Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1905-09-19

ARE YOU THE NEW COOK FOR MRS.
BEREsFoRDY HE DEMANDED.
she's my cook! I'll be jiggered If
will!'' Then at the sigh. or his wife's
quivering lip he pulled himself up.
"All right, puss," he said hastily. "Plf
get her here some way. Don't you wor-
~ your precious little head. Goodby,
dearest"
And Mrs. Beresford, comforted, re
turned to her cold coffee.
All day long the prospect hung like
nightmare over Beresford. Suppose he
spoke to the wrong woman; suppose
she considered herself insulted and
called for the police. There was no
counting on what woman might do
When, having but scant two minutes
to spare before train time, he dashed
into the waiting room 1t was with a
fervent anathema against cooks in gen.
eral and this one in particular that he
bounced upon the nearest woman.
"Are you the new cook for Mrs.
Beresford?' he demanded breathlessly.
The woman, startled by his impetuous
onslaught surveyed him with non
committal glance.
"And If / amT' she ventured eau
tiously.
eve must hurry. Have you your
ticket? No? I'll get it. Your trunk?
Oh, that must wait until tomorrow.
Come along He found time In his
rush to note and inwardiy approve the
neat black dress, the gentle. almost
sad, face of the woman beside him.
Another woman, big and crowned with
a huge confection of flowers and lace,
stood by the door and Beresford men
tally congratulated himself on not hay-
ing to travel with that.
At home Mrs. Beresford regarded the
new girl with equal approval. The
question of hours. wages. days out,
etc, was quickly settled. Then Mrs.
Beresford asked for references. The
woman looked troubled.
"They are all III my trunk" she ex-
planned. MIR. Beresford is to bring II
out tomorrow There was no time to
day"
"Oh. very well,' said Mrs. Bcresford
| After all, 1t did not matter, for with
| out good recommendations Mrs. Lewis
would not have sent her.
| Dinner was delicious The sour
was a dream, the roast done to turn
| the game seasoned to perfection. WheI
the smooth black coffee came as fit
| ting finish to d dainty repast Mrs
| Beresford breathed d long sigh of re
lief. This wonlan was certainly 1
| treasure, she unused complacentfy
And Mrs. Withers suppressed Iittl.
envious sigh For, like most countr.
places, Hillside was but resting plac'
for countless Iegions Of girls.
IF she only keeps up like this
shall regard sIaggie's departure In tn
light of disguised blessing fonfdes
Mrs. Beresford to her husband later ii
the privacy Of their own apartment
Il hope she is not going to be III
| Norah Just told me that when she wa
arranging my room tonight the COO
came In, saying she felt bad NORA
fixed her up with hot water bags an
things and thought she would be al
right in the morning. Heigho, ar
tired. Anyway. think the Witherse
enjoyed themselves. Now If she wi
only stay"
But Mrs. Beresford's hope was des
tined to be Of short duration. Whe
Norah came in next morning to ligh
her mistress fire she brought tale
| woe
.sThe cook has gone, ma'am. She fel
very bad in the night. oh, yes; sh
did that. So she walked to the static
and took the first train"
!. sGoner exclaimed Mrs. Beresfort
! "Gone, Why. Norah"- Then, struc