The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-04-25
A GOOD COOK.
How . Gentleman Arose Early and Sur
 prised hia Wife.

Early at morning Colonel Harvey Bas- com awoke and lay for time in the contemplation of his coming days work. He remembered that the cook had gone away on an excursion and that during her absence the culinary work would de- volve upon Mrs. Bascom.
 "l used to be a 6rst-rate cook when was boy" the Colonel unused. "Be- lieve I'll quietly slip out and get break fast When she awaixes and fluids every thing ready, shs'l! ;ssi :ha. GFea, bur den has been lifted from her shoulders, for she does hate to cook. We'll, don't blame her any. If loouldnt cook any better than she can would hate it, too"
 The colonel quietly slipped out and kindled fire in the kitchen stove. He was not like old Darby. He did DO. se; his hands stuck up with dough, neither did he allow pig to come iu and upset the churn, but with smoothly working system, he prepared breakfast.
 "Come, Mary" said the colonel, enter ing his wife's rom. "Come, it is time to get up."
 "Oh, dear," yawned Mrs. Bascom. q do hate to go out into that old kitchen"
 The colonel laughed. "Why, Mary" said he, while his face beamed brightly, "breakfast is all ready"
 "What, has the cook come back?"
 "No; got breakfast myself"
 "You did2"
 CT did"
 "I didn't know that you could cook"
 "I knew 1t. Hustle on you clothes and come on. must be getting down town"
 When they entered the dining room, Mrs. Bascom was amazed. A steaming dish of scrambled eggs, occupying a central position, was particularly At- tractive; and, as an alluring adjunct to the feast, broiled steak pcrfumed the air.
 "You are the smartest thing ever saw," Mrs. Bascom declared.
 The colonel was pleased. He was tickled. The sounds of praise fell with sweet cadence upon his ears. He turned to wash basin and was bathing his face when Mrs Bascom, in a tone of alarm said
 @Look here, didn't you wash your face and hands before you got breakfas, P
 "Of course did, Mary"
 Of course he did not, but it would not do to acknowledge the omission.
 "Colonel, l don't believe you did"
 Mary, now why do you want to dis pute my word2"
 But if you washed your hands once this morning, why do you wash again? l have never before known you to be so particular"
 Well, that's all right. Let's not argue about it 1 may not waste as much water as some people do, but have never bean arrested by the sanitary policeman"
 "I never did have any confidence in the cleanliness of man. You wouldn't put on a clean shin more than once in two weeks if didn't keep nagging at !yen."
 @Thst's got nothing to do with this breakfast don't know that ever cooked one of my shirts. HAp yous- self"
 Mrs. Bascom vas not thoroughly satis- fed. She never questioned the sanitary condition of the negro cook, although the cook was as black and greasy as a primitive wash-pot, but woman-iiks, and very naturally, too. she suspected the colonel.
 @This is what call cof5ee, Mary. The man who beats me making coffee must | get cut of bed before the roesters begin l to crow, and even then, if he don't mind, I'll stay up all night and beat him any how.n
 Mrs. Bascom helped herseifto spoon ful of egg. -I know these eggs arc good for broke them in the pan last night. In the matter Of eggs, risk no judgment but my own. Bah my goodness, colo nel."
 What's the matterr
 Tha: a:d you do to the eggs"
 Cooked them. Of course you have to find fault" He took mouthful of egg. His jaw dropped. "They do taste sor- ter curious, he admitted.
 "What did you fry them in P |