Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-12-14
KIyslHG THE COOK.
BY BERTHA BERToN.

I" Only for day. He Is on his way
to Boston. and will come, probably, on
the . 10 train this morning." Mr.. Leon
ard said, In reference to an expected
guest, rs he laid down the dispatch and
his glasses, and looked across the table.
just opposite him, aud behind the
coffee urn, sat Mia, his only daughter, q
girl with chestnut brown
hair and fair face.
His housekeeper, too, for his wife and
mother was sleeping beneath the will.
lows, and Mia did the honors of her
fathers house with q pretty and be-
witching grace.
A famous little housekeeper she was,
too, and the gray cottage from attic TO
cellar was model Of neatness and or.
der.
November weather made fires neces.
sity and comfort.
There was suspicion of snow In the
air that morning, and tho glowing
Goals in the open Crate made the little
breakfast room seem very cosy, while
not the least attractive feature of the
apartment was the bright young girl
who presided over 1t.
Mia arose from the table and pnt
away the breakfast things with alacri,y.
IL was eight o'clock, and there was 80
much she would like to do In that next
hour. She took much pride in her
housekeeping, and she did not care to
have a stranger see the rooms in disor
order.
She fitted about from room to room
while Betty, the little maid .of-all.w ork
washed the dishes.
Mr.. Leonard put on his overcoat.
will jues step down to the depot"
he said, and off he weni to meet the ex-
pected guest but as he went TO
meet the 8. 10 train, and Arthur West.
wood came in on the $50 express, of
course he missed him, and ten minutes
after her fathers departure ring OF
the bell sent Nita In haste to the door.
A huge kitchen apron was tied about
her slender waist, for she was Just
manipulating an immense feather
buster, and the exercise had sent q
vivid glow to her fair cheeks that made
her look most bewirching, ut least 30
thought the gentleman who stood on the
step, q stranger with small bag in his
hand, and an extra overcoat thrown
over his arm.
An agent, Miss Nita dubbed him in
her own mind, as she looked at him in
quiringly.
He wore glasses, and tawny mus
tache half concealed very handsome
mouth.
is Mr.. Leonard in 2" he asked hest.
tatinaly, and as though he expected an
To enter, which he did not
get.
And then to Nita's negative answer,
he replied that he would wait and she
was obliged to lead the way to the sit.
ting room. Still believing him to. be
an agent she resolved not TO be hindered
in her morning work, and she went on
with her busting.
The tops of the large picture frames
and the mirror were reached only by
standing on tiptoe, and she touched
very lightly the pretty oInaEents on the
mantel.
DO intent was she upon finishing her
wo:k before the arrival CT their guest,
that she did not realize how closely the
strangers fine gray eyes were watching
her def motions. But 1t was done at
last, and she was passing through the
hall when Mr.. Leonard returned.
The door was just ajar, and as her
father entered Mia exclaimed:
Where Ia he. father ?''
Didn't come; guess he missed the
train," and then the girl said in lower
tone: There 10 young man In the
sitting.ro waiting for you an agent,
I presume" and Mr.. Leonard opened
the door, prepared 70 bow him cut, for
no was rather averse to agents. But as
his eyes fell upon the young man who
sat by the window, he went forward
with extended hand.
arthur Westwood, how could
have missed you ?" he exclaimed cor
daily. ~ have been waiting q half
hour at the depot"
81 came on the $50 express" the
young gentleman replied, and then Mr..
Leonard called Nita, and the young
girl, with an added tint in her pretty
cheeks, came in. aud was formally in
troduced TO her fathers friend.
Then. after little time, Mr.. Leonard
sho wed his guest to his room, where he
could brush off the dust of travel and
take little needed repose, while Nita
took advantage of his temporary Alb
sence to make preparations for dinner.
Before the hour for that ueal arrived
the young housekeeper had exchanged
her cambria morning dress for tasty
and becoming suit OF navy blus cash
mere, Its rich tint harmonizing we'll
with her fair, clear skin and violet
eyes and when DR.. Arthur Westwood
made hts appearance he was thorough
ly refreshed and prepared to do justice
to Nita's DINER, which was decided
success, as the nicely Drowned roast,
the rich plum pudding and other in
dispeusables sttested, and he could
not be blamed for occasional sdmiring
chances ACROSS the table at his far
young hostess who could produce such
delicious culinary effects, nor for the
fit of abstraction in which he awk ward.
ly fastened Nita's small fingers be-
meath the cup of coffee that she passed
him, at which they both grew rosy
aud confused.
Have you located yet. DR.. West
wood?" asked Mr.. Leonsrd, quite i'm
pressed with the face that his old
friends son was really full-fedged
NJ d.
Yes, have bought place in the
town OF Glen wood--a lovely little home
though have never lived in it. 1
board ut hotel.
"Do you like that way of liviua?"
intsrrogated the old gentleman, with
privileged Familiarity.
No; that is, it Is better than living
alone, as should If I occupied nay own
cottage"
I" You know that it is not good for
man to live alone, Mr.. Leonard re-
marked, with o merry twinkle in his
eyes "a declaration to which DIR Yves +
wood assented, and he looked straight
at his pretty hostess as If to gauge
her opinion, but she was.just then too
much engrossed with her pudding to
even raise her eyes.
After dinner they repaired to the
parlor, and ct his special request Mia
favored the young doctor with Q song,