The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-19


When Flora gets back she won't thank
you for it."
True as preaching. But l thought of
dear old Toms pocket-book, and deter
mined to persevere.
On the sixth day of the new regime I
informed Henry that 1 should do the
marketing.
"But Mr.-Mr. Guernsey left that
that work in my charge" the man STAN
mered.
"Until such time as chose to relieve
you OF the responsibility" I replied.
"That time has arrived. I may need
your occasional assistance in this depart
ment," added, automatically, and now,
Henry, would like to have you give me
by evening the itemized bills of this
week."
"Oh, but, Miss Cornell, Mr.. Guernsey
pays his bills only once in three months|
and now Henry's face was study.
az am going to pay the bills of this
house once a week, Henry, and I intend
am paying for. You will kindly hand
me the bills Immediately. That is all l
have to say now"
That I had exploded bomb in Henry's
camp was plain to be seen. was getting
into hot water, but there was no help for
it. had seen enough to know that there
was terrible leak in this establishment
somewhere, and 1 was resolved to find
and stop it. AS an example, the squads
which I had noticed on my first visit to
the kitchen had not, to my knowledge,
ever appeared upon the table, and though
we had some sort of highly seasoned
hashed Gentry" that evening, 1 had no
means of knowing that the pigeons
hearts figured in it. So one day in
quired for the birds
"Wbat become of the little birds
Wall, now, indade, that is funny ques
tion," said De Planners, in her most
hostile and offensive manner. "Why you
et'em, Of coorse."
How were they cooked ?" l insisted.
First, ma'am, the hearts was entried,
and then the pigeonses was curried into
what is called 'r'ysl barbecue But l
presume you have not been accustomed
to such dishes"
81 don't think L have" replied; "but
have been accustomed to respect, and
in future you must not fail to remember
that fact" and looked the thieving ter
magant straight in the eyes.
"Faith, and it's no disgrace not to be
able to recognise a barbecue" was the
Modified answer. in melliauous tones.
Ny experience with the tradesmen was
unique. But there was not one among
the nuwber who did not appear pleased
to take my orders, and 1 could feel by the
way they regarded me that, as honest
men, they thought it about time for some
body to look into things.
Henry's bill was SO startling that had
the greatest difficulty in concealing my
establishment. Fish for one week, S12;
meat, $26; poultry and game, S2l. The
bills for fruit and groceries were even
more preposterous, and as / hastily total
lied the bills of the year at this rate, I
concluded that unless Tom Guernsey was
much richer man than [ had ever been
led to suppose, he could not fail to be
swamped by such extravaganza.
On the occasion OF my first marketing
had sent home sirloin roast with the
trimmings. These I intended to see util-
lied into soup and nice clarified drip
pings; but when sought the kitchen on
my return the drippings were conspic-
uous only by their absence. Naturally
my first business was to inquire for them.
ooh yis, the waste fat bits, ye mane,"
was the cool response. l." I niver allow
them things round. No fust families
does"
"But what did you do with them ?" I
asked.
"Jist whisked EN- into the beggar- boys
basket, neck and heels, along with some
other ravin's;" and Mrs. De Planners
of impudence which I never saw ap-
preached.
Margaret, l see your month is up to-
day." remarked, after swallowing my
wrath for moment; and here is your
money" counting it out deliberately
"and there is no more work for you to
do in this house."
once took part in Western cyclone,
and was in imminent danger Of being
bombarded out of existence by flying
corn-cribe, pig-pens, and the like; but
that was mild compared to the blizzard
that ragged in my cousins kitchen. Mrs.
De Planners cast about her with a will.
Pie plates, pot covers, turreens, pokers,
shovels, everything that the wild Hiber-
MAN could lay her hands on, went flying
through the air. Mary, frightened al
most out OF her wits, ran to the door for
policeman, and found one. His arrival
only added fuel to the fire, but firm
grasp on her arm brought her to terms,
and fifteen minutes later Mrs. De Flam-
mers had turned her broad back upon
the establishment that had some reason
to believe would know her no more for
ever.
When took my aunt up some boiled
custard not long after this browning me-
lee, little flushed and very tired from