Smyrna times., 1919-09-17
COOKING FOR CUPID
BY ESTHER MILLER.

the long-suppressed tears slowly filling
her eyes.
Mrs. Harrison lowered the book she
mad been reading, tried to smother a
yaWn with two bejeweled fingers. and.
adjusting her glasses, looked up at her
daughter Her voice Yves very tired
when she spoke:
MY dear, don't be absurd. You have
my consent to give as much of YOUR
time as you wish to war relief work
and charitable functions. but don't
speak to me again of cooking school
ana domestic science. 1t is another
FOOLISH idea of Harvey's that has in
vaded your head. Harvey's talk about
independence and equality is as impos-
slhle as it is amusing, and his opinion
of a model wife is most unnerving."
There was fire in her eyes and a
stubborn click. click when her small
heels tapped against the pavement as
Marion walked down the street half
an hOur later. Mrs. Harrison lunched
alone that noon, after Jane had in
formed her that Marion was not in her
house.
II was neat, pink-cheeked and
rather excited young person who en-
tered Murphy's employment bureau.
Marion was hardly inside the door
when she was grabbed by a Sharp-eyed
office assistant. 'What do you want?"
this person inquired. Cooking or
chamber work, or do you want laundry
wOrk?"
Il haven't specialized in any par
ticular line of housework," said Mari
on, bravely. 81 prefer to take entire
charge of the home of small family"
she ventured on.
Il see. General hOusework." The
assistant seemed satisfied and, turning
around, called into the inner office:
Mrs. Murphy. here is a girl who wants
general hOusewOrk. Is Mrs Southern
still here?"
Marion was ushered into the waiting
ladies' sanctum and confronted with
middle-aged, mOtherly looking lady.
The Introduction was informal. It ap-
peared that Mrs. Southern had closed
up her city house and let her servants
go when her only son enlisted, at the
beginning Of the war. She had rented
small apartment in the suburbs and
devoted her time to patriotic service.
zone servant is all need at pres
ent she explained. "and you appear
to be just the kind of a girl I would
like to have around" Marion felt as
f1attered as she was happy, over
stumbling into position without any
trouble. She agreed ON the terms and
promised to come that afternoon.
If ever there was an ambitious cook,
waitress and chambermaid, all in one,
1t was Miss Harrison, queen Of hearts
of Lieut.. Harvey Ramshorpe. The
first week saw MARY" fan in most Of
her attempts at keeping house; the
second week saw a slight improve
ment; the third gave fair promise, and
the fourth brought forth Mrs. South
ern's genuine satisfaction.
One day when "Mary" YVES clearing
the breakfast table, Mrs. Southern
came into the room, waving a tele-
gram at her, happily: "My son has
arrived from France and he wires from
New York that he will be home to-
night, Mary" she said. "He will be
here for dinner and he is bringing
friend" she added.
Mary put her heart and soul in the
preparation for that dinner She want
ed to make this homecoming doubly
memorable for the mother and son.
Presently Mrs. Southern came to the
door and said: "All right, Mary, we
are ready" Marion proceeded to serve
the soup. AS she put the first plate
before the hostess she could not help
noticing the pleased expression on the
face Of the young officer to the left.
She carried in the second plate and
was just going to set it down in front
of the guest of the night. when all of
sudden she stopped. as if hypnOtized
at the sight Of the wavy brown hair of
the young man. The soup plate
trembled in her hand. and when the
owner of the brown hair turned his
head toward the dropping plate, Mari
on gave a startled little cry and
J dropped the plate on the immaculate
tableclOth.
The officer was on his feet before
anybody had time to utter a sound.
"FOr heavens sake, Marion" he
cried, seizing the two small wrists, his
eyes wandering from the frightened,
surprised and happy face Of the girl to
the bewildered hostess and back again
to the now radiant face. Marion,
what are you doing here?"
Harvey stopped down and kissed the
smiling rosebud and the dimples. Then.
seeing that the incident needed some
explanation, he apOlOgized to the host
ess and continued: Mrs. Southern,
allow me to introduce my fiancee, Miss
Harrison"
Mrs. Southern, who, had watched the
scene with mingled surprise, sweet un-
derstanding and regret, reached out