The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-07-10
THE TEMPORARY sUBsT1-
TUTE.
BY EDITH Ross.

required him to spend with his maiden
eunt In the country, while inclination
strongly urged him to go up to town In
prder to see the girl he loved. But on this
occasion duty had to be considered. for
ndiss Drury. the aunt in question, was d
wealthy old lady, and he was practically
dependent upon her.
All things considered however, Fate had
not been so very unlind to Felix. Left an
orphan at an carly age. he had been
adopted by his mothers eldest sister, who
had done her duty nobly by him. Now, at
the age of rs. he found himself a subaltern
IN one OF the line regiments, with q hand
some allowance from hts aunt. and every
prospect of becoming her heir. But-there
70 always a but" iii most peoples lives
3lthough Miss Drury had been more than
liberal to her nephew and forebore to eX-
ercise any but q very nominal restraint
fover his actions. yet she had given him
20 understand that she meant to- exercise
pher authority In one important matter,
namely. the question OF his marriage.
In due course of time she intended Felix
TO become master OF Woodlands, her
beautiful old house. and since his wife
would occupy her place as mistress, Miss
IDrury meant to limit. II not direct, her
hephew's choice of a bride.
she did not approve of the modern
woman. the up-to-date girl. with her
cigarette and her slang. her talk of golf
ENs~ AO6Sp I'LL U IcculCHOJh
and all things pertaining to domesticity.
lFeitx could see In, his minds eye the wife
Ehts aunt destined for hinl-a meek and
miOdest young woman OF ultru-refned
speech and appearance. and always with a
piece OF fancy work between her fingers
and he shuddered at the picture. Then
ne thought. with a sudden Tightening of
pills heart. of Kitty Beilairs, as he had seen
her last1summer at the house of a brother
tOfficer-bcautiful. mischievous, high-spirit-
fed. q Keen tennis player. n brilliant horse
woman. full of life and laughter. She had
Ecnarlned the young mans heart out of
Enlm. and though Felix tried desperately
jhard to Danish her from his memory, alb
lsence. In this case. had certainly made the
iheart grow fonder.
II daren't tell Aunt Minnie about Kit
W.. thought the young man. disconsolate-
ny. OF course, II she knew her as / do
)she couldn't help but love her, although
lshe isn't quite her style. but L don't see
nov ever fhey are to meet. since my little
kdarling knows no, one IN this neighborhood.
iand Aunt Min never will come IN to
town.
In the depths of his heart, Felix was
genuinely fond OF the old lady, who had so
generously mothered him all his life, and
lhe was therefore rather disconnected to
find when he reached Woodlands that Miss
pDrury was very much perturbed and upset
about something. Generally his aunt was
p very dainty-looking little old lady, ex-
Auisltely dressed, and the perfection of a
Hostess. But on this particular afternoon
she greeted her nephew In an absent-nind-
ed fashion, her cap slightly awry. her
cheeks flushed. and her beautiful old
bands trembling.
Why. Aunt Minnie" said the young
man, anxiously, "whatever Is the mattcr?,
oh. my dear Felix" replied the old
Lady. looking into his handsome face with
Troubled eyes, II nave had such a dread
ful upset. Two of the housemaids are
down with influenza. and now Parkins,
who Is quite Invaluable. has declared she
can hold up no longer, and has gone to
bed seriously Ill. l fear"
Felix gave a long whistle of dismay.
Parklns was cook-housekeeper at Wood
Hands. and tho pivot upon which the rest
fof the household turned. She was an
Exceptionally good cook, and he knew that
phts aunt prided herself that her dinners
were unsurpassed in the neighborhood.
II would rot have minded had we been
alone" continued Miss Drury, "but the
mouse is full of people. and L have a large
dinner party tomorrow
What q catastrophe" exclaimed her
nephew, sympathetically, who knew how
fveXed was Miss Drury's orderly mind
when any household affairs went wrong.
Cant you get u woman from the village
TO help?"
"Of course [ can. but you don't know
what these village women are like, my
gear Felix; dirty, incompetent creatures,
ana as incapable of sending up a dinner
hs you are. No, 1 must leave Susan. the
Kitchen maid, to do her best, but J know I
shall be disgraced tomorrow, and I do
mtnd so much ii my guests don't have the
best of everything. Ant to make matters
worse. that greedy old Sir Gregory is COM
ms, and he always says he never dimes
70 we'll anywhere as here. You don't
know of a cook that you Gun recommend
by any chance. do you, Telix?" she asked.
desperately.
This wistful appeal touched the young
mans heart. AS a rule. a subaltern home
on leave Is not the person one would ma
furally apply to for a cook, but Miss
Drury was at her wits ends. Felix knit
Eed his brows and thought hard for a min
ute. at the end of which time a brilliant
pnspiraNon came to him.
Look here. Aunt Minnie" he exclaimed
suddenly. don't you worry any more, I'll
30 straight up to town first thing tomor-
Row. and Ill find you a cook some how.
n bring her back with me in the after
hoon."
Miss Drury looked at her nephew with
tears In her eyes. Felix" she said, SOL
emnly. III you get me out of this difficulty
Hou may ask me for anything In the
world"
Felix was as good as his word. He de-
parted for town directly after breakfast
next morning. smiling good-humoredly at
the char Of his fellow guests, and reap
peared triumphant in the afternoon proud
~ escorting the new cook.
I've brought her. Aunt Min" he an
bounced. rushing excitedly into Miss
prury's boudoir. '.She was at the Raw
sons last summer. and an uncommonly
good cook she is. Blair is her name. It's
p great piece of luck that she was disen-
gagged. you know"
Misc Drury went hurriedly downstairs to
suspect the new arrival. n to explain to
her the arrangements for the evenings
dinner.
"I was a little taken aback at first"
phe said later on to her nephew. Blair
looks so young and SO pretty. and so-er-.
refined. but she seems very capable and,
fully qualified to send up an excellent din
nor"
eyes. replied Felix. eagerly: "she has
had a course of cooking lessons at South
Kensington. l believe she is no end of a
swell at 1t"
REALLY. my dear boy said Miss Drury,
booking affectionately at her nephew. II
an most touched by the interest you have
shown In this domestic difficulty, and the
trouble you have AIKEN. II only Blair does
not falsify our expectations I shall owe
you q debt Of gratitude"
Tho dinner proved an immense success,