The Washington critic., 1886-09-03
MRS. DlGHTON'S TROUBLES.

OF Madgie's girl friends approved OF 1t,
but, as she said, that reminded one of
the story Of the fox and the grapes
What was far worse Gerald
Dighton's aunt Regina didn't approve
of 1t, either.
"What under the SUM-" said she,
possessed my nephew, who has re-
sided all his life under my roof, where
he had every luxury, to leave 1t to live
in boarding house with chit of
girl with long cye-lashes and pale
face ] cannot see.
Others smiled indulgently, but Mrs.
Regina Moore was sincerely offended
with her nephew.
81 chose n wife for you years ago,
Gerald" she said. "If you did not
like Mary Ann Hopkins, well and
good; l never should have quarrelcd
with you for Mot. certainly do not
want to part with you, But to marry
wax doll, n school girl with curls
and white neutrality-suspicious.
never shall overlook il in you, Ger
aldr'
How very unhappy people can be
made by those they lovel There was
sore spot in Gerald Dighton' heart
in the very hour of his marriage,
caused by this estrangemcnt, aul
Aunt Regina, though she appeared 50
proud and obdurltc, was secretly
broken hearted.
They were to board the first year.
Gerald's business as architect gave
them fair income. They would have
been very comfortable, but that Gerald
bad Income habiluated to Aunt
Regina's excellent housekeeping, and
found boarding house life vastly
inferior.
IF ] was without the sonse of taste
and possessed the digestion of an
ostrich" he told Madgie, lit would all
be very well; but it isn't the case. 50
let us 70 TO housekeeping.
you would like 1t better, wouldn't
you, GeraldY' Madgc said. Could
we-do you think we could get good
girl p
"Oh, yes Nothing easier. Aunt
Regina always has the best of ser.
wants"
Blind little Madgiel She entered
willingly into the scheme.
She entered with enthusiasm into the
work Of finding suitable suite Of
rooms, and she and Gerald, in furnish.
ing and arranging 1t, were as merry as
children planning dollhouse. Gerald
secured some nice Vienna bread Of
popular baker, and Madgie boiled the
eggs by the clock, and was sure the tea
was hot so that they breakfasted very
well, and Gerald departed for his office,
promising ''to send girl right up from
the intelligence Office"
''l'm first class cook, ma am, an l
knCws me value | can get a good
place at So q week inny time. But |
does no other work. If ye has me ye
have to get a pantry girl"
NO" said Madgie, firmly, tri1e
indignant, and the smart young woman
departed.
Poor Gerald Driven by hunger,
he rushed to the grocer's the next
morning before breakfast and secured
a can of corned beef and package of
chocolate. of which he ate and drank
ravenously though Madgie, in her in
experience, had not boiled the choco-
late enough, and globules of solder
were found In the beef.
"Ill go right down to the intell-
gence office, Madgte. aud beat some in
teligence into their heads" he said.
oven get decent girl to-day, | am
sure"
But the decent girl" like the com.
ing woman, was yet TO be. Gerald
was concerned, but helpless. Most of
the time he was, too, very hungry.
But in the main, plying Madgie, VINO
was bravely, in spite of all, doing her
best, he was very patient.
After long tribulutions Madgie hal
settled upon Nova Scotia girl named
Julia, who was trim and tidy, and
could cook meats and vegetables, but
who knew nothing about pastry cook.
ing-so Mudgie had come to the con
clusiOn that she must learn to make
pies and cakes.
Her custard pies, by some strange
perversity of their nature, presented
their crusts on top. Madgie cooked
and cooked, and nearly cried her eyes
out
One morning the cream biscuit were
light and the gingerbread tender, and
these, with cold chicken and toasted
potatoes, made very good breakfast.
Gerald said the coffee was nice (Niadgic
had grown haggard learning to make
good coffee, and rose up apparetly sat
istied. Meditating, as he lighted his
cigar, on the one table that was always
perfect, Madgic imagined, he voluu-
tCered the remark, Cream cakes are
nice for tea," and went about his bust,
ness.
"l'll make some" thought Madgio.
whose courage was high at the mo
mCnt.
AS soon as she had watorei her
plants aud busted the pnrlor she ran to
the kitchen and read the recipe: "One-
half pint Of cold water, into which rub
smooth six ounces OF flour; put into Il
spider with four ounces of butter; cook
slowly, stirring continually; cool; add
four eggs; beat well; drop in table.
spOoniuls in buttered tin and bake
Cool up on brown paper as quickly rs
possible, to prevent sweating, Open at
the side and fill the hollow centre
with cream made" etc.
With the greatest care she mixed
and stirred and slowed, nearly burning
oil the long cyelashes Aunt Regina de.
cl0red Gerald had married her for
Madgie was irtle near sighted and
at last buttered her tins, dropped the
dough upon them, and placed them in
the oven.
After ten minutes anxious waiting
Madpic opened the oven door to behold
the tins filed with beautifully brown
ing pulls, She drew them out, turned
them around that they might finish
browning evenly, and closed the oven
door with Iln cNultant slam.
In five minutes she looked at hel
cakes again, when, oh, strange meta
morphosis they had utterly lost their
brave appearance and lay shruken to
half tlpir prpyiOuS size
"llow dreadfully fiat they do look, u
muscd MOdGle But perhaps the
cream will fill them up and make them
plump again" But II wouldn't.
,NI lar urn thDonY'' ocbnI E.rolJ a