The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1919-10-21
C00k-PR0 TEN
BY ELIZABETH GOLDEN.


II was typical summer hotel We
randa. At least so thought perspir-
ing and very much disguised young
man, who looked up at it from the
bottom of the steep and very dusty
hill.
IAN Adamless Eden, I'll warrant"
he muttered, taking another look ahead
at the long walk still before him.
Brown as 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.
Scowing fiercely, he dragged his
heavy suitcase up the path. only to be
met at the veranda steps by POM
pous-looking individual who effectu-
ally barred his further progress.
"Can't come up the front way, fell
~leh;" said the pompous one. "All
tradesmen and peddlers"-with a 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 servaD, remark
struck him, Max Harding burst into
laugh. "Tradesmcn 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 l can sneak in through the
kitchen and get washed up before l
greet mother" he thought. "If she
ever catches me looking like this
Hello, whew-ew-ew," and he whistled
softly, for 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 l sit down on
the lawn minute?" he hazarded for
his third venture.
Il do not" again responded the flair
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 l was rather
enough for one of those Syrian or Ar
menian peddlers, but he certainly does
not talk like one. "I'll just run in and
get him glass of raspberry shrub.
It'll cool him off before he goes"
She was back in moment with a
glass of delicious looking liquid, and
tapping the young man on the Shout
der, she offered it to him.
"Here, drink this" she said. SIN
sorry l couldn't stop to look at your
wares"
This time his mother was seated on
the veranda, and she greeted him ef-
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 tt his room.
He descended about an hour later,
looking very different in his white fan
nels, and his mothers pride shona in
her eyes, and she greeted him.
sand 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
ent She's not one of the butterflies
that you are always Objecting to. She
Is a graduate of 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
her mind"
'No, here she comes" said Mrs.
Harding, and straight to their table
came the lady of his afternoons adj
Lifting her eyes to acknowledge the
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.
eft this afternoon" 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
lrlng glances with the young man OPP
)Osite her. II promised Mr.. Lane that
would try and see If the hotel