The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-11-07

oncol No.. rs and ~ Fourteenth street.
THE COOKS DOUBLE.

The UOOA'S DUUBLE.
Jonathan Savage, having bought house
ont Of town, and onfortably established
himself and family therein, found himself
in want Of cook.
A young girl applied for the situation.
When questioned by her new mistress,
the girl proved respectful and apparently
capable.
She stated that she had been brought
up as cook.
She gave her name as Peggy, and de-
clared herself anxious to suit.
And having given satisfactory answers
to all interrogatories, she took her way to
the kitchen. where she set herself zeal
ously to work without delay.
"a perfect treasure" Mrs. Savage de-
Enthusiastically perfect treasure"
There was no cause 10 change their
opinion the next day, nor the next.
On the third night, however, Mr.. Saw
age was surprised, on alighting from the
train, to see Peggy in the black straw hat
and waterproof cloak standing on the plat.
form.
He addressed her, but she did not
answer him.
And he hastened home, wondering
what had happened that the treasure"
should have been dismissed 80 suddenly.
To his surprise, Peggy opened the door
for him.
"Well, Peggy, you must have walked
fast to get here before me" he said pleas
antly.
Peggy made a courtesy. but said moth
ing.
II saw you at the station, didn't q"
said Mr.. Savage.
"Please, sir, l don't know" said Peggy.
you've been thefe?"
"Not to my kno Wedge, sir"
"Her way OF baing polite and leaving it
all TO me, said Mr.. Savage to himself.
But though he discovered that Peggy
had not left the house all day he could
scarcely believe that he had not seen her.
That very evening another very odd
thing happened.
Little Thomas Savage, going to look for
u bSbs SAAAShtAit thA4E AL mith y btot j.
II thought saw ghost, mother" he
said. at was standing by the well, look
ing ever so funny; but just as was going
to run | saw il vas Peggy, all wrapped up
in something"
peggy has been standing just there
chopplng meat ever sinca you went out"
said his mother, pointing to the kitchen
door.
1t was no more Peggy than it was
ghost, but the boy persisted in his state
ment.
lie was SO obstinate, indeed, that he was
sent to bed in some disgrace Tor contfa-
dieting his mother.
Mr.. Savage slept late next morning, and
was aroused By the breakfast bell.
As he hurried down stairs consulting
bis watch, he saw the door OF the servants
room, which opened on the stairs-the
room being built over the. kitchen-stand-
ing slightly ajGr,
And as he looked, dark face, encircled
by night cap, peered out, aud hand,
with white hill about it, pushed i to.
Peggy's tec., Peggy's hand, without
doubI. ~.
Had to get breakfast you'salt my
dsar?" sud Mr.. Savage, as he took. his
seat at the table. 80
"Oh, no." replied his wife. "Why did
you think SOP"
"And at that moment Peggy, in her or
binary dress, walked into the room with
plate in her hand.
singular" said Mr.. Savage to himself
but made no further explanation.
1t was mouth since Peggy's entrance
into the family, and she had given every
satisfaction.
Still, it was plain to be seen that some
thing was the matter.
Mics Olivia had come to reside with
them, aad every one was well, but Mrs.
Savage looked 81 Xious.
So did her sister.
So a!sO did Mr.. Savage.
The ladies exchanged mysterious gIances
with each other, and the gentleman often
shook his head warningly at his eldest
boy, when he had Just opened his lips to
say something.
Mr.. Savage often asked his wife what
could trouble her, and she frequently said:
"Why are you so serious, my dear"
At last Olivia vas found in Mysteries in
the hall, and matters grew too serious TO
be kept quiet any longer.
II must know what it il" said Mrs.
Savage.
"Dyn't tell him, !" sobbed Olivia.
81 don't see whyyou should be ashamed
OF il" said Mrs. Savage, You can't help
it. It's nerves, I suppose. We'd better
send for DOCTOR"
"I'm not nervous" sobbed Olivia. "Oh,
dear, dear, dear"
There, now" said Mrs. Savage. 81 de-
clare can't bear it any longer. Ny dear,
poor LiVy has taken to ghost seeing, and
she's 80 affected me that really have i'm.
agined something Of the sort myself. She
sees woman ex:ctly like Peggy over and
over again, when Peggy is somewhere else,
TO my certain knowledge, and I've seen
the same thing twice. It'san optical illu-
sion, presume; I've read Of such things"
Mr.. Savage turned pale.
"My dear girls" said he, Thomas is as
bad IS you are. I've been threatening to
aNg the poor fellow il he frightened you
with his stories; but he sees Peggy in the
garden, in the meadow-here, there,
everywhere. And he speaks TO her, and
she does not answer. And then he runs
home and ands her in the kitchen, or
where not, and naturally feels oddly about
it. l myself have seen the same thing
twice"
"You have!" cried Ms. Savage.
"Youl" screamed Olivia. "0h, I'm 80
thankful! I'm not crazy, them"
"Oh, dear. no." said Mr.. ssvage-"oh,
dear, no. You see 1t is becoming plain to
me that a certain old superstition Of which
l have read is founded on fact. You've
heard OF people who had doubles. Peggy
evidently has double. The wrath does
not speak, you say. This comedies with
all the stories on the subject. Yes, that's
the solution OF the mystery. Peggy has
a double"
"But We can't keep such mysterious
girl about the house. It's liks hiring a
ghost" said Mrs. Savage.
Suppose we talk to Peggy ?" said Mr..
Savage.
The proposition met with favor.
Peggy was sent for, and came at once.
FaNw II IL