Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-09-12

huskily.
"Oh, it is nice to be 'ere,'' said Ellen.
Three days later Mrs. Gasparez came
to call, picking her way through the red
dust of the road with little mincing
steps. She was quite young and very
stout, and her fat, brown face was
naively and thickly coated with powder.
She had abundant shiny black hair and
small, good natured eyes. She wore a
bright blue merino dress trimmed with
thin satin that cracked like paper. A
cape on her shoulders tangled with
beads, and there were red and yellow
flowers i'll her bonnet. A little observa
tien had corrected her mistake as to
''thee brides English maid" and, al
though she considered Ellen person Of
low ideas, there was no one else to talk
to, and she was prepared to be kind to
her. There was no servant to be seen i'll
the veranda, and Mrs. Gasparez raised
her shrill voice in vain.
"Ooh, hope this is not veree great
libertee," said Mrs. Gasparez as, tired
of waiting, she stepped into the little
sitting room. But the room was empty.
She examined it critically. "Veree
neat" she said, "but not at all smartl !
My, onlee two antimacass!'
She sat down, very genteelly, on the
edge of chair. Her flounces cracked
stifdy. Five minutes later the bride ap-
peared. She wore a big apron, and she
was turning down her sleeves.
''Ooh, am sorree to have disturbed
you. see you have been unpacking," +"
said Mrs. Gasparez politely.
''I'm very glad to see you, and 'ope
'aven't kept you waiting long," said
Ellen, ''but didn't see you come, and
couldn't make out what that boy Alb
dool was trying to tell me at first. 1
was out in the kitchen. Don't you find
it very tiresome 'aving your kitchen so
far from the 'ouse?''
"Ooh, yes, but you will grow used
to it presentlee. am veree particular.
1 go into thee bawachi khana everee
morning to see what my bawachi, the
cook, you know, is doing, and some
times in the afternoon Also"
Mrs. Gasparez's voice shrilled into un-
expected cadences, and she emphasized
small words and laid great stress On ter
limitations with that Eurasian accent
whfeh is as indescribable as is unmis
taxable. Ellen's voice seemed very full
and deep as she replied.
81 'aven't got cook. I don't mean
to ave one."
"My, how will you eat?'' screamed
Mrs. Gasparez.
"Can't you cook?"
"My, mol can make lovelee metal,
sweets, you know, but to cook thee
meats, and thee soups, and thee curries,
ooh, mol"
81 don't like curries,'' said Ellen.
''They're too spicy and all odds and
ends. You never know what you may
be eating John says he likes my cook
ing the best of any he ever ate.
"Ooh, but your handsp
Ellen glanced from her own capable
fingers to the tightly stuffed yellow
gloves that lay ON Mrs. Gasparez's blue
lap. One of the seems had burst, and a
ring with vast red stone cleaned
through.
"Use comes before looks, =" said Ellen.
"Ooh, yes!'' said Mrs Gasparez
doubtfully.
Ave you been ere long? Do you
like it?' asked Ellen.
''Onlee six months. 1t is veree dull
There is no societee. 1 often say to my
husband, I think l shall run away
You see, we came from up countree, and
there it was veree jollee, so nance peo-
pie Here there are onlee four houses.
do not know what to do with myself ahl
day long"
81 should think your children would
keep you pretty busy" said Ellen.
"Ooh, yes, there are four, but they
are veree small. The babee is only
months old, and they have their ayah.
You see, they are so noisee, and I am
not strong
81 don't fancy these natives" said
Ellen. 81 shouldn't like to see their
black lands touching any child I was
fond of. )" And then she remembered the
dark skin which so clearly proclaimed
Mrs. Gasparez's connection with the
country and felt very uncomfortable,
but fortunately Mrs Gasparez consid-
cred herself purely European and always
spoke of the England that she had never
seen as ''home. -
my, yes, they are fearful, you will
see. Your servants will always kikh
you, worree you, you know"
81 shall ave just as few as ever can
do with. Wouldn't you like to see my
kitchen? You see," she continued, lead
ing the way into the next room, ''I
keep all the plates in ere and shall do
the pastry making and so on ere, and
wanted John to let me ave a stove,
but e says it won't do for the 'ot
weather.
They went out to the mud hut i'll the
garden, which served as a kitchen. It
had been newly whitewashed within
and without, and at the freshly planed
table stood depressed looking scullion
peellng potatoes. He had scrambled
from his seat Oh the floor at the sound
OF his mistress voice.
That's the only servant I've got in
the 'ouse, " said Ellen proudly.
"Ooh, thee hot weather will soon
make you 1azee," laughed Mrs. Gas
parez.
"Well, Imade bread enough for three
days yesterday and baked it in that
queer iron drum thing. John doesn't
like the bakers bread ere. There was
beetle in the last we 'ad. !"
"Ooh, you will soon grow lazee, we
shall see. ;"
In the course Of the next few months
very like friendship grew
up between these two dissimilar wom-
en-. John Port was often away, up and
down the line, and Ellen became fire.
quent visitor at the house opposite. Tt
was a larger house than her own, but it
always appeared hopelessly crowded.
The smell of savory meats fingered i'll
that house, and odors of garlic, kero-
sene oil and bad tobacco, strangely blend
ed, never left it. The dogs and the chill !
dren left bones about, to be tumbIed |
over and kicked into corners The !
clothes of the household seemed to have j
the habit Of straying and were to be !
met i'll unexpected places The boots /
and shirts Of Mr.. Gasparez, the brilliant /
raiment of his wife and the tattered lit I
tie garments Of the children had alike
no abiding CITY, Nothing, indeed, was
in it's right place. The baby was lulled |