The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1911-11-30
Cooks
Romance

drink on the sly?"
Can she be losing her mind?"
i am lmost afraid to go into the
kitchen"
Inc Gordon family consisted of hus
band. wife and two children. the latter
being Frank. a young man of 20. and
Nettie, a miss of IS. The mother and
daughter were holding a family coun.
ell over Hannah the cook, who mad
been with them for five long years
n was still rustling in the kitchen.
HANNAH was 40 years old. weighed
almost 200 pounds and was a level.
mat is, she has been up to very late
~. They couldn't say enough in
praise of her, and she hadn't demand
ed more wages because they praised
her.
A month before this family council
of two opened there had come a
change. Hannah had become fdgety
IL was known that she was writing
letters and secretly posting them It
was known that she had taken a box
at the p%ostofice. 1t was known hat.
instead of going to bed at 9 o'clock,
as all jewels of cooks do, she was
strolling in the back yard and repeat
Ing lines of poetry and signing long
drawn signs.
What can 1t be. mother-what can
1t be?" asked the daughter.
Hannah had selected a particular
advertisement and answered it. She
had bought pink stationery. She had
licked the two-cent stamp on in the
most loving manner.
The advertisement was that of a
young man who wanted to be loved
by a steadfast girl. If he could find
such he would make her very happy.
Was not Hannah a girl-an old girl?
Was she not steadfast? She wrote
and received an answer. and the at
fair was on. If the family council
only had thought of romance all
would have been clear; but it didn't.
And what made mother and daugh-
ter more anxious was the fact that
Rodney Bingham. a young gentleman
of %. whom they had met at a resort
during the summer. was coming to
pay Frank a visit. Mr.. Bingham ar.
rived. Hannah was all smiles. She
was also seen to blush. The red on
her cheeks was not from the kitchen
range. but a real. genuine blush. She
got a good view of him from 9. corner
of the house as he drove up. The
night was a long one to her. At the
first signs of dawn she dressed and
left the house and gathered a few late
flowers in the garden for a bouquet
With this in hand she re-entered
the house and softly made her way to
the guests room. and after b%estowing
a kiss or the flowers she left them
at his door. When Mr.. Bingham arose
and found them he carried them 20
the breakfast table in his hand n
Miss Nellie a smiling nod for
her courtesy and thoughtfulness-
After breakfast Frank and his
friend walked out to the stables to in
spect the auto. Hannah met them
face to face and smiled at Mir. Bing-
ham. Her whole loving heart was in
smile, but he couldn't understand
it. That afternoon Hannah met him
in the upper hall by design and smiled
again and pressed a pink note into his
hand Mr.. Bingham vas too aston {
shed to return the note or to ask 7
or an explanation. When he came r
read the note he found: ;
You have come to your own true 8
owe. Meet her in the garden at 9
,'clock tonight Beware of Miss Net :
lie. Be true to me-" '
1t was an embarrassing position for I
dr. Bingham. The note and the smiles
Indicated that his hosts cool was in n
with him. and he was stunned t
lie did not keep the appointment b
made, and there was another bouquet +
t his door next morning. Tied to it q
With a piece of store Irvine was an
Their perfumed note. which read: :
Il waited for you for two long L
ours. but you did not come. If Miss r
Iettie has got you away from me Their 6
9th OF you beware!" il
Young Mr.. Bingham had never pass W
through an earthquake nor a cy- s,
lone. but be saw signs in the air and fl
the family into council. What :,
lis Hannah" became the topic. 1t :,
as decided that they must go to the
untain-head to find out. The cook d
as bearded in her den. She was &
She was reserved. She D'
as quietly defiant. When pressed Of
le discharged herself on the spot pt
demanded to see Mr.. Bingham. "
was a full hour before the right
all was struck. even then Hannah
,uld not give up. She brought out
We or six i've letters. which she had
,lieved had been written by young
r Bingham. and they were passed ia
'ound to be read. There was laugh of
r and ridicule and criticism. but it D
,eded one thing more
That one thing came 1t was a red
'aded. shabbily-dressed man who
locked at the kitchen door. He had D;
e eye He had large ears He had is
chin whiskers. ii,
NO yittlesi" said Hannah. OF
He winked at her and took her pink pt