The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-04

y a. MARIA CRAWFORD.

=
~ A. MARIA CRAwrOnD.
tcourishi. 1914, u
Bob Lapgford has been . guss< In the
Steele home for nearly week when the
unexpected happened. Every servant ON
the place left without troubling to notify
the nervous little wife Of Gov Steele
Supplementary guests had been hidden
from several big country houses In the
neishborhood for dinners. luncheons ana
other affairs. for Gov. Steele bad de-
clared that he wanted everything pos
sible done for tthe pleasure and enter
talnment of his best friends son; 90 the
situation was very disturbing.
ITS awful" srosned Maize. the young
er Of the two pretty Steele girls
II never had such thing occur pc
fore" complained Mrs Steele. and
have kept house for over twenty years
Don't worry! urged the genial gov
ernor. 'Tli run into town and bring
out a car full of trained help. in the
meantime, we can rely on Sarah to man
age. Sarah never has much to say Dur
xbe can do great deal TO make US
comfortable" He leaned over and patted
his daughters hand. Il can always de-
pend on you"
Don't natter me. father laughed
Sarah. "Til work just as well without
IT,"
"TlI help" volunteered the handsome
young guest eagerly. II can make coffee,
broil meat and toast bread without burn
ing IT,"
Mercy. what an accomplished young
man you are! Do you cook as well as
| you dance. ride and play golf and ten
nis?' asked Make
II am willing to try. What are your
orders, Sarah"
"You and Maize take yourselves out
for q ride. It's a lovely morning. Father
can fill his appointments in the. study as
usual and mother can prune her roses or
do whatever II is she does to them every
day. I'll manage until some servants
can be found. III telephone In town and
see what can be done on such short
notice. Tonight you remember. We are
giving a dance"
Let's call il off.' suggested Lansford.
"oh, no!' Maize made a little grimace.
| Peter Cox has a friend from Princeton
here and / want TO meet him"
| Haven't you sweethearts enough"
THE more the merrier. Bob." cried the
pretty, spoiled girl. Let's take Sarah.
advice and ride out to Chestnut RIDGE!
mo. not this morning. Let's helr
Sarahr'
How stupid, Why not let these break
fast dishes and everything else wait until
Sarah gets some maids from town."
But suppose. daughter" interposec
Mrs. Steele quickly, suppose We cam
get anybody"
| We can go over TO the country ciut
and eat our meals"
You folks will have to excuse me.
Sarah rose and kissed her father on the
| forehead. Don't worry about servants
| I'll manage TO get them"
| In ten minutes Sarah had the promise
of a reliable agency TO send five capable
servants on the afternoon train. As she
turned to the kitchen she heard Make al
the piano. singing in her clear voice a
lifting. happy love song. But Langford's
devotion TO Maize had been the talk OF
the hotel in the mountains where the
| two families had spent most of the
/ previous summer. When Gov. Steele had
| invited him TO visit them at their country
place before he went back to the North
west it was generally conceded by the
members of the governors family that
Bob did not mean TO go back alone.
They would have a whole morning to-
gether. cantering through the brilliantly
colored woods Bob would probably pro-
pose to Maize on the ride. unused Sarah,
| who had been for weeks trying to think
/ OF the big, lovable westerner only as a
brother. She ccmforted herself with the
4 knowledge that she had not considered
the possibility OF his falling in love with
Maize when she had allowed herself the
pleasure OF dreaming about him. She
heard horses feet on the gravel drive
way outside and her sisters laughing
challenge, Catch me IL you can" as she
dashed away. For Just a second, the
older girl INDUCED in a Jealous heart
ache Then 1t passed and she set herself
to the task of cleaning up and preparing
| luncheon and for the dance in the even
ing.
I'm going to wipe those Dishes
Sarah turned suddenly and saw Lang
ford coming toward her.
II thought you went riding with
Make
He picked up a cloth and began to
dry the dishes she had washed and
| young fellow, by the name OF Dick Full
ton. came by and took her" he answered
carelessly.
He was attempting 10 feign indiffer-
ence. and Sarah, suspecting that he was
hurt, FASTENED to assure him that Maize
cared nothing for young Fulton. 1t is a
funny thing. that although woman
herself has been hurt by a man. ye,
II she is in love with him. the mother
Il instinct 10 snlell MIN from ike nur1
prompts her to heroic sacrifice.
Maize was probably trying to max.
| you Jealous. You know girls sometimes
do those things without thinking of tn,
pain they inffict.''
Bob Langford glanced at her as sh,
stood washing the dishes. He did no
quite understand her aloofness. Sh,
had been so friendly and companionabl'
on their long tramps together in thu
mountains.
You are very consolng." he managed
to say. at the same time wondering WHY
she should say thing like that To him
| As the morning wore away they
cleaned house and prepared luncheon
He thought that she seemed free from
| the restraint that had enveloped her
| like a cloak ever since he had been
guest in her home. They laughed like
two children while they deciphered 1
very complicated recipe for sauce. Blu
everything turned out we'll There wa:
| no cold meat in the house. so they roast
| ed a brace OF ducks. fixed some vegetable;
and a light dessert The luncheon was
| so delicious that the governor proudly
declared that Sarah had no equal in tn,
| world.
"Give Bob some OF the credit. He de-
serves it." laughed Sarah.
What a useful man. Maize surveyed
him critically. "I'Il exploit your culinar,
ability to the girls tonight. Think o
having a husband who could cook
Think Of having husband who loved
you well enough TO want to try! ex
claimed Gov Steele smiling to see tn,