The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-28

| flashed upon him as he stood and stared
| at the round young form in the blue
Bingham gown. How brisk she was and
how busy! Fitting back and forth be-
tween etble and pantry, carrying vari-
| GUS articles-four and butter. and nak.
ing powder. and mixing pan. Then she
was rolling UP her sleeves from round
| milk-white arms and tying on a large
snowy apron, and washing her hands al
| the sink. He could see how rosy the
cold water made them, and then how she
did attack the task before heri With the
deftness and rapidity which evidenced
( practice and skill she chopped and stirred
and rolled and cut, and laid the little
round desks in even rows on the but
/ tered pans And then she opened the
| oven door and put her hand IN 20 try the
| temperature, and nodded as IL satisfied
and came back to the table with her
4 soft cheeks ever so slightly flushed and
a few loose gold tendrils finding their way
/ from under the dainty white lawn can
she wore. And as she went back and
forth with her biscuits, and began 10
/ clean and put away the utensils she had
1 used, she began to sing. The window near
/ the table avas open. Fairleigh could hear
the lifting lines:
| MY love is like a red. red rose
That's newly sprung in June,
| My love is like a melody
I That's sweetly played in tuner
A high, rasping voice cut the song
short.
Wen. have you the chicken salad
made? And did you frost the cake? The
biscuits are in? Then do make haste and
set the table. can't for the life Of
me see what makes you so pokyl Mr.
Fairleigh viii be here before you get
everything done. He won't notice you,
anyhow"
Then Miss Burns, who had evidently
been taking a nap, judging by her tousled
| hair, and looking suddenly and singu-
larly Invested Of her stateliness in the
loose and shapeless wrapper of soiled
light blue cashmere she wore, yawned
and took herself away.
Elsie stood minute tense and still
She hften her eyes an instant as though
in a mute appeal for patience. Then
she went on with her work. But Fair
leigh noticed with a queer sense of in
dignant pain at his heart, that the flush
had gone, leaving her looking white, and
that she sang no more.
1t was with much effusion that Miss
Burns received her caller. She had been
hoping he would come earlier. Although
indeed, She could hardly have given him
much Of her time had he done so. They
were without a maid, and she had been
compelled to prepare supper. Not that
UlSukeQ
women averred they di. She had studied
the science, believing It to be more essen
tial TO the making and the maintenance
of a hairy home than knowledge of a
language To be sure. tonight they mad
asked him ony to their ordinary family
supper Her parents had always insisted
on dining early in the day. She was sure
he would make allowances.
Certainly They were good to let him
AID oil D
wondering at the transformation. we'll
brushed hair and a, properly-ftting gown
had effected in the unattractive person
who had instructed Elsie. Elsie minus
her cooking cap, and wearing a soft lit
tie lawn gown, came and went serving
them Just at first Elsie had given
Fairleigh a distant bow, but although she
quickly glanced away she had seen a
new look in his eyes-a look of question
ing admiration that brought the roses
biossOming out on her cheeks. Once dur
ing Elsie's absence from the room. Isabel
made some laughing apology for having
Elsie wait on table.
But whenever 1 have cooked the sup
per-What? A delicious support I, I'm so
glad you like il. ! was saying when I
have cooked the supper, l think 1t is
only fair Elsie should wait at table
Have another biscuit Mr.. Fairleigh- If
only TO hatter me. Yes, I am a tride
proud Of my biscuits
The elder people were talking together
and paid no attention, but Fairleigh
looking up al that instant, saw the swing
ing door was held back, and Elsie. an
otner plate of goiden-brown biscuits in
her hand, stood there. Her eyes met
taOse of Fairleigh fun. a flashing look
passed between them. She had heard
then! Whether it was the speech. or
Bob Fairleigh amused and radiant
glance of Intelligence that disturbed her
Elsie did not know, but at that moment
the door swinging shut, sent the plate
dashing from her hand. Fairleigh sprang
to her assistance, where she stood dumb
with embarrassment. And IS the young
man restored the recovered biscuits and
the shattered plate he handed them 70
her with the whispered entreaty.
when viii you sing for me again.
Ny love is ike a red, red rose
AGAIN. she said, She was Ike the
rose she sang Of IN that instant.
Again"
Fortunately. when he called With his
new team the day following. Isabel ives
ont. Elsie told him 50. But he had not
called for her. be explained re had
called for Elsie What drive that
wasi How the story Of his observation
surprised her And Il was q happy girl
whom he persuaded that II his vas not
love at first sight il wss love all right
and would make his LIE a melody that's
sweetly sung Ia tuusI