Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-10-02
THE DAWSONS'
HONEYMOON COOK,
Conditions Changed So Much
That She Concluded to Remain.
BY HARRIET G. cANFIELp.

demonStrat iveness."
Tom Dawson put down his evening
paper and stared nt the pretty little
partner of his joys and sorrows. I'm
afraid | don't understand dear" he
said
why. it's very simple. If you know
that | care for you-and | am certain
that you care for me-all signs OF af-
lection are quite supertluous They
may be dropped"
"Ohr Tom said obviously We'll.
what shall | drop first?" There was n
twinkle in his eyes. and Prue saw 1t.
40 be serious" she pleaded. ito be-
gin with. you must not kiss me when
you come home to dinner and-and-
other times. You must drop
drop you courtesy instead" he
interrupted her laughingly.
Don't be ridiculous. Tom! You
know very well that there are many
useless customs that should be aban-
doned. many things that should be
dropped"
YES" he said. smiling wbimsically.
Hannah thinks so, l know. She drop
ped my meerschaum this morning. We
must take lessons OF that girl, Prue. or
drop her. On the whole. think we'd
better drop her."
ut will not be necessary" she said
with dignity. Hannah gave notice
this morning. l shall have to find
some one else within week"
"I'm sorry-sorry. l mean. for the
family she'll drop down on next. Han
nahs no featherweight, you know.
Speaking of Dropping
81 am not speaking of 1t now. 1t is
quite useless while you are in such a
mood" she said Indignantly. rising
from her chair.
Before she could leave the room Tom
was mt her side. "Forgive me. dear"
he said ~ didn't know you were in
such sober earnest" He stopped to
kiss the pink cheek next to him. but
Prue lifted a protesting hand. Don't
necessary"
"No. 1T isn't necessary the words
came soberly enough now-"only sweet
and natural"
And the next day, when the time
came to say goodby. Prue had no oc
casion to complain of his honeymoon
demonstrativeness.
Tom is very sensible this morning"
she said to herself. but she sighed as
she said 1t and went about all day
with a wistfu look in her blue eyes.
Tom was sensible" in the evening
also. and the next morning he was so
unpty-s,nncilNla oria1
but perhaps 1t was for joy. Even
sensible" people do that.
That afternoon Matilda made her
appearance. Hannah came into the
sitting room to announce her arrival
Matilda Stpbbins is here. Mrs Daw-
son." she said, "after my place. VIII
l show her in. ma'am? She and me
used to work together once. and she's
a dreadful good cook"
Yes. | will see her" Prue said And
in n moment tall. lank. frecklc faced
girl was standing in the doorway,
smiling at her. "Will you be seated?"
Prue asked pleasantly, and the girl
slid into chair. still smiling.
81 hope you'll give me try" she
said. I'D like first rate to cook for
you and him"
1t was Prue's turn to smile Have
you had much experience" she asked
"Heaps of II. ma am. but never long
to one place."
THAT seems stranger Prue ex-
claimed
"Well, you see. ma'am. the honey.
moons don't usually stretch out over
and above six months"
The honeymoons?"
Yes. ma'am don't cook and do
for none but new married folks. Han
nah told me about you and him when
she first came here two months ago.
She said as how she knew you was
just married"
Prue blushed. How did Hannah
know it?" she asked.
EASY enough. ma'am. It's like
measles and whoopin' cough She
could tell by the symptoms. Id rather
live where there's lovemakin' goin' on
continual than read the best novel ever
made up"
This was interesting but very en-
barrassing to Mrs. Thomas Da wson.
Two days ago she would have laughed
neuIllly Ut Mdlliua Sayings anu nave
found much enjoyment in repeating
them to Tom. But present conditions
made the girls remarks seem almost
personal, vet she felt tempted to en-
gage her.
Matilda" she said. did Hannah tell
you the wages she received and the
work she was expected to do?"
"Yes'm. she did. and I don't think
she'll better herself none goin' to work
in II factory"
Every well. I will give you a trial
When can you Gomez"
81 can stay now, ma'am. and get din
ner If you'll let me go home for my
clothes when the works rid up. Han
nah wants to leave as soon as she can
anyways"
And so 1t happened. that the honey
moon cook held sway In the Da wson
kitchen when the owner Of the house
came home that evening.
"You will be glad to hear that I've
engaged a new girl" Prue said to him
In the distantly polite tone that she