The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-11-12
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Gbe HONEYMOON
COOK
BY HARRIET C. CANFIELD
Copyright, 1903, by 7. C. Mcclure
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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They had been married two years
"long enough" Prue suddenly declared
ito dispense with all honeymoon de,
monstratiyeness."
Tom Dawson put down his evening
paper and stared at the pretty little
partner of his joys and sorrows. Pm
afraid l don't understand, dear" be
said
"Why, it's very simple. If you know
that l care for you-and | am certain
that you care for me-all signs of af-
lection are quite supertuous they may
be dropped"
"Oh~ Tom said obviously. well,
what shall | drop first?' There was u
twinkle in his eyes, and Prue saw it.
TO be serious" she pleaded. ito be
gin with. you must not kiss me when
you come home to dinner and-and-
other times. You must drop
drop you courtesy nstead.p he ip-
terrupted her laughingly.
Don't be ridiculous. Toni You know
very well that there are many useless
customs that should be abandoned,
many things thar should be dropped"
Yes" he said, smiling whimscally
Hannah thinks SO, know. She drop
ped my meerschaum this morning. We
must take lessons of that girl. Prue, or
drop her On the whole, | think we'd
better drop her"
ut will not be necessary" she said,
with dignity. Hannah gave notice
this morning. shall have to find
some one else within n week"
"I'm sorry-sorry, | mean, for the
family she'll drop down on next. Han
nah's no feather weight you know.
Speaking of dropping
Il am not speaking of it now. 1t is
quite useless while you are in such a
mood" she said Indignantly. rising
from her chair.
Before she could leave the room Tom
was at her side. Forgive me, dear,
he said. Il didn't know you were in
such sober earnest" He stopped to
kiss the pink cheek next to him. but
Prue lifted a protesting hand. Don't
Tom she said. You forget; it isn't
necessary"
mo. 1T isn't necessary the words
came soberly enough now-"only sweet
and natural"
And the next day. when the time
came to say goodby, Prue had no oc-
casion to complain of his honeymoon
demonstratiyeness."
TON is very sensible this morning.
she said to herself, but she sighed as
she said it and went about all day with
n wistful look in her blue eyes. Tom
was sensible" in the evening also, and
the next morning he was so very sensi-
BILE that Prue cried n little. but per
haps it was for joy. Even sensible"
people do that
That afternoon Matilda made her
appearance. Hannah came into the
sitting room to announce her arrival.
Matilda Stebbins Is here, Mrs. Daw-
son." she said, after my place. VIII
| show Her in. ma'am? She and me
used to work together once, and she's
a dreadful good cook"
Yes. will see her" Prue said. And
in moment a tall, lank, freckle faced
girl was standing In the doorway,
smiling at her. "Will you be sented?''
Prue asked pleasantly, and the girl slid
into n chair, still smiling.
II hope you'll give me a try" she
said. I'D like first rate to cook for
you and him"
1t was Prue's turn to smile. "Have
you had much experience" she asked.
Heaps of it. ma'am. but never long
to one place"
THAT seeps strange" Prue ex-
claimed
"Well. you see. ma'am, the honey
moons don't usually stretch out over
and above six months"
1.-THE honeymoonsY
Eyes, ma'am. don't cook and do
for none but new married folks. Han
nah told me about you and BIN when
she first came here two m&hths ago.
She said as how she knew you was
just married"
Prue blushed. How did Hannah
know IT." she asked.
Easy enough, ma'am. It's like
measles and whoopn' cough. She
could tell by the symptoms. I'd rather
live where there's lovemakin' goin' on
continual than read the best novel ever
made up"
This was interesting but very EN-
barrassing to Mrs. Thomas Dawson.
Two days ago she would have laughed
heartily at Matilda's sayings and have
found much enjoyment in repeating
them to Tom. But present conditions
made the girls remarks seem almost
personal, yet she felt tempted to en-
gage her.
Matilda" said she, did Hannah tell
you the wages she received and the
work she was expected to doY
"Yes'm, she did, and | don't think
she'll better herself none goin' to work
in factory"
very well. will give you a trial.
When can you Gomez
81 can stay now, ma'am, and get din,
ner If you'll let nae go home for my