The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1904-01-21

/ shell better nerself none goin' to work
in factory"
Every well. l will give you trial.
When can you Gomez
II can stay now. ma Fam. and get din
ner If you'll let me go home for my
clothes when the works rid up. Han
nah wants to leave as soon as she can
anyways"
And so II happened that the honey
moon cook held sway in the Dawson
kitchen when the owner Of the house
came home that evening.
You will be glad to hear that I've
engaged new girl" Prue said to him
in the distantly polite tone that she
had recently adopted in speaking to her
husband.
Every glad" he answered. 'if she ia
an improvement on Hannah"
The dinner was excellent. and Ma
tllda was very 81 service
at table. be:nIing ul tiicm as though
she would say. 'Ei2>S you. my chill
dren! Late in the evening. when they
were apparently much absorbed in
reading, they heard IL strange sound.
half cough. half sneeze. in the hall.
Prue looked up from the book. what
was that?" she said. Tom was on his
way to the door when Matilda entered
the room. 1T was me, ma'a am" she
said. Il never walk in on new married
folks without givin' 'em warnin' I'm
a-comin'-not at first. OF course they
get used to me after awhile and go
right on loverin' if do see 'em. Moth
in suits me better'n that!''
Prue's face was scarlet. She dared
not look at Tom. Oh, why had she
engaged the services of such a silly.
sentimental creature!
IF you please. ma am" Matilda con-
tinued. I'm goin' home now to get my
clothes. and I'll say good night to you
and him."
Thought we were new married
folks did she?' Tom said grimly. Il
can't imagine why. She's good
cook" he added. land l hope we can
keep her"
I'VE cam" Prue said to herself, eff
we will meet her peculiar require
L
foolishly unnecessary display of affec-
ton
For three days the Dawsons enjoyed
the results of Matilda's culinary eff
forts. but heavy heart will affect the
best of appetites somewhat, and on the
fourth day Matilda complained THAI
they didn't seem to relish their vic
tuals' and she guessed she'd better
be goin'."
"Oh. no." Prue cried. "No one could
suit us better than you do"
I'm glad of that. ma'am; but there's
another reason And she hung her
head.
Prue was painfully embarrassed, for
she could guess the other reason. II
hope you will stay" she stammered.
III think it over till tomorrow,
been fair with me. leadin' me to expect
things was different between you and
him from what they really be-"
Tom came home later than usual that
night. Prue was in the hall giving
some instructions to Matilda when he
opened the. door. His eyes looked tired
and sad, she thought. She hesitated a
moment only moment-for Matilda
was present, and now was her Opportu-
nifty to redeem herself in the girls eyes,
when she ran to meet her husband and
held up her face to be kissed. The tired
look faded from his eyes as if by mag
ic, and he put both arms around her
and held her close. HAS my little
wife come to her senses?" he asked.
"Hushr' she answered. 81 still think
it's unnecessary. but Matilda likes it.
She refuses to stay unless we are at
fectionate like" And she laughed hys-
terically.
oh" Tom said. That was all, but
there was world Of disappointment in
the exclamation. Then he looked be-
yond his wife at Matilda, who stood
beaming at him. her hands clasped in
ecstasy. 'Well. she'll stay now,' he
said bitterly. 81 congratulate you"
Yes; Matilda had decided to remain.
She came to the sitting room door after
dinner to announce her decision.
After she mad gone Prue left her seat
and moved restlessly about the room.
Then she sighed SO deeply that Tom
looked up from his paper. Head
ache?" he asked
'N-no." she said. Her lips trembled,
and she buried her face in her hands
and sobbed out. It's just heart ache,
Tom"
Heart ache?' he said gently. 81
thought had a monopoly of that"
Prue came close to his chair and
leaned against an arm Of it. Tom"
she cried emOrsefully-"Tom. dear.
will you forgive me and''-her voice
sank to whisper-"kiss me?'
He caught her hands in his and drew
her down beside him. ITO please Ma
tilda z" he asked.
''Oh, Tom. you know bettery'
Because if it's to please that girl Til
be hanged il r. But something pre-
vented further speech just then.
When the Dawsons celebrated their
tin wedding 1t was with the assistance
Of their honeymoon cook.
Fame il the perfume Of heroic deeds.
%-Socrates.