Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-05
A KITCHEN ROMANCE.

Mrs. Loring wanted a cook, and was
talking with young Swedish woman
with view to engaging her. The neceS-
sary questions and answers had been eX-
changed, and everything seemed satisfac-
tory; but the girl still stood as if hesi-
tating, lingering the fringe OF her shawl.
She was round faced and rosy checked,
with q somewhat dull look, which, how
ever, changed to a brighter one in a pleas
ant, unexpected way when she smiled.
AS she stood with her head bent little
down, and her eyes turned little up, she
would not have been a bad model for a
painter of rustic studies.
''Dus you gels hev dey frants come in
he evenings she said. Il didunty want
mush cumpny like so lots er gels, but !
hev vwon fran whut come often" And
her red cheeks grew redder.
Mrs. Loring 'grasped the situation"
ooh yes, 1ilda, she said, chat will be
all right; you are welcome to see any
of your friends, if the kitchen is not
noisy and you keep early hours. You
must tell them that Mrs. LorinG is very
cross if the kitchen is not locked by 10
O'Clock" This last with IA smile that at
once gave the lie to her words, and in
sured obedience TO them.
So Tilda came. and three times week
her lover came to see her. Regularly at
7:30 on his accustomed evenings his step
would sound on the walk that led to the
area, and as regularly it would be heard,
few minutes before 10, departing. Her
only other guests were her sisters, who
came but seldom, and then, by an anus
ing chance, always upon the alternate
evenings; but no lOud noises or bOisterouS
laughing ever disturbed the house; indeed
beyond a subdued murmur Of voices,
which might be heard in the pantry adj
joining the kitchen, there was no noise at
ali.
One evening When Tilda had been
domesticated about Il month, Mrs. Loring
went into the kitchen to prepare some
thing for one of the children, who was all
ing Tilda's fran Nicholas by name,
was there, and Mrs. Ioring, who always
felt kindly interest in the affairs of her
servants, noticed him somewhat closely.
TO her quiet good evening he responded
respectfully. but without any Of the
SWEEPSTAKES" which Mrs. Loring had
observed, on occasions like the present, in
the men who had kept company with
her other servants lie was a large, well
built fellow. with q strong. honest face,
and as Mrs. Loring went upstairs she felt
a little of the pleasure that all true women
feel in the thought that another woman,
however humble, is to he cared for by
man who Will do il worthily-a pleasure
not entirely obliterated by the more selfish
mantt5s query which would obtrude as TO
whether she would he getting married
jast as she became well wonted to the
work
AZ hope il Will prove long courtsbip, ="
she said half aloud, as she reached the
nursery, where other things soon drove
the subject from her thoughts.
Two or three months passed. Nicholas
continued his visits, but Mrs. Loring, with
the exception of two glimpses as hurried
rs the first, did not see him again. One
morning. in the early spring, when Tilda
had been nearly four months with her,
Mrs Loring noticed that she looked sullea
and dull. and that her eyes Were swollen
as if from crying; but she avoided re-
marking upon it, thinking that the kinder
way, and hoping that the mood would soon
give way to a happier one. But days
passed and the change did not come.
Tilda was civil and did her work fairly
well. but she ''glupmed around without
smile and the traces Of tears were often
denly occurred to Mrs Loring that she
had not heard Nicholas coming and going
for some days-and two and two instantly
became four. "A lovers quarrel" she
thought: 'I'll see if | can help matters"
So that evening when the work was fin
ished she went to the kitchen. Tilda was
sewing. but her eyes were red and wet.
Mrs Loring always respected her ser
wants. and her intuitionS were as true, il
different, in approaching them on "A sub
iect sacred to themselves as they would
have beea in similar interview with a
social equal. SO that in a few moments
TilGS's heart was won, and she was pour
ing it out unTeservedly.
.tHe lAv gone back er Swaden," she
said wipng her eyes. Then in an instant
"He told | sud go longer wild EN-; bat
krnenty ,us now. Mar sccsters deg al
hare. and mar yoonges Seester see heventy
been long away fom Swaden. ] kenenty
leev hare right away. y
But said Mrs Loring, ''he ism
angry? He Will come hack?''
ooh, yaas; fen EN- fader veil. he com
Yaas'' with Il pretty conscious pride II
her eve. and little slraighteningl, he
com back but mebbe it be longer time.
I'm fader pretty mUsh seek, and EN-
moder ees ole kenenIy tai. :" And she
cried again But it had done her good Il
unburden her heart, and Mrs. LoFing was
kind comforter, and reminded her how
quickly time flew. and how nice his let
tiers would be, and the interview ended.
Nearly Il year passed Twice every
month (Which was often for a man L
whom a letter was doubtless a seriou:
undertaking. letter caDle TO T.loe from
Sweden. addressed 10 Mr.. LOEiug's c&re
and Tilda herself had long ago regainet
her cheerfulneSs. In the meantime she hat
grown Qpite intimate with the cook mex
door. and went with her TO church sun
day evenings. One evening as they chattel
a minute i'll the area, Mrs. lor.ng noticed
n mans voice, and wondering If Nichola!
had returned, looked out rs Re w.lkeC
away Dit was bright moonlight; but i
was n much smaller man, she heard th'
same voice once or twice again. but gavt
the matter no thought, surprising 50 IN
as it had plsce in he's mind at all, that Tn
man WAS the next door girls friend. Blu
one eyenin. he came in, aud she coulC
hear his voice as he went around 10 In
back door. II was peculiarly r2spin- an'
harsh, and rs the house happened 10 b
otherwise unusually quiet. she could dis
tinctly hear it in the distance from tn
kitchen for an hour before he finally tool
his leave. She had by this time grow
quite attached 70 Tilda, and she instinc
lively feared trouble. FL wait and see,
she said She was accordingly sone~na
on the alert. and at the end OF two week
was sure that he had spent three evening
with Tilda.. So she determined on an in
teryiew. AS before. she waited unit