The Democratic advocate., 1906-07-20
gelett gtnrp.
MAID MARIAN.

| "HeIe 4 state OF things. cfied les
sic, bursting tempestuously in upon her
nearest friend and neiShbor. ''Our cock
left this morning because mamma ra>hly
criticised her coffee; the maid espoused her
cause and followed suit; and to add to the
general hilarity, Toms just teIegraphed
that he 5 bringing home a stranger an
Englishman of high degree-to dinner
this evening" What shall | do, Maldie Z
Not a servant in the house, and only my
small self-mamma : perfectly helpless
when it comes 10 things domestic. You
<now-to fill the triple role Of hostess
def and maid of all work Like the gen
denian in the Bah Ballads, m the
boats tight, aud the midshipmitc, and
the crew Of the captain gig the whole
thing in short-and | fear / m not equal
/ Aosft
Marian had put down her book aud was
regarding her friend with sympathetic III
tercst. She had lived long enough in
locality where it was impossible 10 secure
skilled service at short notice to be keeniy
alive to the tragic nature of the situation.
why not telephone she suggested
Explain the matter to Tom aud ask him
to deier--
Too late. answered Tcs>ic, rueiully
"It's a two hours run out irom LOUIS
vile. and they re already en- roate by this
Besides. | fancy this gentleman represents
the Eugli,h syndicate Tom firm hiss been
trying 10 interest in the Nr9'phalia coai
lands. and It would never DO To seem Dis
courteous 10 him when his influence means
80 much If ouly he weren't English -
English people have such hosts Of servants.
and such perfect service alway~-and ! II
have 10 introduce him 20 a ii>orlcred
menase and experimental cuisine, and peer
Tom will be mortified drcadfully ~ Tes-
,ic' pretty face cloudel to brighten a
moment late "Weu. I've a cook, a;
lca1-sueh 4, she l.. rounded up old
Aunt Ait,ic a. came acT,es. and she
promises to cast herself into the breach.
$50 fairly capable in thc kitchen. and
think We can manage crell:able mcnn
between us, but as Tor Scryioc---- Poor.
dcrrcri, oh Ailar. With her .rhcumaties
aud .,l,, misery ia her siie. would scaroely
shine in the role 81 IIelc
Il might leuI yau Lacy. -aii Marian,
thaagbtiully. bat yc had her only a
wcyl. and She. the stup,lc.a -p~eiura
I've ever encountered. She .pil the
| c.flec. smssh the china and shat,cT yuur
nerves. hayeit. T,S-ic' Why ,honlJn {
I I.lay maid. The various yigi-~isui,- yc
uulcr.uuc ,lncc I've kept house fer father
have giyca M" ample rKp,urucr. | Sc
,ame pretty new clT~ and arrou.. I4st
purcha-,-d for l.Icy. aai san df--s the
part properly IL woaid he r-al fan Gee
rlay ,ayry 20 a s,luu II ghr Brush arr
toeraey. and I'm ,lfr ooall 10 it ,ug
os-,iuly. Viii yua lct me tryF
"Oh. coalin tbiok e II, NarIie
L. awfully .sss-i of yoa. has ia quite
jon much a. ask
its ~ more than ypu h for mc.
dear. and doa mind bii don' {
know many Engiishmca only onc. in
raot- thsre' no danger of IT, ca>tins
me ms chance Of Presentation II o'grl,
lt's sll settled. Test m g,.,n. wi1h ypu
nau 10 make she sahI and droura,e the
Table while you pu, on yonr prvtsie-i gown
ans. your sSecle-, smile aud prepare 10
captlyaie the capitalist
Dinner l. s,r,c-l, madam
The Honorable Chaancry Caylc-for,i
S,aTlssou. exchanging elviIisies With his
hoslszs on the wide p.azsa Of a stately col
ouial man-ion. infinitely grateful 10 an
a--lhctie srn-e sally Jared by 4 saccs'-ssiop
| u suburban. architectural atrocitie- en-
coaniere,l in tAmerlca started sharply \
aotncui later realizing that the VOICE
oddly reminiscent of another voice.
which be had crossei the Atlantic in the
hopc Of hearing again-was that of the
tim, whits capped maid IN the doorway.
he Was apostruphiEiuS himself as a ''hloou-
ing idiot,
/ Like the majovity Of his fcllow Briior,,.
the Honorable Chsuncey was accustomed
to regarl the dnmcstics IN hls service not
a. individuals, but a. mere automatic Ae.
c-z-sories t. a well ordered menage. IL i
doubtful whether. If brought face To face
with the deniEen> of the servants hall at
Stapleiou Court, he would have recognized
any one Of the number, with the exoep-
tion Of the butler, his own valet, aud the
groom who looked after his hunters
Accordingly, after first general glance
IN her direction, he relegated the speaker
10 the hack ground and ascribed the lAncied
similarity Of tone to his own complete oh
session by persistently haunting memory
Rising, he offered his arm With formal
courtesy to Mrs Nandiyer, who led the
way to the dining Eoom, where spirited
scene had meantime been Suaeiing. Tom
called in by Tessie for ,reenroom glimpse
of Marian in her maid makeup, had
eyineed a too pronounced approval of her
general appearance, elamoring vooiterously
for an instant revival Of the good old Gus
tom of saluting the serving maid, aud it
was only by dint of earnest entreaty that
had succeeded in reducing him to order
and extracting his promise to conduct him
self with due decorum during the dinner 5
progress.
The grimaces with which he favored
Marian-whom he persisted in addressing
as MARY Ann behind the unconscious
back Of the Honorable Chauncey proved
his construction of the phrase liberal one,
The dinner, admirably planned and
daintily served, was success. The con
somme was perfect, the entrees beyond
criticism, and the entire menu credit to
the combined efforts of Tess and Aunt
Ailsie, who had been a famous cook in her
day. There was no fault in service CT
cuisine to jar upon the sensibili,ies of a
man accustomed to the highest perfection
of either As the coffee and liqueurs
came on, the Honorable Chauncey was
moved to say to his hostess:
II shall recall my brief visit to your
hospitable home, my dear Mrs. Vandiver,
as one of the pleasantest of my many ex-
periences in your charming country.
Mrs. Vandiver smiled her thanks.
Then you have not found us a nation
of barbarians and our land howhng will
derness, as so many of our European visit
ors have done p she queried.
Il am happy to say never entertained
the absurd prejudice against Americans
| 4. i l. l.,