The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-07-08
THE PERFECT
HOUSEKEEPER
by JANE OSBORN

Three times wirnin he two blocks
that Doctor AndOver had walked down
College street from his house he'd he
been greeted with the smiling con
gratulations of some neighbor or other.
If he had not already been sure Of his
blessing in having secured the serv-
ices of Mrs. Hildegarde Taylor as
housekeeper he could not but have
been after these Fluctuations.
"She is such a perfect housekeeper,"
Professor Ogden's wife had cooed.
up to the day he died old Mr.. Nor
gan had her tea biscuits every day of
his life. He couldn't get along with
out them-and such pies"
Eyes, indeed" agreed Doctor An
dover, somewhat embarrassed but duly
grateful to providence for having
shOwered such abundant blessings on
his shoulders.
"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. mo
cause for your complaining now over
the high cost Of living"
mo, indeed" smiled Doctor An
dover and, as he neared the corner
where dwelt old Doctor Forbes, dean
of his faculty, the fragrance of juicy
beefsteak broiling in the Forbes kitch-
en- came to him.. He had had supper
that night from tea biscuits, tea, sar-
dimes in jelly and prune whip. That
as nearly as he could remember was
all there had been to it.
Helen Forbes, not extraordinarily
young or extraordinarily slender, but
radiant and magnetic, only daughter
and housewife for Doctor Forbes.
opened the door for the young pro-
fessor. 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
little too old for students now. But
Doctor Andover had not quite got used
TO the radiance of her, and there were
times when he would have more eager
ly gone to spend an evening with old
Doctor Forbes in discussing college
plans and policies had it not been for
Helen. She was a 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 Doctor
Forbes. The tempting aroma of beef
steak grew even more tempting as
Helen Forbes opened the door for him.
An apron protected her light sum-
mer frock, and she led Doctor An
dover rather breezily into the dining
room. 1--WE are having dinner late"
she said. Dads been working on ex-
animation books and didn't want to be
disturbed until seven. Now, it's
planked steak supper Dads so fond
of it. You don't mind coming right
out, do you? And perhaps we can
tempt you to have some"
Doctor Forbes had appeared and
Helen had disappeared, to return pres
emily with the plank on which was
laid the smoking steak with the
tempting border of mashed potatoes
and various vegetables.
1--WE must congratulate you" said
Helen, as she laid the plank on the
rather informally set table. Il don't
suppose anyone can tempt you to
meals, now that you have got the
wonderful Mrs. Taylor. You certain
ly were lucky in these days, to get
perfect housekeeper like that. And
you know she was with old Mr.. Nor
| gan twenty years-stayed till he died
and she was saying today that she
| expected to do the same for you"
"Why, that's very kind, I'm sure"
1t was then that there doomed before
| Doctor Andover an image of Mrs. Hill
degarde Taylor. with her. thin-lipped
| and rather acrid smile, as she sat be-
hind the coffee things at breakfast and
the tea things at supper, for she was
one of those housekeepers who never
IAN W tdhS l4lcll pldScS Ut IlttlIS Will
their employers.
She had sat like that before Mr.
Morgan twenty years, and then he had
died. How would it be to see that
face for twenty years? Her coffee
was clear and doubtless good, but she
was sparing of the coffee and she re-
garded cream as an extravaganza.
Doctor Andover was wondering
whether he would have to drink coffee
every morning for twenty years, just
like that, or whether he would have
courage to ask to have it stronger
and with cream.
"She really is wonderful" Helen
Forbes was going on. 81 only wish
could manage the way she does. /
don't suppose you could be tempted to
take a little Of this planked steak?"
She had put quite a generous piece on
the warmed plate and was passing it
to him.