Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-05-28

ton explored the pantry. Miss Nh.
gent returned to the living room.
There isn't bit of cooked food In
the place-not even bread" she an
nounced. There are flour and sugar
and eggs and potatoes and some
canned things-what can we do? Do
any Of you girls know how to cook
eggs?"
Miss Taylor confessed that she had
made creamed eggs in a chafing dish
at home-but-she shrugged her
shoulders.
The other women we're silent. Beth
Newton stood IN the kitchen door
way, her face pink with shyness; she
looked distractingly pretty at that mo-
ment
eff you don't mind waiting q half
hour | believe | could prepare some
thing fit to eat" she announced tim
idly.
They applauded her enthusiastically
and offered to help. She accepted
Miss Taylor for an assistant in the
kitchen. and Lillian Nugent opened
the tiny cupboard and prepared to
set the table for dozen people from
the hermit's scanty store of crockery.
Beth lighted a fire in the cracked
old cookstove, Carl Bellew and Andy
Smith carried firewood, and opened
the cans of vegetables.
Bobby danced in and out report
ing progress. Baked potatoesl Hot
biscuits-umi Bacon-mother, they're
cooking bacon and eggs out there!'
They were doing all those things.
while outside of the frail shelter a
summer rain drummed on the shin
giles and made the fire and the cozi-
ness more desirable.
At last they sat down at two tables.
They gave Beth a seat of honor, and
no one told her Of the dab of flour
on her hair or the smudge of SCOT
that became a beauty spot near her
lively eye. With her flushed cheeks
her rufiled brown hair, her pale blue
sleeves pushed up above her rounded
elbows, Beth Newton was radiant
They were all so good to her, tool
She smiled happily, too tired to eat
Her eyes met Carl Bellows and some
thing in the mans gaze brought a
hot flush to her cheek. After that
her eyes did not wander far from her
plate.
AS delightful surprise Beth pro-
duced steaming apple pudding with
maple strip, and in token of their
gratitude Andy Smith hastily plucked
a bunch of herbs from the rafters
and solemnly crowned her with
wreath of catnip, the queen OF cooks.
By the time the dishes were washed
and put away the sun was shining
outside. The invaders had restored
the house to order and Carl Bellew
had pinned a note on the table cover.
Inside of that envelope were folded
cracking banknotes of such large de-
nomination that old Ned Blake would
never cease to marvel over the acces-
sion of riches that made his declin-
ing days more comfortable.
They returned to the scene of the
campfire, and all too soon the three
motor cars. arrived. Somehow Mrs.
Bliss managed to smuggle Beth and
Bobby into the same car with her
self and Carl Bellew. and that night
when she went to bed the girl assured
herself that she had rounded out her
perfect day.
A few days later the party had
broken up and the picnic was for
gotten by all save Beth Newton and
Bobby-and, perhaps, Carl Bellew.
His place was not very far away and
he found many excuses for calling on
the Blisses. When kindly Mrs. Bliss
realized that it was her little nursery
governess whom Carl Bellew wanted
to see, she remembered her own days
of wooing, and entered whole-hearted-
ly into matchmaking.
Dear" said Carl Bellew one Octo-
Der day when he had received Beth's
answer I've loved you from the be-
ginning. but when l tasted your
cooking"
Beth's hand pressed his lips in ST.
lence. She looked up at her splendid,
gallant lover.
"Ah, Carl" she murmured. Il am
such humble little thing-so I'M
worthy of you! You might marry
princess-or a queen!"
Carl threw back his head and
laughed. Then he gathered her closer
In his arms.
Il am going to marry a queen" he
protested, the queen of cooksi"
Her Oversight