Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-15

hadn't eaten such thing since his last dinner at the
Cafe St. Martin"
And Dorothy spoke so easily that Agatha, for ali
her shrewdncss detected nothing The dinner pro-
ccedcd in orderly triumph Dorothy overheard Mrs
Prentice saying, with New England evasion to
congraulaton: well, I'm sorry to say, she is only
borrowed: she is an accommodation whom | got for
to-day The cook is an accommodation, too I was
lucky, don't you think"
II think ID like their addresses il you please Mil
liccnt" doomed Mrs Prentcc's deep voice. these
pics are something wonderfully; SO was the frozen
cheese and the aspc Jelly"
"The others hers, but the pies" Mrs Pen
tice was iadant"thc pies from your own recipe
a,d made them myself
Madame Prentice nodded her acqulinc profile will,
sign OF approval than her daughter-in law ever
had She turned the conversation TO the water
goblcs of rockcrysta curiousy with facets geam-
ing like diamonds She had loaned them to Mile.
she said with gracious smile Never before had
she shown such condescenon Mrs. Prentice sat like
in happy dream
1t with suppressed exultation combined with
gratitude, that dinner over, she MAIDS
the first opportunity to 50 to the pantry and look
through the slide into the kitchen There sat the pretty
maid and the cook whose white gown projected
by the voluminous and bretced Of aprons which
being protected by nothing in turn had suffered from
the ccccntrcites of the coal-rangc and the sportvo
nature OF eggs But her brilliant eyes and flushed
checks made her handsome the trim maid
Dishes were stacked in all drcctons-on The tables in
the sink, the pantry shelves. The sacred De Witt
Clinton set however had been washed and stood afely
side
A snatch q conversation Coated to Mrs. Prentice
And to think that we used think cur maids dial.
lied forever their nleas'hy, It's euch rclct
TO sit down think too hard--G rean was
too hard I'm afraid the cellar .airs were too steep
too am going to that they altered
Mrs Prentice bent to speak through the slide In
happy eagerness Of her e,attudc The ancestral COB
lets the shelf the ladys movement dslodged
tie protecting prop Of iindling- there the
swift slide OF the guotine sickening, sinister crash
Both sisters sprang to their feet; they the wreck
age; they noted Mrs. Prenticcs whitening face.
Dorothy ran around into the pantry; f,c pushed into
a heap the spinters of two CT the glasses
"This way, Mr.. Wentwor.!, this way full
tnd voice proclaimed preceding the stately figure OF
Madam Prentice, here's the china closet. Mi!cen'
will excuse my bringing you in here. Mi.lcent where
those glasses"
Agatha heard the voice She realized Part Of the
awful situation. but chance for ilcr own entry
into the tragedy; thing she could do she cid it;
viii all her weight she hung the slide and kept
the screen firm between the world and her untidy
kitchen Dorothy will have to save that miserable
Mrs Prentice" thought She ~ can't"
Dorothy seemed equat her task She had flung
her napkin over The wreck; she was ssking in the
.neekest voice was there anything Madam washed
Here's one" said Madam Prentice, IT you want
wedding gift, you couldn't do better
pardon, madam" IA,cothys >;lvery, humble tones
again slid into the pause Pardon but if these most
beautiful classes are FOR SELL know lady will buy.
Gay what you ke-uness, of monsieur, he wish
-"
She looked quite calmly full into Wentworths per-
t1,bed face; ne gasped;
why yes, yes Unless the LADY it fifty do!ars''
Fifty dollars; and p,eier to sell to YOU, retortcd
Madam Prentice, Jouve got the scrutoir ana you can
have these. 49, .
Il do them up and give to the gentleman" softly
sadly iH.: sR0, Is;d D %sda,, Prentice
Mrs Prentice said word. By degrees the
color ebbed back into her face. But not until Madam
Prentices magnificent back had creaked and shimered
away and Wentworth had returned to close the pantry
door, murmurng Il must see you Whent
And Dorothy had murmured back; "Lato,-aitc'
they go. Thank you"
Not until this last momen. did Mrs. Prentice sum,
mon breath to voice intolerabe relief. "Oh y0'
good good brave bra smart yyoSns s,; On will he '
Dear no." laughed Dorothy. 50 handsome that /
took Agathas breath away, as she caught the vision
ens s Sy e 1s sp ar And We gong
you prescn. of them"
"Oh, amt she the ea.es thing =" sighed Mrs, Prem
tice out of full heart.
According to i,nemoria New ENGLAND ru'al custom
the dinner had been in the early afternoon but III
lamps lighted Agatha left her clean and shin
ing kitchen, and smiling though weary. babe Mr.
Prentice good night and went upstairs She pause
only moment at the door of their own little parlo
She had opened il by the youth and Made
within who were blind to everything but the enchante
Journey into their hearts which they taking
she ga7cd for second them both.
, Dorothy spoke; her voice held sweetness
Srch happy happy Thanks givirG' she said u didn
think OF 'he thanks. though, was so busy irving
make II 20 OF and make the poor things happy'
What better 10 return tharks--to make peop
!, i""oy' Ard to think cried the younr fellow r.
morsc'uly That ever thought YOU like hcaut
row-Oh, Dorcttv is It too soon"
Very soft", ire older sister closed the door
seem" snid she with rat'er wisfu smile, 80 ha,
c been more Of an accommodation than expected"