Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-09-01

+ He looked at her from top to toe.
'Family?..'
/ Myself only" he said.
She nodded.
Dinner 1t CO"
! She nodded again.
/ Soup every day?"
/ She nodded once more.
+ For the rest variety"
3 "All right she said.
! He named the wages and took her
down into the kitchen where the
young person who was general as
sistant received her with a bewildered
stare.
| After that he did not see her for
four weeks, but his meals were de-
licious. At the end of the time he
i went down stairs to pay her wages
/ 1t was late in the evening. A plump
/ lady with pink cheeks sat before the
! fire stoning raisins. He did not
know her at first, but as the knowl-
edge dawned on him he realized how
nearly she had been to starvation on
! the day when he hired her. All he
said was:
! L like my steak broiled less"
! After that he saw her once In
! four weeks regularly. She never
said anything to him but Thank We
sir He always found fault with
something, his eyes on vacancy the
while. He was a trim and big bache-
lor of forty, with handsome black
side whfskers. She was thirty and
warm tinted blonde, not red haired,
though the kitchen girl thought SO.
Her hair was TitlNns pet color. Out
wardly she called her master that
bear" Secretely she thought him
very handsome.
One day the dinner came down
untasted.
What fault has he found with
it now?''
None" said the girl. He's sick"
At breakfast no one came to the
table.
Then the cook assembled the stairs.
and finding a pair of boots outside
one door, knocked at it.
Come in" said a faint voice.
She went In and the result of her
investigation was telegram to the
doctor. Her master, who had al
ways been proud Of not being vac
cinated, had caught the smallpox.
You'd better go. You'll catch IT."
said he.
I'm not afraid" said she. Some
body must stay, you know"
hn tot hn
rewarded her-as convalscent men
always do reward their nurse-by
scolding her and finding fault with
everything. She had helped in dam
ger to save his life and had done all
that mortal could do, but he snarled
at her.
One day, however, he being well,
though still in quarantine, had some
vile concoction brought him for his
dinner.
What is this?" he asked.
Its the best l could do" said
Bridget, who having been a victim to
the disease in her childhood, had no
fear of it. Cook has gone off,"
Where has she gomez" asked the
master.
"To the hospital said Bridget.
She did be getting the smallpox, and
she went"
cit wasn't for one just out of sick
bed to use the language the master
did after that" Bridget said in re-
lating the incident.
But he was yet an invalid, and he
did not know his cooks name.
She had never told it to him. He
tried in vain to discover her where
abouts, but Bridget showed s4gacity.
The wages were owing and the trunk
in the bedroom. Cook would come
back.
So "the master" waited; month
passed; another week; then another;
then one evening some one rang the
bell.
Cook is back ana wants to see
you," said Rrdiget.
"The master" went into the parlor.
There sat the long absent woman. Her
hair had been cut short and curled
UP about her temples, but her COM
plexion was not spoiled, though she
was thin and worn again.
give come to see whether you
wanted me to cook for you again.
said she.
NO" said he.
VERY WE'LL" said she.
"You had no business to go Off that
way" said he.
Who'd have taken care of me?"
she asked.
ct was my duty to see to that
after all you'd done for me-" said he.
"Not at ALL" said she. "And about
the wages? I don't want to hurry
you, but need the money"
ooh, you do" said he.
Then he sat down near her.
What bear I was to you," said
he
Eyes, indeed" said she.
"Fretted and found fault with you
so unreasonable, too" said she.
'fAnd you'd cook for me AGAIN."
said he
eff I suit you,' said she.
''You do" said he.
'You might have said SO before,
said she.
"Not as cook" said he.
"Oh!" said she.
'The kitchen is no place for you,"
he said.
tits better than sewing" said she.
But if 1 make you another offer,