The Penn's Grove record., 1883-08-25

wear the mourning Harold would not
have wished it-and called at the adj
dress given. There was an appalling
ARA of women in the vestibule of the
large house which | entered. The SER
want seemed puzzled when she answered
my ring, as to what was until | said /;
81 came to answer your advertise
ment."
She understood, and seated me beside
a fat Irish woman, who looked upon my
diminutive figure with unmistakable
scorn.
One by n they went up stairs and
one by n they came down again.
Judging by their faces, the interviews
were not satisfactory. Feeling my
courage take flight, at length l assembled
the stairway and was ushered into the
presence of the lady of the house. She
was a handsome woman of 40, with a
look of WEAKNESS and vexation ON her
| face. Near the window in an easy
chair, sat a man of perhaps 80, whose
face indicated that he was recovering
from a severe illness.
An expression of surprise crossed
Mrs. Davidson's face as she asked
ibid you answer my advertisement
for a frst-class cook 2"
Eyes, ma'am," | repl ed. 81 think
could please you"
"But-I beg your pardon--you do
not look like a cook"
| felt my face flush as | answered
One need not be less of a lady be-
cause m is a cook"
NO" doubtfully. Have you ever
been in service 2"
mo, madam" answered "but
[ can give you testimonials as to eharac.
ter, and l should be glad to prove to
you that I can cook. Please do not
ihink,"I added eagerly, interpreting
the perplexed look on her face, ''that
because | was not born in that station
If life that shall expect to be treated
differently from any other servant.
Being compelled to earn my living, !
have chosen this in preference 10 any
other method. Will you look at my
etters ?" offering two or three.
She took them and crossing the room
gave one or two to the gentleman by
lie window, who had not seemingly
been listening TO the conversation.
Evidently the letters were satisfactory,
or after a few low-toned remarks,
Mrs, Davidson returned to me, saying +:
81 will try you. My nephew is just
recovering from a fever, and ! shall
want you to exert your utmost skill in
his behalf"
Ringing the bell she ordered the ssr-
want who answered, to take me to the
kitchen, adding /;
"You may tell whoever calls hereaf-
er that | have engaged a cook"
81 followed the girl to the kitchen,
md shortly after Mrs. Davidson APP
feared and gave orders for dinrer, In
forming me that l should have to as
sist in waiting upon the table when
there was company that my wages
would be $12 a month, and that she
would send the coachn an to my board
ing house that night for my trunk.
Then began a strange life for me,
yet | was not unhappy. / nfourned
my husband, | grieved over my aliena-
ton from my father but | gave salts.
faction to my employer, because !
could cook to perfection.
OF course l had no friends. The
other servants looked upon me as a
rdra aris, but / managed to ecure
their good will. By feeding my am
ployers well | gained their esteem al
50, and having been there six months,
Mrs Davidson one day told me that
she had never known what it was TO
live until / came to her. | did not
presume on my educate n, OF the fact
that l was a lady so if Mrs, Davidson
had felt doubtful, Is l know she did,
regarding the expediency Of employing
lady help" she had found her doubts
groundless. ! attended strictly TO my
work.
So the time passed until l had been
cook for a year. 1 had been required,
perhaps a dozen times, to serve the
dinner l had cooked, and those were
the only times / had seen the grey eyes
of Mr.. Temple Mis-. Davidson's
nephew--Who had entirely recovered
on the regimen of good food | had pre-
pared for him.
One day Mrs. Davidson came down
stairs and said
ssMrs. Howard, l am going to give
a dinner next Wednesday, and you
must do yoar best, for l expect a val
ued friend from the east, whom l espe-
cially wish to honor.n
| did my best, and the dinner served
at 8 O'Clock would have tempted a king.
When it was time / went in with
the cream, but l nearly dropped the
tray l carried, for at the right of the
hostess sat my IA her, Judge Dellaire.
Strong man that be vas, he grew white
to the lips as he spIaug to his feet, cry
ing
"Madge, Madge My daughter"
Cha uncey Temple, grasping the stu
alton more readily than the Others, took
| the Tray from luy hands, thereby saw
ing some lovely Dresden china from
destruction, and a moment iater ! was
crying in my fathers arms.
Mrs. Davidson behaved with the
utmost presence of mind. Turning to
the astonished guests she said, You
will excuse us for a few minutes" and