The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-04-19
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
he Perfect Housekeeper.
BY JANE OSBORN.
Copyright, 1920, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)

v
that DR.. Andover had walked
= down College street from his
house had he been greeted with the
smiling congratulations of some
neighbor or other. If he had not al
ready been sure OF his blessing in
having secured the services of Mrs
Hildegrade Taylor as housekeeper he
could not but have been after these
Fluctuations.
"She is such perfect housekeeper,'
Prof. ogden's wife had cooed. "Ur
to the day he died old Mr.. Morgan
had her tea biscuits every day Of
his life. He couldn't get along with
out them-and such piesi"
yes indeed" agreed DR. .Andover
somewhat embarrassed but duly crate
full to providence for having showered
such abundant blessings on his shout
ders.
"And she's SO economical, too, Mrs
Partridge had said after offering the
young bachelor president Of the col
lege her Fluctuations over the advent
of Mrs. Taylor in his home. INC
cause for your complaining now over
the high cost of living"
mo, indeed" smiled DR.. Andove1
and, as he neared the corner where
dwelt old DR., Forbes, dean of his fac
ulty, the fragrance of juicy beefsteab
broiling in the Forbes kitchen came &c
him. He had had supper that night
from tea biscuits, tea, sardines in jelly
and prune whip. That is nearly as he
could remember was all there hao
, been to it..
Helen Forbes, not extraordinarily
young or extraordinarily slender, but
radiant and magnetic, only daughter
and housewife for DR.. Forbes, opened
the door for the young professor. The
rest OF the college town had got used
| to Helen. OF course, she was quite a
| beauty-but, then, she was only Helen
Forbes.
Nice girl, too, and few years be
fore freshmen every year had gone
quite silly over her; but she was a
little too old for students now. But
DR.. Andover had not quite got useo
to the radiance Of her, and there, were
times when he would have more eager
ly gone to spend an evening with old
DR.. Forbes in discussing college plans
and policies had 1t not been for Helen.
She was little disturbing. She didn't
quite seem to belong to the little old
college town.
On this occasion, however, it was
necessary that he consult with DR..
Forbes. The tempting aroma of beef
steak grew even more tempting as
IJa1ay, Eorhao 0nanad tho do0r 10, :, ~,
An apron protected her light sum,
mer frock, and. she led DR.. Andover
rather breezily into the dining room.
1--WE are having dinner late" she
said. Dads been working on exam
nation books and didn't want to be
disturbed until seven :, Now, it's plank
ed steak supper. Dads 80 fond of It.
You don't mind coming right out, dc
you? And perhaps we can tempt you
to have some."
DR.. Forbes had appeared and Helen
had disappeared, to return presently
with the plank on which was laid the
smoking steak with the tempting Dor
der Of mashed potatoes and various
vegetables.
sWe must congratulate you said
Helen, as she laid the plank on the
rather informally set table. 81 don't
suppose any one can te'apt you tc
meals, now that 80 I've got that
wonderful Mrs. AL. =. You certainly
were lucky. n : $50 days, to get q
perfect 2S71,. 9Dor like that. And
you j. NV Gill was with old Mr.. Nor
F3l g - Jears-stayed till he died
80 = was saying today that she
e-s I'd to do the sameNfor you"
sitly, that's very kind, I'm sure. ,
!. was then that there doomed before
DR.. Andover an image of Mrs. Hide
grade Taylor, with her tlrin-lipped ant
rather acid smile, as she sat behind
the coffe things at breakfast and the
tea things at supper, for she was one
Of those housekeepers who never fat
to take their place at meals with thet,
employers.
She had sat like that before Mr..
Morgan twenty years, and then he had
died. How could It be to see that FACE
for twenty years? Her coffee was
clear and doubtless good, but she wa,
spartng Of the coffee, and she regarded
cream as an extravaganza.
DR.. Andoyer was wonderins
whether he would have to drink COFFEE
every morning for twenty years, Jus.
like that or whether he would have
courage to ask to have It stronger
and with cream. 81
2 ffeNu. - -