The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1904-01-21
Ole HONEYMOON
COOK
By HARRIET G. CANFIELD
Copyright, 1905, by 7. c. Mcclure

They had been married two years,
''long enough" Prue suddenly declared,
ito dispense with all honeymoon de-
mOnstTa tivenesS."
Tom Dawson put down his evening
paper and stared at the pretty little
partner of his joys and sorrows. I'm
afraid / don't understand, dear" he
said.
Why, it's very simple. If you know
that | care for you-and | am certain
that you care for NEAL signs of af-
lection are quite superfuous; they may
be dropped"
"Ohr' Tom said obviously. We'll,
what shall drop first?" There was a
twinkle in his eyes, and Prue saw it.
ITO 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 a courtesy instead" he in
terrupted her laughingly.
Don't be ridiculous, Tom! You know
very well that there are many useless
customs that should be abandoned,
many things that should be dropped"
Yes" he said. smiling whimsically;
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"
at will not be necessary" she said.
with dignity. Hannah gave notice
this morning. | shall have to find
some one else within Il week"
I'm sorry-sorry. | mean, for the
ily she'll drop down on next. Han
: no feather weight you know.
,,king of dropping
Il am not speaking of it now. 1t is
quite useless while you are in such u
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,
Tomr' she said. You forget: it isn't
necessary
mo. it 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
demonstrativeness."
'"Tom is very sensible this morning"
s,6o e6o
she said it and went about all day with
a 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 a 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. Will
I show her in, ma'am? She and me
used to work together once and she's
a dreadful good cook"
Eyes. | will see her," Prue said. And
in moment tall, lauk, freckle faced
girl was standing in the doorway,
smiling at her. viii you be seated?"
Prue asked pleasantly. and the girl slid
into 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 experienced" she asked.
Heaps of it. ma'am. but never long
to one place"
THAT seems stranger Prue ex-
claimed
well, you see. ma'am. the honey
moons don't usually stretch out over
and above six MONTHS
1.-The honeymOons?"
Yes. ma'am. | don't cook and do
for none but new married folks. Han
nah told me about you and him when
she first came here two months 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 whoopin' 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 ut 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 do?"
"Yes'm, she did, and l don't think