The Grit-advocate., 1905-08-18


kissed her goodbye, and faltered in
her purpose. week had not passed
before Joe had to be given another
dose of his medicine. The baby had
been fretful and Rose had been up
frequently during the night, SO the
morning found her utterly worn out
Just as breakfast was nearly ready, a
loud cry from the little thing forced
her to leave the nearly-cooked steak
to the tender mercies OF Kizzie, the
hired girl. Rose had risen to bring
her husband his coffee, and was stand.
ing beside him, when he said an
grily:
Your cooking gets worse and
worse, Rose. l will not even try to
eat this steak. 1t is only fit for the
slop pail"
"Just as you say, dear" she an.
swered quickly; and catching up the
offending dish, she stepped into the
kitchen and deposited its contents in
to the pail Of slop before he had
guessed her intention.
Joe's eyes and mouth opened wide,
but before he could speak a scream
from the baby sent Rose flying to her
room. leaving him to finish his meat
less breakfast alone
The very next day the crisis came
Joe was particularly fond of peach
pie, and as he was leaving home in
the morning he said:
Il forgot to tell you, Rosie, that l
asked Dick Lewis to dine with us to-
day, and l wish you would have an
extra good dinner. Make some of
your very best peach pie out of those
nice peaches Aunt Mary sent us. You
can't be beat on peach pies, little
wife"
"All right, Joe, III do my best" she
replied rather dolefully. 81 wish you
had asked Mr.. Lewis some other day,
though, for my head aches and baby
is SO fretful. kizzie asked me to let
her go home to-day, but of course
cannot. Well, I'll do the best l can"
1t was a hard morning for poor
Rose. The weather was very warm
the baby fretted continuously, little
Tom went from one piece of mischief
to another, and ended by falling and
raising lump on his forehead, and
he had to be doctored and comforted
k1zzie inaulged in fit of sulks be-
cause Rose refused to give her holi-
day, and went about shifting and do
ing everything wrong. Rose struggled
on, feeling the nervous headache with
which she had started the day, grow
ing worse every moment. There was
one comfort, however, the peach pies
were perfect success. There were
three of them in their flaky crusts, the
very ideal of peach pies. She smiled
a little wistfully, saying to herself
Joe cannot possibly find fault with
these" Dick Lewis was fellow
clerk of Joes who had not been in
the town long, and this was his first
formal meal in their house.
When everything was ready, Rose
left the pouting Kizzie to keep watch
in the kitchen, and hurried to her
room to change her dress. She had
Just finished dressing, when she heard
Joe calling her and she went to meet
her guest. Even as she shook hands
with him. she heard a crash and the
smell OF something burning pervaded
the house. She did not need Joe's
frowning, What is that fearful odor.
Rose?" to send her flying to the kitch.
en-, certain of some dire calamity
There stood kizzie gazing at the
range from which a stream of hot
grease was pouring to the floor, where
lay her pretty gravy dish in frag-
ments. She had left it on the shelf
OF the warmer ready to be placed on
the table, filled with delicious gravy.
"Oh, kizzie, what have you done?"
she exclaimed, and snatching a cloth,
she tried to wipe the gravy from the
hot range, where it was smelling
worse every moment.
Il reached up to git tin cup off
the top and my elbow knocked the ole
thing off," muttered kizzie sullenly,
II didn't go to do it,
There was nothing to be done but
serve the roast without gravy, so she
put the dinner on table, gave her final
directions to the scowling Kizzie, and
summoned the gentlemen to the din
ing-room. The air was still heavy
with the smell of burnt grease, and
significant glance of annoyance from
Joe called her attention to the fact
that in wiping it up she had soiled the
cuff Of her dress badly. Joe began to
find fault without delay. AS his knife
touched the meat he said:
"This roast is burned to crisp.
Rose. No wonder there is such a stiff
ling smell. | hope nature blessed you
with strong teeth, Lewis. Where is
the gravy, Rose? You have forgotten
it, suppose"
Rose tried to laugh and give an
amusing account Of the catastrophe,
but it was hard work with Joe's I'M
smiling face opposite to her. One
dish after another was commented on
diSparagingly.