Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-01-08
CO0K-PRO TEN
BY ELIZABETH GOLDEN.

: IL was Iyplcal SuniLnSk AOtCA w
randa. AT least so thought perspir-
ing and very much disguised young
man, who looked up at 1t from the
bottom of the steep and very dusty
hill.
IAN Adamless Eden, I'll warrant
ne muttered, taking another look ahead
at the long walk still before him.
Brown as a young Indian from
weeks of outdoor camp life and COW
cred with dust and perspiration, GER
tainly no one would rave recognized
In this very bedraggled young man.
Max Harding, whose aristocratic moth
er was a guest at the hotel on the hill.
Scowling fercely. he dragged his
heavy suitcase up the path, only to be
met at the veranda steps by a POM
pous-looking Individual who effectu-
ally barred his further progress.
Cant come up the front way, fell
leh;" said the pompous one. "Ali
tradesmen and peddlers"-with sig
nificant look at the heavy case-"must
go-round the back" and he waved him
grandly away.
"What the" And then as the full
significance of the servants remark
struck him, Max Harding burst into
laugh. "Tradesmen and peddlerS-
well. by Jove. that is good one.
certainly must look fine," he thought
to himself. and then aloud. "All right,
Your Highness, I'll go round the back"
and he went.
Maybe i can sneak in through the
kitchen and get washed up before /
greet mother" he thought. IF she
ever catches me looking like this
Hello, whew-ew-ew," and he whistled
softly, for a remarkably pretty girl
sat directly in front of the kitchen
door, Smelling peas-thus once more
blocking his progress.
"Have you a moment to spare?" he
asked, removing his hat and speaking
in his most engaging manner.
81 am sorry, but haven't" said the
young woman very promptly, scarcely
glancing up from her work.
''Well, do you mind if sit down on
the lawn minute?" he hazarded for
his third venture.
"I do not" again responded the ''fair
lady of the peas" taking him in with
one all-appraising glance.
So Max sank down on the little plot
Of grass in front of the house and.
leaning his head back against the
building, closed his eyes.
"Poor fellow" thought the girl, her
sympathy aroused at last, 'he must be
pretty tired. I'm afraid was rather
sharp with him. Well, he looks dark
enough for one of those Syrian or Ar
menian peddlers, but he certainly does
not talk like one. 'Tll just run in and
get him glass of raspberry shrub.
It'll cool him off before he goes"
She was back in moment with
glass of delicious looking liquid, and
tapping the young man on the shout
der, she offered it to him.
"Here, drink this" she said. 'I'm
sorry / couldn't stop to look at your
wares"
This time his mother was seated on
the veranda, and she greeted him eff
fusively, but he managed to make her
understand that bath and some clean
linen were the two most essential
things in his life at that particular mo-
ment, and so escaped to his room.
He descended about an hour later.
looking very different in his white Aan-
nels, and his mothers pride shone In
her eyes. and she greeted him.
"And Max" she said, there's the
loveliest girl here. want you to meet
her. Her name is Anna Cabot"
snow, mother" he demonstrated.
"But. Max, dear, this one is differ !.
emil She's not one of the butterf1iet'
that you are always Directing to. She
is a graduate Of q domestic science
college, and she knows no end OF
things. But wait-she's promised TO
sit at our table tonight. and you'll see
for yourself"
''Well, no sign of your divinity yet.
mother" said Max, some minutes la
ter, when they had started their din
ner; perhaps" - hopefully - "she's
changed her mind"
"No. here she comes" said Mrs.
Harding, and straight to their table
came the lady of his afternoons adj
venture.
Lifting her eyes to acknowledge the
introduction. the color flooded into the
girls face. and her eyes asked innu-
merable questions as she recognized
him.
Did You know that Katie, the cook,
left this afternoonT asked the girl of
Mrs. Harding, some moments later.
when she was herself again.
"Good gracious" gasped that lady.
"Who took her placer"
81 did" said the girl, quietly meas
uring glances with the young man OPP
posite her. II promised Mr.. Lane that
I would try and see If the hotel
couldn't run conservation kichen,'
so now I'm cook. pro tenn"
"Why, my dear, aren't you clever !"
exclaimed his mother. looking at her
son with an "T-told-you-sor expression.
4 ~