Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-12-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Old Cooks Story.

ANSS liza SAlSiIl lOl lCl IL
until the end of my days. And oh!
but that was a wild one, and wet
one, and cruel day for master to be
travelling, as he was; and not in one
of your comfortable cars, where you
don't know whether it's shining or
pouring, but in his own little gig.
You see; master was a doctor. and
when he was sent for he must go, and
this was case that was very danger
Gus, and he must stay away all night,
and only mistress and me in the house,
and more money in it than ever was
there before. For, you see, Master
Mullins, that was uperintending the
new works, had come down to pay the
hands. He had travelled, armed, for
many and many mile, and he ar
rived, as you may say, a day too soon
that is, it was Friday. and Satur-
day was to be pay day, of course.
= want to go to see my old mother
in her bit of a cottage on the lonely
road" said Master Mullins to the
doctor, "a and that little house is no
place for sum that many n man has
been murdered for. If l leave it
here no one will know it. Yours is
the best secured house anywhere for
miles, and it will be off my mind;"
and the doctor had shown him where
to put it. And he had gone off, to see
the old mother-and now off was the
doctor himself. And we women, my
mistress aud myself alone. To be
sure, the big stone house was so we'll
locked and barred that it was next to
impossible that any one could get in.
and there was no knowledge of any
thing more than usually valuable
being there, so far rs we knew. But,
somehow, my heart was in n flutter.
Maybe my mistress felt as | did, for
she came and sat in the kitchen with
me with her knitting, and told me l
must come and sleep in the little
room off hers that night.
That was Mt 4, and l remember how
dark it was as the long clock began
to whirr as it always did before strik-
ing, and then counted the hour out
like so many pennies. And just as it
stopped there came knock at the
door.
went to open it, and there were
two men with a wagon, and in the
wagon n long bundle Of. something
sewed up in cloth.
81 DR.. James live here?" says one
of the men.
&" He does" says I. Giles my
MASTER"
Then" says the man, here's 4
bundle for him."
"BIess us! it's big enough, +" saysI.
st is" said he. ''Well, let's in
with it, old lady. Wen put it in the
corner of the hall. And your master
left particular directions that it was
not to be opened until he came. It's
something that might be very much
hurt if it wasn't opened right" says
he-"a sort of surprise for your
mistress"
"Well," says 1, "Tn tell her
what was said. And when did you
sec master?'
CAT 9 this morning" says he.
" And what's in the bundle|" says
81 don't know" says he. "The
doctor was too wet to talk much. He
was at -;" he named town the
doctor was to ride through.
4" But he was particular it shouldn't t
be opened until he came" said the
man. :" 1 was to tell the lady that,
with his love"
Very WE'LL" says I, "I'n tell
herr and away he went, and took
the tea into the parIor and told my
mistress what had happened, and she
fell to wondering what it could be-
"A roll of new curtain silk, perhaps, :"
says she.
"It's too heavy for that" says I.
GA pair of mirrors" says she.
It's too round for that" says 1.
Then tell you it's the Turkey
carpet I've wanted for the parlor this
twelve month";" says she; for in
those days the Turkey carpet was the
kind they most thought of.
Il think it is that, ma'am," says 1.
So we talked it over. Servants
lived long while with ladies in those
days, and were more thought of than
they are now, and my mistress never
made me feel as if / had no right to
say word to her of what was in my
mind; and after tea was over she
went out into the hall to look at the
bundle. and held the light before
her. :! 1t can't be anything but the
carpet, says she, and she went close
to it and put her hand on it. 1 saw
her turn quite pale as she did so.
% Yes, it's the carpet" said she,
let's go in; it's chilly"
Then she drew me back into the
parlor, and when we were inside the
door, locked it, and put her hand
over my mouth.
Don't speak or scream, whatever
you think said she. ''Ifwe wanted
help now, how long would it take US
to get it?''
. Three-quarters of an hour" said
"Then we must help ourselves, :"