Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-04-20

to whisper one OF her uncle 3 messages to
the stylish young woman behind the coun-
ter, when q servant.girl hurried in and
emptied about peck Of little. fiat, brown
cakes on the glass top of the showcase.
Mr.. Lilburne's compliments, miss"
said she land they're trash r. ~
What said the shopwoman.
Lilburne's compliments ). and
they're trash ~ repeated the maid: Gle
said they wasn't ginger-snaps at alt; they
was only lard and molasses. He wanted
the kind his mother used to bake Of Satur-
day mornings. The very first one be tast-
ed he threw on the floor"
well" remarked the shorwoman, toss
ing her head. IF cur ainger-snaps don't
suit the gentleman, then it's Impossible to
suit him. That's all -
He's been sick, you know" said the
maid=servant, alphabetically. And he's
just getting bettef, and his appetite g
dreadful uncertain, and Mrs. fuaslsk-
my missus-she thought she was sure to
tempt him with these ERE. "Ginger-
snaps!" said he. Just what I've been
a-longln' for. My mother uspd to bake
EN- for me. when was child. Yes. Mrs.
Pugsley.' said he, you may order 'em for
me- But" with mild sigh, "missus
might ha' known they wouldn't suit.
Nothin' suits when gentleman's just
off sick bed"
us it Mr.. Lilburne ?" said Mary. "Oh,
remember him. He came here once, and
went to sleep while EdeIgiths was sing
ing, oh. Summer NishtP liked him.
He talked to me about the country. He
knew all about calves and chickens, and
cranberry swamps and robins NESTS. Does
he like ginger-snaps I'll make some for
him. know an old-fashioned receipt that
is always good. Come here tomorrow, my
good girl" to the maid, "and I'll have
some ready for you. Poor Mr.. LilDurne |!
Pm sorry he's sick p
The smart shopwoman stared as super
ciliously as Liszt or Chopin might have
done If village bugler had volunteered
to teach them the first principles of music.
A country-girl like that. expect to. com.
pete with "Biggs' Celebrated Bakery -
Well, really, the shopwoman didn It know
what the world was coming to.
But little Polly hurried down stairs az ain
to where Mr.. Biggs. all powdered with
-four. was laying down the law to some Of
tis satellites.
"Ginger, my dear ?" said he. sand
four? What you like-what you like As
was telling you, johnson. a barrel of
prime flour has to be humored. You can't
drive it. Flour is nour and must be han
died accordingly"
Mr.. Leonidas Lilburne, stalking uneasi-
ly about his sick-room. and anathematiz-
ing the sluggish current Of the hours. was
secretly making up his mind to get mar
ried
''Ater man has once been sick in a
boarding house" he said to himself, 'he's
fool if he don't look around FOR home
of his own. am forty next month. It's
high time was thinking Of settling in
life-Eh, who's therer 20
"It's me. sir, please!' said Mrs. Pugs-
ley-"with some ginger-snaps."
.Pshaw.!" said Mr.. Lilburne. "Fling
'em out of the window! Give 'em to the
dogs I don't want any more OF your city
humbugs !"
"But please, Sit, these are quite differ
ent!" Mrs. Pugsley coaxed-'made by a
young woman from the country, as works
in Mr.. Biggs' bakery. And was to ask i,
would you be so very good as only to taste
'em ?'
Lob, yes, 1 II taste them p said Mr.. Lii.
iburne, sarcastically. "It'sno trouble to
poison myself. just to oblige peoplel"
And Mrs. Pugsley, entering with an ap-
prehensive air, put the plate of round,
golden -cakelets on the table.
81 really think, SIR said she. "if you
would only taste them
Hum ha !" said Mr.. Lilburne. "These
are quite a different article! These are
the kind my old mother used to turn out !
They're ambrosia food for the
gods Who made them, say ?"
Ill don't know, sir, I'm sure" said
Mrs Pugsley, rather discounted by this
direct address. ''Some young person in
Mr. Biggs's bakery"
"Order carriage |" said Mr.. Lilburne
-'tand bring me my sable-trimmed over
coat at once I'll 60 and see that young
woman. | don't believe there is another
person on the American continent that
can make ginger-snaps like these, now that
my poor old mother is buried !"
Mary Biggs came, laughing, up from
the subterra mean deep of Bi0gs' bakery.
"Oh, yes, Mr.. Lilburne." said she. II
made the snapsl Don't you remember me
-Edelgitha's cousin p
S"But what are you doing down here ?"
demanded Mr.. Lllburne, in some amaze
ment.
Earning my own living" Polly prompt-
ly answered. "And they told me you didn't
like the store snaps, so l baked some after
my grandmother's old receipt"
4 Mr.. Lilburne looked at Polly with the
respect due to a maker Ut Incompatible
ginger snaps, mingled with chivalrous pity
for desolate maiden.
,'"Miss Pollv," said he-''that was what
they called you, wasn't it ?"
Eyes," said Polly. "that's my name"
"Perhaps I ought to warn you that I'm
going to be little abrupt" said he "but