The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-08-23

I have taken first prizes at county
fairs. You see, l lever had a chance
to go to normal school, but l could"
stop talking" said George Varney.
I'm just opening my country place
upstate a ways. We need a cook.
You can cook. I'll give you a hun
dred dollars a month. A train leaves
at noon Go out now. and come back
In half an hour. I'll have q letter to
the h~ousekeeper and a months sal
airy In advance and enough moro to
buy your ticket" Mr.. Varney rose,
indicating that the interview was
over.
Lucy rose, but stood q moment.
"But I thought you'd give me work in
the office" she protested meekly
enough. "You see"
"You didn't think green office help
was worth more than $25 q week, did
your"
"Oh, no." assured Lucy. I'D begin
for almost nothing. But"
"You came asking me to show you
how to earn money, and you tell me
you know how to cook, but you don't
know much else. I'm giving you a
chance to earn money doing the thing
you're trained to do. Do you accept
my proposition, or don't you?"
Lucy bllnked hard for q second or
SO. swallowed hard, and said Eyes,"
As she boarded the north-bound
train a few hours later Lucy felt nc
regrets, only surprise. No one In her
family had ever worked as a servant,
but, after all, she and her mother had
spent a good share Of their time In
the kitchen, and the hundred dollars
a month would be clear gain. The
amount she would be able to send
home every month quite surpassed
her expectations.
The household at the varney noun
tain home consisted of the housekeep-
er and five or six servants. Mr..
George Varney, Jr., was the only
member of the family who remained
at home during the week. Every Fri
day night the senior Varney came to
remain until Monday morning. Often
he had business associates witt him.
The dishes Lucy prepared delighted
the Varneys, father and son, as much
as they surprised the servants. So
she made no attempt to fathom the
unfamiliar mysteries of a master
chefs cookbook that the h~ousekeeper
gave her, which, said she, would show
her how to make the sort Of things
"rich folk were accustomed to-" In
efaaI 30 nc-tor a.I .oIa1zr nnA
canapes and curries Lucy made
doughnuts and layer cakes, feather
light bread, berry pies, dumping
stews-dlshes on which the Varneys
for generations had thrived.
The junior varney, though he
seemed to be on the best of terms
with his father, was cast In a differ
ent mold. In his university days he
had become %engrossed in the study of
sociology and economics. Flatly re-
fusing to turn his knowledge and keen
intellect to account in money making,
he had accepted a post as professor
In his university and was spending his
first vacation in the preparation Of his
masters thesis. Though he was some
thing of a dreamer, Lucy soon discov-
cred that he was no idler. When she
went quietly below stairs before the
other servants at five o'clock in the
morning to prepare hot bread for the
early breakfast young Varney was al
ways at work in his study.
At the end of two months Lucy and
George Varney, Jr., had become the
best of friends. BY the end of the
summer friendship had gradually ma
tured into love. Lucy was engaged
to the son of the Varney with the
Midas touch.
The Saturday following the plight
ing of their troth the senior Varney
appeared in the kitchen when Lucy
was preparing breakfast.
He patted her on the back and then
seized both her hands, though they
were floury from some biscuits Just
under way.
at was exactly my idea" he told
her. II wanted George to marry.
George has a brilliant mind and a
brilliant future. 1 don't quarrel with
him over his choice of a career-but
he'd got a lot of fool ideas in college.
l knew he'd never marry any of the
girls he's met. He's just enough of q
p, socialist and a dreamer to steer clear
of that sort of an alliance. So when
you came in that morning 1 spotted
you az once as the girl he'd select If
he had a chance to find you for him
self. If he found you working in the
kitchen all the better"
But how in the world did you de-
eide 1t all so quickly?"
The elder Yarney laughed. ''The Var
neys never were Slow" he said. by
the way, it only took you two winks
to decide to accept my Offer"