Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-11-17
z gleasamt Story.
MADDOX ALL-WORK.

indeed us she came down the narrow
wooden staircase of the little brown
farm. house, that afternoon, dressed in q
white muslin dress, strewn all over with
tiny pink rosebuds, and a fresh lace frill
around her neck, tied with pink ribbon,
while her pretty feet we're buttoned into
n new pair of boots, with high, French
heels, and her hair was curled in loose
glossy coils of shining bronze.
"Eh !" said Granny Ramsay, looking
up from her everlasting knitting work
over which she was half asleep; "goin
to church. hey p
at isn't Sunday, grandma" explain
ed the girl, laughing and coloring "I'm
going to the Tower, to see Miss Calhoun
She has often invited me there-she and
Miss Bell"
"Pshaw !" said Granny Ramsay, who
was one Of those venerable people priv.
legged to speak their minds on all occa
sions what do the fine city ladies' AT
the Tower want Of farmers daughter
like you 7"
But, grandma, they've invited me !''
1T reminds me-" said grandma,
shrewdly, "of the old story of the iron
pot and the china pot swimming down
stream together and they didn't nowise
suit.
Rachel said no more, but escaped out
into the shady lane, where the naples
were beginning to turn pale yellow in
the first September frosts.
Grandma is always critcising every
body" she thought. II know the ladies'
at the Tower will be glad to see me.
Miss Alice wants to sketch my head for
Elaine, and Miss Bell asked me to
sing duets with her She said | had
voice like lark. And perhaps Mr.
Harold Haroldson will be there For
know he often visits at the house.
And Rachel smiled to herself, us she
crossed the rustic bridge and went through
the woods to the Tower, fantastic
wooden cottage with scmi-circular
front, which was let for the summer, the
owner thereof prcferring to live in
square brick structure in the village.
The little side door was open and
Rachel went in. From the left Of the
passageway, door opened into the
kitchen, and there, to her infinite amaze
ment, she saw Miss Alice Calhoun her
self, III an aesthetic dress of pale sage
green, and roses in her hair, contemplate
ing pair of dccapitated fowls which lay
on the table.
miss Alicia !" she exclaimed.
"Is it you, Rachel 2" exclaimed the
city young lady, bouncing on her, as
drowning man pounces on the nearest
floating straw. 30, | never was so
glad to see anybody in all my life
These horrid hens Bridget has gone
away in rage because | presumed to
find fault with the coffee, this morning,
and VIC have company to dinner, and /
haven't an idea how TO get the feathers
off these creatures. But now that you
are here, everything will be right p .
And she took of the big bib-apron,
and stepped back, with sigh of relief
Rachel looked porplexed. She had
come there, not TO enact tho role Of
kitchen maid, but 10 visit Miss Calhoun,
to sit in her drawing-room and enjoy the
conversation Of the guests, and she did
not exactly relish this summary dis
missal to the kitchen.
There il no soup stock" went on
Miss Alice, "and salad, and delicate
piece Of halibut, and with the fowls
roasted, and pie or pudding, or some
thing which ! dare say you can make,
we shall do very nicely. I'm particu-
larly anxious about the dinner, because
we are to have company You'll ex-
cusc me now, because | have 10 dress"
And away trippcd Miss Alice, selfish
and smiling rs ever was Queen Cleopa-
trn's self.
Poor Rachel! She stood minute
in the hot kitchen, the tears springiDg
to her eyes, paDg Of disappointment at
her heart. She knew all about il. Har-
old Haroldson aud Mr.. Dallas we're TO
dine there that day, and shc---she was
10 be cook, waitress, maid-of-all work
what signified it what she called herself?
She remembered what grandma had said
and for once in her life gave that vener-
able lady credit for discrimination.
There was no help for il, however. -
She tied on the bib-apron, tucked the
ourls back Of her cars, and went TO work
to prepare the chickens for the roasting
pan, now and then pausing TO brush away
the round bright tears which rolled down
her checks These young ladies evil
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