dorettei"
Yes, he actually spoke like that of the
siren
81 will go aud dress" said Mary
A quick, cool bath, simple white cam.
brio dress, a smooth knot of dark hair with a
tea-rose in it, the Judge knew all as Bland
presented Mary, and he saw the pride of his
parking eye.
"You did not dine with u.s." remarked
the elderly gentleman, holding the white,
singed hand.
"No. Our cook deserted us without
warning. and was obliged to prepare the
dinner" replied Mary, actually with little
smile.
1t seemed q mere bagatelle, now-that
dinner; for she had never before seen much
tenderness in Bland Avons handsome eyes.
When the Judge, obliged to return to the
city, had driven away, they walked down
into the garden.
Z" want this little burned hand for mine,
Mary" said the young man. ~ am proud
of it Not that / want my wife to endure
the discomforts you have undergone to-day ;
but there is an irresistible charm in finding q
woman capable, as well rs beautiful. 1t is
impossible for me not to covet one who has
cooked such dinner as you have done to-
day"
The torn dress, the smutty apron, the
sweat and tears MARY laughed, forgetting
oil easily.
"Not but what hated to do it !" she said.
He caught her in his arms, finding thai
she was yielding.
" You stopped to conqueri" he answered.
Esther Serle Kenneth