The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1940-09-06

A
denly departed cook, flung the all
important question at little Mrs.
Allanson.
Only myself and husband" re-
sponded her potential mistress
meekly, albeit with a shade of tri-
umph in her tone. He's quite a
famous author" she added fondlv.
You've heard of Gilbert Allan,
haven't your" But the well-known
nom-de-plume did not register with
Sally Dee.
do much entertaining"
"Oh, no. Mr.. Allanson's too busy
with his writing. Once in a while
we have some friends over for Sum
day afternoon tea, but that's about
all. We really don't need two maids,
but since you won't go without your
cousin
No, ma am, I've had enough of
being all to myself in the country and
near to dying of lonesomeness. If
you don't think you want two, there's
plenty of others as is only too anx-
ious for a good cook and second
girl
The gay rose on the prospects
hat waved belligerently, while the
little second girl caught her
breath nervously at this declaration
of independence from her more So
phisticated cousin.
Mrs. Allanson considered a mo-
ment-"Very well. Would you be
willing to start day after tomorrow?
Oh, neglected to mention that our
cottage is on small island in the
lake, about mile from shore. Per-
hapS you would find it rather dull"
she added obviously, mindful of pre-
vlous tragic instances where maids
had left in high dudgeon on &C
count of the lack of excitement.
That suits u.s." was Sally's un-
expected rejoinder. "Ann an me
amt much for gaddin' or dances,
and it sounds like an awful good
place to save money"
So it came to pass that they be-
came members of the Allanson
household and were bundled off to
ORNII Op lIIS NOlldSC.
Three mornings later the Gilbert
Allansons arrived at Lakeview and
found old Charlie Merrill waiting to
transport them across the lake, just
as he had awaited them every sum-
mer since Gilbert's childhood.
A little grayer, he was, to be sure,
but keen of eye and filled with the
strength impaired by an out-of-door
existence in the pinetree region.
Got your telegram" he an
nounced. "The hired girls came two
hours ago. The fat one purt' near
wrecked the boat gettin' in"
His weatherbeaten face crinkled
into a smile. 1t was indeed land
lubber who couldn't get into boat
without such a TODD. He watched
Jean approvingly as she hoped
lightly aboard like born sailor.
The leisurely ride across the I'M
ruffled waters was delightful, only
the rhythmic chugging of the motor
imparting a materialistic note to the
setting.
From the chimney of their cot
tage on the Isle of Content, which
was Gilbert's fanciful name for
Spruce island, they perceived wisp
of smoke floating lazily upward, well
come testimony that Sally and Ann
were already at their tasks. When
they entered the house and found
the dining table daintily laid and
Ann just igniting the logs on the
hearth, Jean felt that she had
achieved the impossible and en-
shared two perfect maids. And when
they had partaken of a meal that
called forth extravagant adjectiveS
from Gilbert, and sent Ann jubilant-
ly out to report to Sally, their mis-
treSS started to worry about being
able to retain them throughout the
summer.
1--WE must be very careful about
how we act toward them, Gilbert"
she cautioned.
Il don't imagine Ann is at all diff
ficult to handle, but that Sally ap-
pears to have the temperament of a
movie star, so if you hope all sum-
mer to have food fit for the gods,
don't for PHYS sake 60 out in the
boat and forget to come back In
time for meals, as you always used
to-"
'But, dear, when / get started
writing, time means nothing. With
the best intentions in the world, I'd
probably slip up very frequently"
Don't worry, I'll fix that" smiled
his wife. So every time that Gilbert
set out in his boat to WOO his muse,
the alarm clock was his faithful
companion"
For several. weeks matters were
almost unbelievably ideal. Ann and
Sally were mutually agreed that
Mrs. AllanSon was the perfect mis-
tress, of whose existence they had
hitherto been extremely doubtful.
She actually took an interest in their
well being, and showed the same
solicitude for their comfort as she
would have for that of any of her
friends. And Sally and Ann respond
ed like grateful flowers to the I'M
wonted gentleness. Nothing was for
thar, foo di6H o,,IK ~ %1o ;rLcov,,a fo