The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-10-12

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There's one thing sure" she thought,
Il won't tend store again, and won,
sew for living, and I won't be cooped
up in shop" The chances are mar
rowing fast. Suddenly came an idea.
'rll do it," said Molly; and what il
was, the advertiser told next morning
WANTED. by an American girl who is q
w good plain cook. situation to do house
work in a small family. Country preferred
Address NJ p. Advertiser Office. Boston.
Well. the answers fairly poured in. /,
seemed as though all womankind had
been waiting for "an American girl
who is n good plain cook but Molly
resolved to. be critical. and waited. In
the meantime, seeing that a way
was open, she dressed herself in
her best, and went shopping Saturday
afternoon. She chose to patronize Rush
X Crush, where her igh and mighty
airs gave unbounded satisfaction to the
clerks, with whom she was a favorite.
She sailed up to the print counter with
great dignity, turned the goods over,
pulled the corners crosswise. after the
fashion of women-shoppers, deprecated
the patterns, etc., but finally bought
print for three dresses, Bingham for
aprons, etc, to the amount of three dol
lars, and counted out with great majesty
three trade-dollarS.
''Oh, Molly. YOU know we can't take
them said the clerk Molly turned
to Mr.. Rush, who, sauntering along
with his eyes on the other side of the
store, was taking in the whole proceed
ing.
"Mr. Rush." she said. Il took these
here day before yesterday, and now the
clerk refuses them"
Mr.. Rush was grimly amused at her
audacitv, but instead of answering her.
turned to the grinning cash-boy in
waiting. and snapped: Cash. what are
You waiting for? Take the goods and
money this instant!'
The youthful Mercury disappeared
like spirit, and Molly felt somewhat
as her great-grandfather did at Con
cord.
Monday morning brought a letter
which seemed promising. and watch
read as follows:
wHEATFIELDS, y. H., June ..
Miss VI. P.-We need a domestic. and pre-
fer one of our own nation. The family con-
siSts of myse and wife and hire,i man. Ny
wife Is feeble, and the domestic would have
to take charge of everything. We would pay
three dollars week to the right person. III
you feel capable for the place and can bring
a recommen 1ation, we should like 10 have you
come "a soon rs possible
Then followed some directions about
trains, and the whole was signed in
plain. homely fashion, Yours, Bethuel
Harlow
Wife feeble" unused Molly: well.
she won't BE- pokiug RUM the kitchen
all the time (anothec flash of the Con-
cosd spiri). "Dom st c, not "Serv-
ant" or .'hired girl That suited
The result was ma. few days later
Molly. armed with 4 Litter from her
minister. was set down. the on Y passen-
ger. at Wheattields Station.
Squire Harlow. waiting for the en-
pected good plain cook, was sm.tten
with great nisgtvings at the sight of the
stylish young lady. for to his eyes. ac-
cuStomed To the dress of WheatfieldS
daughters. the simple gray suit with its
graceful drapery seemed the height of
elegance, and he was not treasured by
the question of the station agent: Got
company from the city. amt yea" But
it was too late to retreat. and soon old
Dan'l was pulling them steadily toward
home. The squire said little. but
glanced at the girl occasionally from
under his shaggy eyebrows. 1t was a
fair. honest face. which freshened with
every mile in the sweet evening air. and
the gray ewes took in everything. from
the chipmunk on the wall to the locust
trees with their fragrant, dropping clus-
tiers.
WANT a piece" said the squire. as
they drove under one. Her face was
answer enough; and stopping old Dan'l.
the good man Gu: a custer and dropped
it in rlap. She thriftily took off hernew
li>le-thread gloves to take it, showing
hands so white that the squire groaned
internally. Those hands wash his dishes
and scrub his floors? Was this Young
lady. who was prettier and better
dressed than any girl in Wheatfields.
his domestic? He shook his head
slightly, chewing a bit of the locust.
Molly ventured a few questions about
the family. and heard the story of what
was alwsks uppermost in the squire
story of the lost daughter
Mary. one of the victims of New En-
glands scourge. who had faded away
three years before, since when Miss
Harlow had sorter pined.' 1t was a
pathetic little story, told in the laconic
New England way, but the brown knot
ty hands worked unsteadily on the reins,
and the squire's eyes had a PARKWAY
look, as though toward the county
which held his Mary.
Presently they drove up to a comfort
able house, with an air of plenty about
the large barn and wide porch. over
which grew white lilac. Molly found
her mistress little woman with faded.
gentle eyes. and soft. slow voice She
looked at the girl kindly. and held out
her hand After giving her few direc-
tons. and telling her where to find
things, she added to her husband: Tell
John to carry her trunk to the east cham
ber." This apparently was something
for the squire opened hi.
mouth as though to say something, but
being man of few words, shut it again,
and went out.
Molly, following her trunk. found her
self in small room, with bright rag
carpet on the floor. white curtains
looped away at the window, homemade
linen towels with knctted fringe on the
little table. an Old-fashioned chest of
drawers. and low four-postad bed
With valance and patchwork counter
pane. The room was neat, but had
IN unused look. and Molly wondered if
he tribe of girls of which the squire
lad made mention had marched through
t; but, too tired to think long. she un-
packed her small wardrobe. said her
prayers, and knew nothing more until
when a thrilling of birds and
| ray of sunshine on her face woke her
l. L