The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-12-08
MAID Or ALL WORK.

Rachel Ramsay looked very pretty
indeed, as she came down the narrow
wooden staircase in the brown little
farm house TINT afternoon, dressed Ill a
white muslin dress strewn all over with
tiny rosebuds and fresh lace frill
around her neck, tied wita piuk rib
bon, while her pretty feet wre but.
toned iuto a new pair of boots, with
high French heels, and her halr was
curled III loose, glossy coils OF shining
bropze,,
'Eul so,d Granny r Jay, looking
up from her everlasting knitting-work,
over which she was half asleep, ''going
to chul Gu. he. p
''lt isn't Sunday, grandma, Explained
the girl. laughing and colorng. I'm
going to the Tower to s,e Miss Cal
houn. She has often invited me there
she ami Miss Bell"
''PshawI" said Granny Ramsay, who
was ono of those venerable people
privileged to speak their minds Oh all
occasioL ''what do the fine city ladies
at the Tower want Of Il farmers daught.
or like yuu?'
But, grandma. they invited MEL
cit reminds me- said grandma,
slr' wdly, ''of the story of the iron pot
and the CHINA pot swimming down the
RIVER together, and they didn't nowise
suit"
R..chcl SAID no more, but escaped
into the shady lane, where the naples
were beginning to turn yellow in the
first September frosts.
''Gfnnhma y ,Jways critioizing every
body" sho thought. II know the ladies
ut 1n l,n l,-1
Miss Alice wants to sketch my head for
'Elnne,' and Miss Bill asked me to
sing duet with her. She said I lad a
voice like iu,k. Aud perhaps Harold
Hnroldson will be thercl For / Know
he often visits the house."
And Rachel smiled 10 herself as she
crossed the rustic bridge and wen,
through the woodi to the Tower, a fan
tastic wooden cottage, with a semi-
circular front. viii I'll was let for the
summer, the owner preferrlns to live in
square. brick structure in the village.
The htt.e side door was opon and
II .chei went in. From the lett of the
passage way there was n door winch
opelicd into the Kitchen, anu there. to
her Infinite amazement, she saw Miss
Anca Calhoun herself, in an esthetlc
her ilafr, contemplating pair of de-.
oapiInted fowls wbioh lay on the table.
miss A'ioe!' she exclaimed.
"Is that you, Rachol9" cried the oity
young lady, pouncirg on her, rs II
drowning ,uan pounocs on the nearest
floating strfW. ''Oh, I never was 30
glad to see anybody III all my hfel
Those horrid hensI Bridget has gone
n I
tlnd fault with the coffee this morning,
and W. have got company to dinner,
and haven't an idea how to get the
that you are here, everything will be
all right" q
And she shook off the big bib apron
and stepped back with Sigh Of relief.
R"chel looked perplexed, She had
had come there. hot to enact the role Of
t, o kitchen mail, but to visit Miss Oal-
heuh, TO sit i'll her drawing. room and
enjoy tie conversation of her gueats,
and she did not xactly relish this sum-
mary dismissal to the kitchen.
''Thtre is soup stock, "twent on Miss
Alice, land a salad, and a delicate piece
OF hal!but, and with the fowls roasted,
and pie or pudding, or something
which / dare say you oan make, we
shall do very nicely. I'm particularly
anxious abont tho dinner, because we
are 10 have company. You'll excuse IL G
now, because have to dress"
And away tripped Miss Alice, self III
and smiling as ever was Queen Cleo
patra's self.
r. or RACHEL she stood a minute in
the hot kitcheu. the tears sprang to her
eyes, q pang Of disappointment at hel
heart. She k"ew all about it. Haroli /
Haroldson and Mr.. Dallas were to dine
there that day, and slIe--~she was to be
cook, waltz ess, maid of all work--what
signitiod it what she called herself. She
remembt rod what grandma had snid,
and foi once in her life g I'VE that venera.
Die old lady credit tor discrimination.
There was 10 help for it, however
She tried Oh the bib apron, tucked the
o,irls Task Of her ears, pnd went to
wurk to prepare the chickens for the
roas,lng pan, NOW and then pausing tc
brush away tho round. bright ieart
~heh rolleu down her cheeks.
Tine SpunR mdi 8 evidently intended
to make her nAeful. Sne might have
known TINT they dld beforehand. She
COULD hear tho soft sound Of Bell Cal
honn's guitar; tho sweet subdued tinkle
Of Alce's laughter, the deep monoton
Gus undercurrent of gentlemen's voices
aid then she glanced down at her pret
ty muslin dress and bows of pink RIB
bon. and began to think that Miss Oul
houn had taken en unfair advantage O.
her.
II she could only have heard the rapit