Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-12
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
The Bachelors Cook.

shall be nameless. One day he adver
tised for cook Twenty-Five young
women and ten old ones answered the
advertisement. Among the twenty-five
young women was a slim creature in
the shabbiest shawl and bonnet there.
with exactly enough flesh on her bones
10 hold them together, but Il lady ev-
cry inch Of her.
Reference" lie said to her as she
sat before him.
She took off a mended glove and
showed him a forefnger rough as a
nutmeg with much sewing.
There's the only proof 1 have that
I've been trying to earn an honest liv-
ing" said she.
IAN odd reference for n cook" said
he
That's for character" said she.
I'll show you how 1 can cook. Ill
give practical proof of that"
"You are not Il servant" said he.
"Not yet. l mean to be. I've been
sewing for a living. and L am sick of
It," said she.
He named the wages and took her
down into the kitchen. where the
young person who was general assist
ant received her with a bewildered
stare.
After that he did not see her for four
weeks, but his meals were delicious.
At the end of the time he went down
stairs to pay her wages. 1t was late
L.. T,sl
pink cheeks sat before the fire stoning
raisins. He did not know her at first.
but as the knowledge dawned on him
he realized how nearly she had been
to starvation on the day when he hired
her. All he said was:
Il like my steak broiled less"
After that he saw her once in four
weeks regularly. She never said any
thing to him but Thank We. sir" He
always found fault with something.
his eyes fixed on vacancy the while.
He was Il trim and big bachelor of for
ty, with handsome black side whiskers.
She was thirty and n warm tinted
blond. not red haired, though the kitel-
en- girl thought so. Her hair was Tt
tian's pet color. Outwardly she called
her master that bear" Secretly she
thought him very handsome.
One day the dinner came down I'M
tasted.
What fault has he found with it
now"
None" said the girl. He's sick
At breakfast no one came to the to
BILE.
Then the cook assembled the stairs
and. finding n pair of boots outside one
door, knocked at it.
Come in said faint voice.
She went in, and the result of her in
vestigation was n telegram to the doc
tor. Her master. who had always been
proud OF not being vaccinated, 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"
She stayed. AS he got better he re-
warded her-as conyalescent men al
ways do reward their nurses-by
scolding her and finding fault with ev-
erything.
One day, however, he, being well.
though still in quarantine. had some
vile concoction brought him for his
dinner.
what is this:'' he asked.
"It's the best 1 could do" said Bird
get. who. having been a victim to the
disorder in her childhood. had no fear
of it, Cook has gone of"
"Where has she gomez asked the
master.
ITO the hospital" said Bridget 'She
did be getting the smallpox, and she
went"
He tried i'm vain to discover her
whereab bouts. but Bridget showed sa
gacity. THE wages are owing and the
trunks in the bedroom. COok;will come
back"
So "the master waited. \ month
passed: another week; then another;
then one evening some one rang the
bell.
Cook is back and wants TO see you,"
said Bridget.
The MASTER went info the parlor.
There sat the long absent woman. Her
hair had been cut short and curled up
about her temples. but her complexion
was not spoiled, though she was thin
and worn again.
1--WE come 10 see whether you want
ed me to cook for you again." said she.
'No,'' said lac
Every we'll" said she.
"You had no business TO go off that
way" said ne.
who'd have taken care OF me?" she
asked
cit 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? / don't want to hurry you.
but 1 need the money"
"Oh, you do?" said he.
Then he sat down near her.
what a bear was to you"' said he.
Eyes. indeed" said she.
"Fretted and found fault with you"
$50 unreasonable. too" said she.
~And yet you'd cook for me againT'
said he.