St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-20
CAKES AND ALE FOR TWO
From the Great, Breezy Kitchen 10
be Belle of the Parlor.


way over the snow-white floor.
Bees buzzed in the clover blossoms out
side, and the robin redbreast when nao
built its nest in the tall poplar tree near the
kitchen window was rehearSlng Tor grand
concert.
Hannah's dark, piquant face was fun OF
discomfort as she mixed he. pastry ana
rolled it out, working away as though her
life depended upon her efforts.
s'Pm tired % she burst forth, impetuously,
though whom she was addressing IL was ail-
ficuIt to tell, for she was all alone IN the
great. breezy Kitchen tired of this drudg-
ery and confinement So little time TOR
study and to write. Yet l know that II L
had only the leisure I could make money
enough, writing for story papers, to help
father great deal! 7"
''Ha ha ~ :,
The laugh. which rang out sweet and sill
very in the doorway was sarcastic and sung
ing.
Hannah closed the oven door on her pies
with bang, and turned to lace the III
truder.
lovely. blonde vision greeted her eyes
"a girl of IS. attired in floating white mus
lin. with cardinal ribbons, one moss rose in
her braidS of golden hair and another last
ening the lace at her white throat.
''Listen !" cried the merry voice. Come,
mamma. and hear Hannah, the Kitchen
girl. lecture on a woman'S rights, becoming
an authOreSS and making money-actually
fortune-writing for the press Oh, It's
too funny for anything! Hannah, the
cook, an authOresS ~
Hannah NIeade's slim figure was drawn
up proudly to its full height, her clear eyes
flashed, her red lips curled.
Kitchen girl, cook p she repeated.
s'Belle West, who made house-drudge OF
me but your mother l was happy here
with papa. and never had to work until he,
Door, old man, was foolish enough to take
a second wife. On the day that he married
your own mother, the Widow West, and
on she came here to live, our servant was
smissed, and l was installed in her place.
le burden of the household is laid upon
ny shoulders that you may keep your hands
-hite, and pass your time angling for
Oh husband"
Flush how dare you speak to my
daugter in that coarse manner ?"
A tall. angular woman, in a tawdry wrap
per. sailed into the kitchen.
s'Pn teach you to air your insolence
here!"
And she struck the astonished girl heavy
blow upon the cheek.
For moment Hannah stood too bewil-
dered to utter word, the red blood GRIM
soning her cheek and marking the spot
where her step-mother's insult had fallen.
With the majesty of an outraged empress
she turned to leave the room.
Mrs. Meade" she said, in a low, clear
tone, which somewhat made the irate step
mother pause, 81 am going to leave this
house. First, I shall see my father and tell
him of this outrage, and then am going
away You can procure another servant in
my place, and your daughter will have no
one to comment on her strenuous effort to
marry Mr.. RaynorW
s.As if ever tried.' she began, indig-
nantly.
But Hannah did not wait to hear more;
she walked quietly from the room and
sought her father.
''There, mother" cried Belle, as soon as
the two were alone, ''see what you have
done. Hannah will go away and you will
have to get servant, which will make an
extra hole in our spending money, and
tell you have to put forth every effort if I
ever expect to win Ernest Raynor."
ssYou shall win him p returned the
mother decidedly. 'sHe is rich, and there
is not another such party to be had. Do
your best, Belle, and be glad that we are
safely rid of that girl. To tell the truth 1
have fancied lately that Mr.. Raynor admired
her,"
Mother, you are mistaken! What an
idea !"
mo; I am sure am correct You ought
to see him look at her. Well, run and get
your hat now. 1t is quite time for him to
be here, if he is coming to take you to the
picnic"
Hardly had the two left the kitchen when
tall, graceful form arose from bench
under the poplar tree, man with scorn-
full look upon his handsome face.
s'By Jove p he exclaimed, Indignantly,
81 know Belle West as she is at last. So
she's trying to catch my fortune? It'slucly
that old Farmer Meade brought me out
here where might find cool spot to smoke
my cigar, while Miss Belle prepared for the
picnic. I suppose l must make martyr of
myself and attend her, but thank heaven
my eyes are open at last! Poor little Han
nah p'
In the meantime Hannah had found her
father and told him all, and that she was
going away-going to earn her own living
by writing for the press. Then she showed
him the pretty little sketches which she had
written from time to time, and the crisp
bank notes which she had received as
compensation therefor, and which she had
hidden carefully away for such an emer-
gency as this. Her father saw that she was
right, so.he consented to let her go to the
city of T, some twenty miles distant;
to the home Of distant relative, where, for
reasonable sum, she could procure board,
and be able to devote her time to the cult
walton of the talent which God had given
her.
Hannahtpacked her small wardrobe, and
her father placed her on board the train, and
like the heroes of old, she went forth ''to
seek her fortune"
Time passed, and under the modest nom
de plume Of Memo" Hannah Meade was
earning both fame and fortune. She was
pleasantly situated In the town of T,
and her father came sometimes to see her,
but the stepmother and sister did not dream
that the poor kitchen girl and the popular
young authoreSS were one and the same
person. Mr.. Raynor still called OCCASION
ally upon Belle; yet, though he called still
more frequently, when in T, upon the
authoress he never mentioned that fact to
Belle West, and the name of Hannah
Meade never passed his lips.
One evening he sat listening to Bellies
silly nothings, for she was one of those
women not infreQuently encountered, who
can express the least ideas with the most
words, when suddenly he turned his hand
some, dark eyes gravely upon her pretty,
insipid tace.
miss Belle" he began, earnestly, ST
want to tell you something very near my
heart"
She blushed, or tried to, and her head
dropped, for she knew that he was going to
propose.
''What is it ?" she asked, softly, wonder
ing meanwhile if it would not be more eff
fective for her to faint as soon as the longed-
for words should be spoken.
,4oI 10 toll l.