The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-07-23

wall, as or the greatest grief and de-
SPAR escaped that worthy's lips. Her
bert started back with a look of much
anxiety. Tom whispered:
Nothing of much consequence.
Something has gone wrong with her.
Stand back a little and be quiet; we
shall soon know the trouble"
And soon it was as Tom predicted.
Bridget groaned forth:
Tin o'clock! On! bad luck to him!
an he'll not come tonight! An it's
Bridget O'Grady's reputation as a
cook will be ruined by a haste of a
butcher"
just then the listner's attention was
directed from Bridget by the sound of
light footsteps coming down the
stairs. Further back into the shade
they drew, as the kitchen door opened,
and they heard the pleasant voice of
Miss Delmar, asking:
Can 1 have some hot water, Bird
get"
Bridget Immediately poured out her
grief to Louise, who at once undertook
to help get a breakfast which should
sustain the reputation of the kitchen;
out Of the scanty materials on hand,
and ended by saying:
"We will give the gentlemen a very
nice breakfast, Bridget"
"It strikes me, Tom, we are learning
some secrets in the culinary art in a
rather questionable way. 1 think we
had better retire" said Herbert.
The next morning when Herbert en-
tered the breakfast room, he felt a
little curiosity to see the result of Miss
Delmar's debut in Bridget's domain.
AS he had hoped, the object of his
thoughts that morning, and dreams
the night before, was waiting at the
table to preside at the breakfast,
which, to Herbert's mind, was the
most delightful in his life.
Louise was charming in her simple
morning toilet. Bridget was the pic
ture of good humor. And how could
she be otherwise? The breakfast was
a perfect success. Thefragrant coffee;
the rice cakes, so light and crisp; an
omelet beautiful to look at, and deli
cious to taste, a dish of delicate and
tempting looking little articles, which
the young gentlemen seemed to relish
very highly. Louise laughingly called
them wonders" and Herbert was
sure they were the result of Bridget's
attack on the much abused ham
BONE"
The time for leaving came. 1t was
a severe trial for Herbert, to go with
out whispering a word of tenderness.
There was such a wistful earneatness
in his eyes, as they fingered 80 long
gazing into hers, that Louise knew
he loved her, and wondered why he
did not tell her So In the hall the
young gentlemen called Bridget, to
thank her for the very nice breakfast
she had given them at such a very IN
seasonable hour.
Bridget, looking at the notes that
were placed in her hand, hesitated a
moment and then exclaimed!'
Yes, it's your dollars I'll take, for
she's not wantin' for them, an thank
ye. But it's the reputation and credit
that Bridget JO'Grady will take from
no one. The breakfast was none of me
dom. Miss Louise it was; and all out
of a ham bone and a bit of nothing she
made the Elegant breakfast. It's a
jewel she is! Sure, an it's a lucky
man that gets her, it isl"
Herbert's heart fully responded to
Bridget's praises.
Immediately after his arrival home,
he gave his mother a full account of
his visit. But I think most likely she
made full allowance for a lovers en-
thusiasm.
That evening, after business, Tom
called.
Hunting for something in his pocket,
he drew forth a letter, and said:
There! 1 declare this is too bad!
I promised Miss Delmar to deliver this
tonight. I forgot all about it. It's
too late now, and it is fully mile
from here"
ITO Mrs. Courtney's9" asked Her
bert.
"Oh no! Mrs. Agatha Fosters, 5Oth
street."
Tine name is very familiar" said
Mrs. Hawley. "Ah, / remember; l
knew her several years ago. Once, 1
have heard she was in very comfort
able circumstances; but meeting with
sad r~everses, she became housekeeper
in the Courtney family"