Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-01-21
66e HONEYMOON
COOK
BY HARRIET G. CANFIELD
COPYRIGHT, 1893. by T. c. Mcclure

OSOsOSOeOSO~S
They had been married two years,
'long enough" Prue suddenly declared.
"to dispense with all honeymoon de-
monstrativeness.'
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 l am certain
| that you care for NEAL signs of af-
| lection are quite superfuous; they may
be dropped"
"Ohw Tom said obviously. well,
| what shall | drop firstP There was
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 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
| ayes" 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"
| ut will not be necessary" she said,
with dignity. Hannah gave notice
this morning. | shall have to find
| some one else within a week"
| I'm sorry-sorry, | mean, for the
family she'll drop down on next Han
nah's no feather weight, you tnow.
| Speaking of dropping
! II 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 ut 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 protesting hand. Don't,
| Tomr' she said. you forget; it isn't
| necessary"
| mo, 1T isn't necessary the words
came soberly enough now-"orly 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"
she said to herself, but she sighed as
she said it and went about all day with
q 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 little. but per-
haps 1t 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. Twill you be seated"
| Prue asked pleasantly, and the girl slid
| into a chair, still smiling.
| Il hope you'll give me 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. maam, but never long
to one place"
THAT seems strange!" Prue ex-
| claimed
well, you see, ma'am, the honey
moons don't usually stretch out over
and above six months"
THE honeymoonsT
Eyes, 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 rs 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-
| bauassing to Mrs. Thomas Dawson.
| Two days ago she would have laughed
| heartily ut Matildas 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?"
"Yesm. she did. and don't think
she'll better herself none gon' to work
In n factory"
VERY we'll l will give You q trial.
| When can You Gomez
II can stay now, ma'am. and get din.
ner if you'll let me 90 home for my
clothes when the works rid up Han
nah wants to leave as soon as she can
anyways"
And so it happened that the honey.
1