The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-07-31


be added. with a shade Of anxiety in his
tone.
81 slept very well," she answered
slowly. "And am not q bit tho worse.
Is It still snowing7"
~ am afraid 90. Come and have
breakfast ! am sure you must want it. ="
1--WE kept yours warm for you" said
CarrutherS. carefully lifting covered
dish from before the fire. I've must
apologize for being rude enough not to
wait for you. but we were awfully hun
gry-at least I was"
"Well, 90 am l. !" confessed Miss Heath,
seating herself at the table, and accept
ing plate Of bacon from CarrutheTs and
a cup Of coffee from Darrell "But,
she said suddenly, with funny little
smile and uplifting Of her eyebrows,
has your servant come back? And II
be has not-who cooked the bacon and
made the coffee?"
1--WE did," replied Carruthers with
pardonable pride. "At least, fried the
bacon and Darrell made the coffee He
says the bacon is done to death, and
say the coffee is muddy What do you
sayT"
"I say they are both delicious" said
the girl demurely. ~ do wish I had
seen you-as cooks, l mean" she added
with ripping little laugh.
There Is every probability that you
may see US In that engaging capacity for
some days to come" said Darrell rather
ruefully.
"some daysg" she echoed, setting down
her cup in dismay. DO you mean to say
I can't go home even todayT'
Instead of answering Darrell pointed
to the window, where the prospect was
black indeed. being simply Egyptian
darkness.
"Do you know how far you are from
The Granger he said then, looking at her
with amused, kindly eyes. "Quite five
miles. Look how the snow has drifted
already, and 1t Is still snowing."
"Oh, Aunt Priscilla will DO quite
crazy" said poor Leslie in Q despairing
kind Of way "And what a nuisance
shall be to you both"
DO you think sol" said Darrell
gravely, as he took her cup. "That IL
very unkind Of you. Have some more
coffeeY'
LET US take Miss Heath up to tho loft
and show her tine promising state Of the
surrounding country" suggested Car.
ruthers, when the visitor had resolutely
refused any further uourishment.
"But-the tablet It must be cleared.
she said reprovingly.
"Oh-er-yes, Of course" ho replied
In doubtful tones. Come on, Darrellr
~ shall help" said Miss Heath, who
had thrown care and Aunt Priscilla to
the winds, and was beginning to enjoy
herself immensely. "Whcro Il the
kitcheny she continued, seizing the cof.
fee pot. "You lead the way with the
lamp, please, Mr.. Carruthers."
The kitchen was In q state Of indes.
cribable confusion. Plates, knives, pans,
etc., were thrown about impartially on
chairs, table and floor. A CHEEKY fire
was burning, however, and threw an air
of rollicking joviality over the whole
scene.
"Put them down anywhere, said Dar.
rell, recklessly depositing on the nearest
chair the cup and saucer and plate he
carried.
"0h no." demonstrated Leslie, "they
must be washed and put away properly.
"Washed" echoed both men helplessly.
"Of course" was the inhexible reply,
as the speaker invested herself in q large
white apron, which. BY the way, was
most becoming.
"oh, say, not Just now, Miss Heath, >
entreated Carruthers pathetically.
There are lots Of clean ones about
somewhere, and you've no idea how aw-
fully done up we both are. Why, light
ing these fires alone-not to mention the
cooking-took US q good hour. Darrell
used more bad language over the sitting
room fire this morning than I've heard
him give way to all the years I've known
him."
They all laughed. and Leslie, with a
disappearing shake Of her curly head,
began in Q deft, delightfully."- business
like way, to reduce the scattered dishes
etc., to some kind Of order, while the
two men seated themselves on the par.
TALLY cleared table and watched her
with combined interest and amusement
"Now we must have some hot water, =
announced this new autocrat Of the
kitchen I'VE can't wash dishes In cold
water, you know" she proceeded kindly
to explain.
"Why mott" Carruthers ventured to
inquire.
But Miss Heath did not answer. She
was rummaging in q drawer for towels
She looked quite at home and as busy
and happy as possible. So her two slaves
meekly got of tho table, filed up the
kettle and replenished the fire.
"While it e heating I shall 60 up with
you to the loft" Leslie said then gra.
ciously. Perhaps it has left of snow.
ing. What dear little house Il is," she
exclaimed, as, after q short inspection Of
the tiny dwelling-which was all on one
floor, bungalow fashion-they prepared
to climb the ladder leading TO the loft.
"You are right" acquiesced Darrell
refiectively, ''it d small, and, yes-it is
most certainly dear. Give me your hand.
Miss Heath, and mind your head on that
beam"
"Dear me, daylight comes on one quite
with shock," said the girl, blinking her
eyes little "Oh, ohF" she went on In
dismayed tones, as she took q birds eye
view Of the surrounding country from
thesmall slopingskylight, through whose
crevices the snow whirled In merrily.
"Why, can see nothing but snowI No
road-and what q black sky, a. II It
might snow for weekA Oh, shall never
get home This b teFribloI" she con-
cluded despairingly. all her gay spirits
deserting her.