The Arvada enterprise., 1911-10-19
Cooks
Romance

drink on the sly7"
Can she be losing her mindT"
Il am almost afraid to 20 into the
kitchen"
The Gordon family consisted Of hus-
band, wife and two children. the latter
being Frank, young man OF 20. and
Nettie, a miss OF IS. The mother and
daughter were holding family coun-
ell over Hannah the cook. who had
been with them for Ave long years
and WIS still rustling in tho kitchen.
Hannah was 40 years old. weighed
almost 200 pounds and was jewel.
That Is, she has been up to very lnte-
ly. 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
change Hannah had become hdgety.
1t was known that she was writing
letters and secretly posting them. 1t
was known that she had taken box
at the postoflce. 1t was known that.
instead OF going to bed at 8 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 sighs.
What can It 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
young man who wanted to be loved
by steadfast girl. II he could find
such he would make her very happy.
Was not Hannah a girl-an old girl?
Was she not Bteadfast? She wrote
and received an answer. and the af-
fair was on. II the family council
only had thought OF romance all
would have been clear; but 1t 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 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 real, genuine blush. She
got good view of him from a corner
of the house as he drove up. The
night was long one to her. At the
first signs of dawn she dressed and
left the house and gathered few late
flowers in the garden for bouquet
With this In hand she re-entered
the house and softly mado her way to
the guests room. and after bestowing
kiss on the flowers she left them
at his door. When Mr.. Bingham arose
and found them he carried them to
the breakfast table in his hand and
gave Miss Nellie 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 Mr.. Bling
ham. Her whole loving heart was In
that smile. but he couldn't understand
1t. That afternoon Hannah met him
In the upper hall by design and smiled
again and pressed pink note into his
hand Mr.. Bingham was too aston
ished to return the note or to ask
for an explanation. When he came
to read the note he found:
You have come to your own true
love Meet her in the garden at 3
o'clock tonight Beware OF Miss Net
tie. Be true to me-"
1t was an embarrassing position for
Mr.. Bingham. The note and the smiles
Indicated that his hosts cook was in
love with him, and he was stunned.
He did not keep the appointment
made, and there was another bouquet
at his door next morning. Tied to II
with piece OF store twine was an
other perfumed note. which read:
Il waited for you for two long
hours. but you did not come II Miss
Nettie has got you away from me then
both of you bewarc!"
Young Mr.. Bingham had never pass
ed through an earthquake nor cy.
clone. but he saw signs In the air and
took the family into council What
IL
was decided that they must go to the
fountain-head to find out The cook
was bearded In her den. She was
dignited. She was reserved. She
was quietly defiant When pressed
she discharged herself on the spot
and demanded to see Mr.. Bingham.
II was full hour before the right
trail was struck. Even then Hannah
could not give up. She brought out
five or six love letters, which she had
believed had been written by young
Mr. Bingham. and they were passed
around TO be read. There was laugh
ter and ridicule and criticism. but 1t
needed one thing more.
That one thing came. 1t was red
headed. shabbly-dresscd man who
knocked at the kitchen door. He had
one eye. He had large ears. Hc had
scraggly chin whiskers.
No vittles!" said Hannah.