Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-12-18

linen collar, Transforming her into the
neatest of servants. Upon the table
stood pan of biscuit, light as down,
brown and tempting; broiled chicken
lay upon great dish near the fire; coffee
sent forth aromatic favors, and spice OF
tea mingled Herewith.
"Be offl" was Ned's salution. "You
are not to come here for a week!"
Laughing, light hearted, Ellie went
to the dining-room. All the best china,
silver and glass upon snowy damask
cloth, upon the table, baskets of cake
light as feather, glass bowls of straw
berries, cream and sugar in silver
pitchers and bowls, radlshes upon cool
green leaves, even glasses of flowers were
there. She stood admiring, while Ned
brought in the chicken and biscuit, the
coffee and tea, and demurely rang the
bell.
"You can ring if you want me- she
said, putting the bell upon the tea-tray,
and dropping saucy curtesy before
vanishing into the kitchen, "and Ellie,
we breakfast late"
Thinking it would be too bad to pre-
sent Ned yet to her guests, Ellie did not
touch the bell, noting that there was an
evident enjoyment of their fare among
her guests. She could not altogether
enjoy the social evening that followed,
though Henry Claxton was as entertain
ing as Charlie had promised, Laura gen
tie and lovely, and the old people cor
daily pleasant. Everything was charm
ing but the uneasy certainty that Ned
was washing dishes, setting breakfast
biscuit and cleaning up in the kitchen.
Ellie fully intended to get breakfast on
the following morning, and never opened
her blue eyes till the dressing-bell rang
vigorously at eight o'clock. BY the time
she was dressed her guests had assem-
bled in the sitting room, and there was
nothing to do but open the door to the
dining-room and usher them in. The
dainty table, sparkling in the morning
light, was spread temptingly. New-laid
eggs, like golden balls, were Tried upon
slices of ruby-colored ham; beefsteak
to tempt an epicure, broiled tender and
juicy, fanked the ham and eggs; water
crosses, all sparkling with dew-drops; !;
potatoes, fried to crisp brown, aro-
matte coffee, fragrant tea and mullins of
golden tint waited upon good appetites.
Mrs. Claxton could not res train her
admiration.
'What treasure you must have in
the Kitchen" she cried, elf you did not
come down until we did"
81 have not seen her this morning."
was the truthful reply. ''She is treas
ure."
''Have you had her long2"
"Only since yesterday"
"Ahl / hope she won't drink. These
extra good girls are so apt to develop
some glaring defect like drinking" said
the old lady, and wondered what was so
intensely funny in her innocent remark,
as Ellie broke into a peal of musical
laughter.
Five days went by, and Mrs. Claxton
said to Ellie:
"Do you know, Mrs. Coleridge, I have
never seen your treasure. She does the
rooms while we are at breakfast, and l
never saw such neat rooms; and she sets
table SO perfectly you never have to
ring for anything.
"You will see her tonight" said
Ellie; for Ned had actually made time
to go to town and secure a twelfth do
mestic, who was being trained while
Ellie spoke; "and l shall have the
pleasure, also, of introducing Charley S
sister, Edmonia."
"Ahw
This was from Harry Claxton, who
looked up from the newspaper.
81 want to meet her SO much" said
Laura; "we heard of her very often when
Mr.. Coieridge was in Cambridge.
"She is very talented, is she not2"
Harry asked.
s'We think so," Ellie answered. "She
plays on the piano better than any ANA
teur ever heard, and sings remarkably
well. She was the best scholar in the
school where she graduated, and She
don't tell her told you-wrtes poetry,
real poetry, not merely rhyming lines. F"
"H-mp' thought Harry. ga tall
raw -bowned, strong minded female"
Anu WHilc Iuc tuOuShb was III hio
mind there entered little brown-eyed
mite, with long auburn curls, com
plexion like blush-rose, and soft, full
draperies of blue and white muslin. A
little creature, with low, sweet voice,
and eyes full of dreamy beauty.
There was undeniably falling off in
the culinary department, though Ned
aud Ellie slipped away often to super
intend the performances of "No. IL, +"
as Ned called her; but if the others
found the table less tempting, Henry
Claxton only knew the parlor had gained
a new charm.
In their college days, Charley had told
him often of the brown-eyed sister in
Baltimore, and some of the graceful let
tiers had been given him for perusal. He
knew that Edmonia was talented and
pretty; he found her beautiful and
modest as violet. The hours beside
her, in the garden, in the parlor, on the
moonht porch, sped by like minutes,
and the party fingered on till Charley
a,,no Than tbot ba r,,itrhf not hn