Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-04-15
A HOUSEKEEPER
BY GRACE (. RILEY.
"a. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.

years. Now she was married and Me-
LISA was left alone.
81 believe I'm lonesome" Melissa
gurgled to herself. Gurgled describes
it. Her conversation always seemed
on the ragged edge of laugh.
Fifteen years before, the heart Of
Ned Coffin, Melssa's sweetheart since
her childhood days. had been captured
by a summer bOarder-a pretty girl
and gay, who, when urged by Ned,
had given up her school in Boston and
married him in late September.
Their wedding day gave birth to
Melissa's gurgling laugh, disguise for
her aching heart; and to all intents
and purposes Melissa had bought a
farm in New York state where. with
her cousin Hester Blynn, she had lived
and had gained a name for herself,
both for her excellent cooking and for
her fine friendliness to the world in
general.
eyes, I'm lonesome" she reiterated
"When a woman gets to plying her
self. she'd better look elsewhere for an
outlet for her thoughts and lighting
the lamp, she settled down to devOur
her farm paper Everything from the
presidents illness to the want ads fell
under her appraising eye. Then an /
ejaculation escaped from her lips. |
Someone in Nantucket wanted a house |
keeper. She'd love to answer it! She
was a good cook and was alone in the
world. What was to prevent? She
read again:
"a widOwer on Nantucket Island has
a place for a housekeeper with pros
poets. Address N-24, Farmers Home"
Seems like writing to a white post
or some equally inhuman thing. May
be he's that sort. Well, we'll see
Guess I'll send him jar of my plums
as a wedge to his approval" said Me-
issa, suiting action to word by max
ng a raid on her choicest preserves.
With great care she packed the jar,
md, as with the letter, signed melissa !
crosby" her mothers name, and ad- ]
dressed it, too, to N-24 {
melissa, you're an old fool, but, as 1
he saying goes, no fool like an old
ool.'" So saying, she bolted the door,
ut out the lamp banked the kitchen |
re and mounted the stairs to her cozy l
edroom. 1
The next day, Ben, man of all work, I
arried her letter and package to town, '
nd for a week Melissa was as near to S
erves as a healthy woman can be- [
hen came letter from MA, express II
lg his desire that Melissa Crosby
ome on Oct. 1, to Boston, where he
ould meet her. He signed himself
yours, N-24."
To say Melissa was in a state of s
lcitement would little describe her e
"NOw, Meliss, what have y
III let yourself in for? Probably he's &
years old and feeble. No, he can't 81
!, feeble, else he couldn't come to q
Dston," she argued as her laugh filed q
e room. n
She wrote again to N-24, telling him s
come to the Y. w. c. A., Boston,
Oct. l. and ask for her Then fol- q
wed the busiest two weeks of Me- b
sa's life. In the midst of packing s.
eparatOry to closing the house, Hes "a
: and her husband unexpectedly re- -
med.
'Oh, Melissy, we're in awful trou-
:" said Hester.
This is the place to come, then.
ster. What's wrOng?"
You know we were planning to buy
Hiram Brown place, had the pa
c oil 6x 70 ST.
: of LIS tantrums on. and refused to
!. Now we amt got any place to
The Lord will provide" read Me-
a from an old sampler hanging over
kitchen door. you surely came
the right place, Hester; you can
{ my farm"
But don't understand. Meissy."
Course you don't, so I'll tell you.
going to Nantucket for spell,
will be only too glad to rent the
n if You and John will take it,"
fter a discussion of terms and con-
ons. the matter was satisfactorily
led. and in a week Melissa was on
way to Boston. October I found
at the desk of the Y. w. G. A.,
firing for Miss Crosby "She's sit
in that telephone room over
e." the attendant told him. He
sed the hahS then stopped sudden
mt not before Melissas glance had
n on him.
'ed Coffin. what are you doing
Z"
ID took in the situation at once. .
you, Melissa. are Miss Crosby?
N-24. MeIissy. SO you're going to
~ housekeeper?"
hot flush stained her cheeks.
v. Melissy." she scolded herself.
t be silly"
uess am. Ned"
chuckled. The chuckle increased
1t became hearty laugh.
hat are you laughing at. Ned
IN