Middletown transcript., 1902-09-13

Il
Miss O'Raferties did not grow on every
bush, and it would be quite safe to pick
again, did not deter her from her resolu-
tion. Rufus Clearwater was won over to
her side. And so began the real reign Of
Constance. She entered upon it with
calm assurance.
Miss O'Rafferty, with all her failings,
was good enough cook, and, fortunately
baking day had been one of the days Of
her brief soiourn. It was quite awhile
before the shelves which she had stocked
with food were altogether depleted. The
morning that found them bare, Connie
issued from the cupboard with wild dis
may in her face. Poor little Mother
Hubbard!
| 'sI ought not to have waited till every.
thing was gone. Well, I have got to
stock up again. wish had asked Miss
that girl, how to make pop-oyers. OF
course / can go up and ask grandmother,
but-never? Pride forbids it! 1 have
put my shoulder to the-er-mufin pan,
| and l will fill it alone. will show them
what I can do. Here goes"
1t was six O'Clock. Larry was stoker,
and already the kitchen stove was glow
ing with heat.
Anything more, menl?" he asked,
standing at attention.
'fNo, thanks, unless you wash that
beauty-spot off the end of your nose.
That would help some. Then you can
study your algebra till breakfast. Oh.
say Larry, what would you like to have
for breakfsst?''
"Can order anything?'
Anything. The new chef is very
obliging."
''Then give us an omelette, and pop
overs, and hot doughnuts, and buckwheat
cakes, and chocolate, and -"
The new chief drove him out at the
end of her long-handled spoon.
"Out with your she laughed, "Pll
give you half your order, and that's all,
There are limits.
'Not to me-" called back Larry, in full
retreat.
Seven O'Clock came, and half past. An
oder of burnt milk filed the kitchen.
That was the end Of the chocolate. And
the pop-oyers hadn't popped. The ONE
Iette had strange, unhealthy look. Con-
stance threw it away and tried again.
Eight o'clock. Half-past. Pollykins
haunted the door with hungry eyes.
Somewhere in the distance Larry whist
led plaintively. Father had gone to the
city, leaving word that he would get
bite of something there.
20, sorrowsl never thought OF
grandmother's gruel," calculated Con-
stance suddenly. She dropped the sec
ond edition of omelette into the pantry.
Then she hurried ont again.
"Pollykins!' she called.
"What? Oh, is breakfast ready?"
Pollykins appeared with alacrity.
"How does grandmother like her Cruel?
With-er-four in il, or corn-meal, or
oats?" Constance was feeling her way to
enlightenment She had never made
Cruel. Miss O'Rafferty's lasted to warm
over.
"Why don't you answer, Pollykins?"
"Cause I haven't got any answer in
me. I'll 60 up and ask grand"
mo, ask Larry. Maybe he knows
what you put in." The child vanished,
to shortly reappear.
t'Larry says try corn-meal. He isn't
certain, though, but he says you boil it,
anyhow"
Constance made the Cruel and Polly
kins carried it upstairs-and grandmother
ate it. She was Clearwater, and knew
her duty when she saw it, even if it was
unsifted and turbidly yellow and scorched.
When Pollykins carried down the empty
bowl, Connie met her with news. Break
fast was ready
'I have put some milk and crackers
on the table, and there's some cheese"
she said briefly. IT have not got TIL
other things made yet-you can have
your breakfast at noon!'
She tried to laugh little, but it was
not success. Larry did better. He sat
down to the crackers and milk with the
smile that heroes wear, tangled up among
his freckles. Larry was not perfect, but
he was gentleman.
At noon there were more crackers,
more cheese, more milk. The children
found them arranged daintily on the
table. The new chef did not appear, but
'there:was large placard dangling from
the chandler" Breakfast at six P. NJ"
At half past five o'clock that night
Larry ventured into the closed kitchen
in bis character Of stoker. He found
Constance rebuilding the coal fire. In
spite Of her disguise Of SCOT and -four
commingled, he recognized her. The
absolute need for laughter that possessed |
him made him weak and limp. For,
still gentleman, he would not yield to
it.
"Wh-what are you doing2' lie articu-
lated with slow care.
"Getting breakfast said Constance
stifly. This is my ninth fire. There
is something the matter with the draught
or with me-"
Suddenly she dropped into a chair and
began to laugh. 1t was Laary's oppor-
tunity. They laughed together till they
cried.
"And its not funny at ALL" suffered
the poor little chef
Gracious, no! Wh-who is laughing?"
II am, giggled Pollykins in the door.
You two are notch, mol Say, Connie,
is breakfast most read"
Larry descended upon her and bore
her bodily into the hall.