Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-12-23

bright tears which rolled down her
cheeks.
These young ladies evidently in
tended to make her useful. She
might have known that they did,
beforehand. She could hear the soft
sound of Bell Calho un' s guitar the
sweet subdued tin kle of Alice's
laughter; the deep monotonous I'M
dercurrent of gentlemen's voices,
and then she glanced down at her
pretty muslin dress and bows of pink
ribbon, and began to think that Miss
Calhoun had taken an unfair advan-
tage 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 comprehended the drift
of things.
Good news !" Miss Calhoun had
cried, waving her scented pocket
handkerchief in the air, "I've got
girl in the kitchen"
"Nol" said Bell, a fair haired,
cream complexioned damsel, with
pale blue eyes and perpetual smile.
"Rachel Ramsey" nodded Alice,
"came up here in her best bib and
tucker, to spend the day. Of course
l confiscated her at once"
''The bold, pushing thing !" said
Bell, with a disdainful gesture.
"She's deal to pretty to bring
into the drawing room for Harold
son or Armine Dallas to flirt WITH"
added Miss Alice, knowingly. "And
1 don't see any way | could have
avoided it, if it had not been for
those lucky chickens, and Bridget's
fortunate bit of temper. Make haste,
now, they'll be here in minute.
And / know little Rachel is first
class cook, as I've been there for
tea"
So the young ladies of the Tower
were enjoying a feast of reason and
the flow of soul in their cool draw
ing room, with books, new gathered
roses and blue ribboned guitars,
while poor Rachel Ramsey was
broiling in the kitchen over peach
tarts and Neapolitan creams.
She had forgotten her disappoint-
ment; but, artist-like, she had
thrown herself into her occupation
with engrossing interest, and she
was stirring the creams with quick,
energetic hand, when step crossed
the threshold.
"Here are some fresh trout, Bird
get, to surprise your mistress, +" said
a clear voice.
And to her infinite amazement,
Harold Haroldson stood before her,
in his hunting costume, with a fish
ing rod lightly balanced on his
shoulder.
"I'm not Bridget" said the girl,
laughing, but still stirring on. "I'm
Rachel"
miss Ramsey" he exclaimed,
lifting his cap. elbow in the name
of all that is wonderful came you
here ?n
And then, not without humor,
Rachel detailed the manner and in
cidents of her capture.
81 am the maid-ofall-work, if
you please" she said with courte-
sy.
"Then let me help you" said Har-
aldson. briskly tying second bib
apron around his hunting suit. 81
used to be a pretty good hand at
spider and grid-iron when | camped
out on Lake Capsuptic, up in
Name"
"But you're not engaged" said |
Rachel, half pleased, half frighten-
ed.
81 can volunteer" observed the
young man "Give me the oil and |
vinegar, and you will see what a
dressing, la mayonnaise, | can pro-
vide for that salad of yours -
And if pair of cooks ever spent a |
delightful, unconventional sort of
morning in the kitchen, this pair
did.
They laughed, they made innocent |
jokes, they behaved like two school
children.
At last, when Rachel ran out into |