Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-08-17

| But I'm going to take 1t myself"
said the young man
And wby?"
Il want to see the girl who owns
that voice."
Nonsense! Mrs. Taylor IL as old
as | am. | don't know Of q girl within
Ave miles Of here"
Nevertheless, the young man insist.
cd on going. and after the unhappy
pullet had had her neck wrung he
started of with the body dangling
from his right hand. Before his two
mile walk had been accomplished
dusk fallen and the moon had come
up. Thus, as he approached the cot.
tage he saw a figure Of q girl stand
ing In the highway. and heard a voice
calling:
'If you are the man with the chick
en- make haste. please. Yes, you have
1t. and I'm so glad and thankful. You
see. | want to get the soup made right
away. Did you bring change for a
dollarT"
"Well-er-n-o-o," was the reply.
why, you are not a farmers hired
mani" exclaimed the girl as she
looked at the chicken carrier for the
first time.
mo. but l have brought the fowl.
Let me carry 1t In for you, please.
It's bleeding yet My name Is Ches-
ter"
But really"
And do you know how to pick and
dress a chicken"
MY stars. but | lever thought OF
that. and Mrs. Ryder's sound asleep!
am Miss Frayne. Mrs. Taylor's
niece. III have to run up and ask
auntie."
Perhaps | can help you." said the
young man. trying hard to look wise.
ITO get the feathers off easily you
have to scald the bird. | believe. Can
you get some hot water?"
"I've got a big kettle on the stove.
and here's a dishpan. But you mustn't
help. You must take your pay and go.
That is-that-"
THAT Is. I'm going to help with the
chicken. You might spoil 1t for soup.
you know. We lay 1t in the dish. Now
we pour on boiling water. Now we
turn 1t over. After five minutes the
feathers will be l~oosened."
But you are a gentleman-and you
are a young mainland you must live
In the city-and how do you know
II | don't know how to dress a chick.
en- why should your"
And now we take 1t outdoors" con-
tinued the young man with a smile
"and don't you see how easily the
feathers come off? And while I'm
holding the body over the fame of the
stove for a minute you will please get
me the butcher knife. The chicken
must be drawn and then cut up"
But why DO you help?" asked Miss
Mildred.
Because feel sorry for Mrs. Ky
der, and because you don't know how
to dress a chicken. Now the knife
Now to put the pieces in cold water
and rinse them thoroughly. One piece
will do for all the soup she'll want to
night. Only about a quart OF water
Now put in the rice and pepper and
salt and boil for 80 minutes. and there
you are. | must 60 now, but I'll droT
in in the morning to see how the pa
tient gets along"
But who-who asked you tor
"Oh, l furnished the chicken. didnr
II" he answered With a laugh. Good
night"
Forty minutes later. when old Mrs
Ryder was taking her chicken souI
and telling how good 1t WAS. she no
ticed a serious look on Miss Mildred's
face and asked what had happened.
why. q young man brought this
chicken"
"Bless his kind hearth"
"And he dressed 1t for you"
BLESS him some more!"
"And he bossed me around terribly
"He did. eh?"
"And | know Just how things are
going to turn out. He'll come here
again tomorrow, and then | shall have
to ask him to auntie's house, anC
she'll like him, and he'll like me
and IT,. Well, 1t won't be two
months before he'll say he loves me
and must have me. and-and-"
And you'll be engaged and ther
married and be n OF the happies'
brides in the land. What a fine chick
eni What beautiful soupl Why. tina
young man is worth his weight IL