Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-01-04
MISS RANDALL'S
CUSTOMER
A Case of Mistaken
Identity
BY cLARlSsA MAcklE

ttx&tAA<t&xttt
Hester Randall surveyed the result
Of her mornings work with keen salts
faction. \ snowy cloth was laid on her
kitchen table. aud piled thereon we're
loaves ~ crusiy bread. sheets ~ fcath-
erweight biscuits aud glistcning rusks.
There were tempting loayes of pound
cake and several layer cakes rs well rs
a platter hcaped with sngared dough
nuts and another Of cookies.
Friday was always Hesfer's busiest
day. She arose at o'clock and baked
all day TO al her orders for the dnin-
ties which We're I'm great demand
among her neighbors. ON Friday even
Ing. although she was tired and foot
sore. she would deliver the bread and
cake She would have 20 make several
trips with The heavily laden basket he.
fore her weary body could seek rero>e.
Now she sat down ana drank cup
of hot tea and ate tribe Of supper he.
fore she started out OH her rounds.
She was plump. rosy little mite OF
woman with bright brown eyes and
brown hair that obstinately refused To
turn gray although Hester had passed
her thirty first year. Now she slipped
into thin white dress. for II was n
hot evening and. arranging her first
basket load. went out into the gather
ing twilight
At Mrs Amos Blake's she left part Of
her fragrant burden and paused for Il
little chnt
You know the Paige place has beer
rented FOR the summer don't yon. Hes
teri" asked Mrs. Blake after awhile.
NO I'm glad to hear IT, though II
means another customer" laughed
Hester
II spoke a good word for you. It's
lone man who has something 70 do with
making a map Of the county hereabouts
and he was planning 10 get all OF his
meals nj the hotel but when told him
about how you baked for some Of us
lazy housekeepers he said he'd much
rather have home cooking and lie
guessed he'd fuss over his own break.
fast and supper. You know men like to
fuss over cooking things Now. Amos
here II ticklcd 10 death whenever let
him get breakfast on Sunday morning.
This isn't telling you about Mr. Chan
dler. though tnld him I'd speak 10
you and tell you 20 leave him some
bread and cake. and he said he might
not he home when you came. 50 he ask
ed me 10 give You this dollar and tell
YOU In leave dollars worth on his
back porch every week. Have you got
anything TO spare"
maybe can make out some for him
by giving up my own baking" replied
Hester aS she placed the money In the
little bag dangling from her waist. III
don't hurry II will he pitch dark he
fore get through. Good night"
Good night. Hester. That cream cake
looks SO good I'm going TO have slice
right away
II was dark indeed when Hester Ran.
dali stopped with her third load OF good.
les NJ the gate ~ the Paige house. Il
was n small gabled cottage smothered
IN honcysurkle vines and for several
seasons had been rented furnished 10
city people N looked dark and desert
ed now as Hester opened the gate and
made her way around the sandy path
TO the back porch. As she stood there,
hesitating. the moon pushed n silver
rim above tile shoulder ~ High hill. SO
she waited until II rose I'm all its splen.
dor and east pale glow over the Paige
house and garden II fell full on an
open window where white curtain
languidl, Tapped.
As Hester opened her basket and laid
clean napkin on the porch a harsh
voice from the open window startled
her
"Mhat are you doing out there:" II
fnarled. and Hester was quick to
reply.
I'm leaving your bread aud cake"
she said with offended dignity In her
tones.
well. hurry mp and get out OF here.
want to be- alone." rasped the voice.
II was n very indignant Hester who
dumped scver;, loaves OF bread.
sheet Of biscuit aud some doughnuts
and layer cake on the back porch
and hurried out Of the yard with
burning cheeks.
"Wha, grabbed. cranky old man
he must be-" thought Hester MS she
went home AMI prepared for bed III
Il wasn't for the money Id not bake
another crumb for him. The idea
Unfortunately Hester could not give
way 10 her injured feelings. for she
needed every penny she could earn 60
pay on the Indebtedness on the little
house WHICH was her Inheritance from
Woodworking parents. So the follow
Ing Friday evening found her once
more standing M Mr.. Chambers back
door with her basket Of goodies. II