The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-03-05
A GODDESS IN GINGHAM.

Barrett reached this decision she fell
that her problem was already hal
solved.
She had been a member of hei
uncle's household only one week, and
already she felt the intolerableness oi
her position.
Recently left alone and dependent
upon the hospitality of relatives, she
had accepted her uncle's invitation
temporarily until she could find some
means of supporting herself. Her
proud spirit chafed at the mere
thought of dependence, and she would
consent to no other engagement.
In the small town where her uncle
family shone as leading lights the ad-
vent Of Emily caused a stir. 49,.
The Barrett glrls--her COUSINS
had held the indisputable title to be-
ing the prettiest and most popular of
the city's bellies
Emily's coming diverted the inter-
est most decidedly. She possessed a
distinction of personality quite rare
in the community. Coming from an
Eastern metropolis, she had an air
and style tantalizingly difficult to
analyze. Above all, she was sweet
and natural.
The inevitable thing happened. It
was the old story of feminine jealousy
and selfshness. The attitude of her
aunt and cousins toward her became
daily more uncomfortable.
Better be a domestic in some ones
kitchen than an unwelcome guest in
the house of jealous relatives, /" storm
ed Emily in her heart, after an ex-
ceedingly humiliating experience.
That afternoon she overheard a
conversation between her aunt and
caller-Mrs. Truesdale.
II shall have to give up altogether
if cannot find cook, +" declared the
latter. The question grows more
hopeless each day. What is to be the
outcome of the servant problem? The
answer seems eternities away. Why
don't young women of intelligence
and talent take up the study of house
keeping-I mean as profession, not
as mere accomplishment? That is
what we need"
"Oh, but, my dear Mrs. Trues-
dale" demonstrated Emily's aunt,
"you wouldn't expect girls of refine
ment and education to put their tai
ents to such use. Really"
"How could they put them to bet
ter use. Let me tell you, Mrs. Bar
rett, that if cooking and the other
domestic accomplishments were to be
classed with the arts and sciences and
universally acknowledged as such the
field would be overcrowded by our
ambitious, intellectual maidens, striv-
ing to achieve honors in those branches
Of learninq Ill -conld, find some
into my home I would willingly give
my time to her training. But 1 pre-
sumo the finding of such prize in
this world, under the present regime,
is out Of the question"
Emily listened, her face glowing,
her eyes alight.
II can COOK" she murmured tri-
umphantly under her breath. "How
glad 1 am that I learned at home.
And l always did love housekeeping.
After all, l have talent which I can
put to practical use. I can be inde-
pendent will be p
She said as much to Mrs. Truesdale
when she called at the latter's beauti-
full home on the outskirts of town
the next morning.
Her aunt's friend gasped in aston
ishment as she listened.
"You can't mean it, Miss Emily !"
she exclaimed. She was one of the
girls warmest admirers. "You real
ly can't mean what you say |"
but 1 do" persisted Miss Barrett.
"I wish you d give me trial, at least.
Please grant me this much, anyway"
ut seems too good to be true"
said Mrs. Truesdale. I am selfish
enough to consent"
Of course the aunt and cousins
gave vent to a chorus of hysterical
screams when Emily told them.
you've disgraced US forever |"
ragged Rosa, the eldest of the Barrett
girls. "The Truesdales of all people
Don't you know that Larry Truesdale
and I are-are-the greatest friends ?
What in the world will he say when
he returns from college to find my
cousin acting as his mothers cook !"
Her eyes were twin flames of indig-
nation.
"I'm very sorry" replied Emily.
'I had no idea Mrs. Truesdale had a
son or that you and he were affi-
anced."
"I didn't say we were, did II"
snapped Rosa. "And I'm not likely
to be now. You've disgraced the
Barrett name in this town for good"
Its outrageous !" stormed Mrs.
Barrett. And you might as well un-
derstand, Emily, right from the start,
that we are not going to recognize
you in any way after this. You
must expect us to strike you from our
list altogether"
Every well. I'm satisfied" was
the cheerful rejoinder. Emily's hat
brim hid the amused smile in her
clear, hazel eyes.
The next day she began work in
the Truesdale home. From the mo-
ment her strong young hands took
hold of the domestic machinery a
magic transformation came over the
place.
Mrs. Truesdale marveled daily at
the increasing harmony of household
arrangements and wondered why fate
had selected her as the recipient of
such good fortune.
cts all too good to be true" she
declared. Then the instructive fear
of the human mind that it will lose
the prize it has won began to harrass