The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-03-09


What would his mother say? And
how would they get along? 1t was
very unfortunate.
/ A Whit of boiling coffee and broil-
ing ham floated out TO him as he
neared the kitchen; and vision Of
his father laboring over the stove and
spelling the supper, brought smile
to his face.
A moment more, and he stood in the
Kitchen doorway. staring In bewilder-
| ment at the scene before him.
Cora. with her blue lawn replaced
by darker gown. which was half
covered by one of Mrs. Marsh's checked
aprons, was turning the broler over
the Goals with one hand. while she
lifted OF the potato kettle with the
other. her fair cheeks becoming rcd
dened by the heat.
The table was carefully set; the pile
of dirty dishes which had been waiting
for the hired girl had disappeared; the
floor had been swept, and the stove
! had been polished
Mr.. Marsh sat in a corner. surveying
| the irreproachable kitchen. and the
illtit DtIsOn NEO ndu IL,
with quiet satisfaction.
He chuckled at the sight Of his sons
open-mouthed astonishment.
"We was little mistaken that time.
Burt" he observed. approaching and
speaking In an undertone-"your ma
and all of us. II ever there was two
more capable, go-ahead girls than
them"
The inner door opened gently, and
Della tiptoed in. There was an odor
Of camphor and liniment about her.
"She's asleep"' she announced. tri-
umphantly. IL knew could get her to
sleep. rubbing her head, and I did.
l think she's better"
"Suppcr's ready" said Cora, calmly,
putting the last potato into the dish.
It might have been because Burt
was so hungry. or 1t might have been
because Cora was the cook, that he
though the supper by far the best he
had ever eaten.
But as Mr.. Marsh, comparing notes
afterward. expressed the same opinion,
there must have been some foundation
for It,
A year or more of experience with
the little gas stove at home had taught
Cora a good many things worth know
ing.
II never was so beat, I declare"
said Mrs. Marsh. when her husband
came TO take Della's place at her bed
side that evening. bradley Harwood
had come over and the quartet were on
the porch.) II never was quite so far
Off from the right track before. Why,
that girl Is regular born nurse. You
never saw nothing like the way she
done for me. And she slicked up the
room in less than five minutes better
than I could have done 1t myself And
to think of that little creetur getting
supper. and all! Well, am beatH'
Mrs. Marsh concluded not to have
brain fever, after all. She felt so
much better the next day that she in
sisted on getting up and doing the
work.
But she was not allowed to do much.
The young ladies from New York. hav-
ing got their hands in, and thoroughly
enjoying the roomy kitchen, and the
plentiful supply of milk and eggs, and
cooking materials of all sorts, con-
tinued to fuss" as they termed 1t.
over the stove, and produced great
many delightful things, which Mrs.
Marsh regarded with awe, and which
Burt and his father grew enthusiastic
over.
"What DO you think of 'em. now?"
they were continually asking her with
sly laughs and winks.
"Wcll, never was so beat" was all
Mrs. Marsh could say.
The week flew by very pleasantly,
and all too fast. Della and Cora
capped the climax by presenting Mrs.
Marsh with a new calico dress-"to
remember them by" they said-and
making it themselves with speed and
skill that took her breath away, and
won any small part of her heart which
might have been unconquered.
Bradley Harwood called several
times ds.j.
"Strikes me they wouldn't be so far
out Of the way for farmers wives,
after all?" he remarked to Burt.
And Burt laughed, light-heartedly.
Their last day was the softest and
sunniest one of their brief week; and
Bradley brought his two-seated buggy
around for last drive,
'It has been perfectly lovely, hasn't
II, Dell?" cried Cora gaily, when they
stood in their room that nlght-they
were to start the next morning.
YES" said Della, rather slowly.
'What is IT." said Cora, regarding
her thoughtful face sharply.
'Well, was obliged to tell Mr.. Har-
wood about SAM" said Della, reluct-
antly: "about our being engaged"
"What a coincidence" cried Cora,
with happy laugh. 81 was obliged |
TO tell Mr.. Marsh that-that I'll come |
back in the fall and stay for good.
Do you know. Dell, don't understand |
it. ! thought at first that they rather ]