The Press., 1897-09-02
WHEN THECOOK LEFT
MRS. NOOLlWEDDE HAD A HEART
 BREAKING EXPERIENCE

Hike 8 Good Housewife. She Prepared 1 Luncheon, but It Put Bad Taste In Georges Mouth-While He Was Gone to the Drug Store old Friends Called.
 She was in tears, and her dearest friend sought to comfort her.
 "What is it?' she asked "Has some body given a reception and slighted you just when you have new gown? Or have you the invitation and not the gownY"
 "N-neither. Oh, 1t is something per fectly awfulP'
 "H'mI suppose, then. your husband has been treating you badly. We'll, as long as he has you might relieve your mind by telling me all about it. !"
 "He hasn't either-I'd just like to see him try iti No; the-the o-cook is gonel''
 'Pshawl Is that all2 We'll, don't cry. I'll stay and help you. Let me see, I used to make lovely omelet at school. It was cooked in a dustpan. Oh, do let us give dinner partyi Hasn't George some nice friends whom he might ask?" Wees, he-he has. Iwish had never seen any of theml wish I had put off the wedding yearl wish had let Georges old maid aunt come to live with us!''
 The visitor looked alarmed. You haven't any fever, have you, dear2 And does your head feel quite right2''
 "No, 1t doesn't. Get me another hand handkerchief, and I'll tell you all about it. Just look at me, will you, and tell me what 1 look like. "
 "I'd rather not, dear. You might not like it. I-I suppose you have been try ing to clean the soot out of the kitchen chimney, haven't you?"
 "No, but I've been trying to cook luncheon. George said he didn't feel quite well after it was over, and he went over to the-the drug store to get something to take queer taste out of his mouth I don't see why he need act that way when had the loveliest roses on the table and other things toor'
 Well, don't be low spirited. We'll manage dinner, and there are lots of in telligence offices i'll town. We-can buy things ready cooked too
 TT don't care. just don't care for anything. can never hold up my head again as long as live. "
 ''YOu don't mean to say that George took too much of something to take the queer taste out of his mouth2'
 "Of course 1 don't mean anything of the kind, and you are not true friend or you'd never suggest such thing. l l Io must have got some sOOt on my face and rubbed it in. Just then the doorbell rang, and, thinking the cook had per haps relented and returned, ran to an swer it. It was not the cook, and, oh, Laura, who do you think it was?'
 ''I don't know. Your mother-in-l law perhaps. y
 II wish It had been my mother-in- law. She can cook. No; 1t was that hor- rid girl George used to be engaged to before he ever knew me. I never met her, but recognized her from her photo graphs, ''
 ''If you never met her, how do you know she is hoFrid?'
 ''Humphl Any girl who could not get along with George must be horrid. Besides he has no taste at all can never see o trace of beauty in the wom- en he calls pretty"
 But tell me about opening the door. "
 ''Oh, when came face to face with her I thought should diel Her husband was with her. Neither of them of course knew me, and"-
 II should think not, if you looked as you do now How did you manage to tear your gown so2''
 Caught 1t on a nail. They both smiled when they saw mo and asked If Mrs. Nooliwedde was at home. I saw they thought I was the maid, and, as- suming @ brogue-you know was al ways good at amateur theatrioals-I said: Faith, and that she is not. Who shall say was afther askin for her?' ''
 "Oh, you clever grill Why, should never have thought of such a thing-not in a thousand years
 "Yes, wasn't it clever9 But while she was taking out cards and expressing regrets heard George come in the back way. In my agony lest he come out and betray me, I ran back to the dining room door, but before could stop him he cried out, What is 1t, darling?'"
 "You don't say sol Did they hear him, and what'-
 II caught look of frozen horror on their faces as they turned and fled down the steps Oh, thought I should just die, and I-I wish had. "
 But perhaps, after all. they really thought you were the housemaid. '"
 George says he-he hopes not, for in that case what would they think of him for o-calling me 'darling?'"
 And there was sound of weeping in the room.-Elisa Armstrong in New York Journal