Mrs. Hughes' Cook

"Betty, Mrs. Hnghes is in such a state ! That hnmaculate new cook of hers has decampad with a lot of money, not to speak of a braud new Parisian ball gown I I've just seen her - Mrs. Hughes, I mean - and her face was a stndy!" Nell paused to laugh, and Betty Lovell looked np froin the dainty toque sha ■was trimraing to ask amusedly: "Wasn't she awfulJy angry? Why, it was only last week she called here and extolled hur to the skies - farther, if possiblel Luckily she offers high wages, so she can easily find another. " "Ah, there's where the cream of the joke oomes in. Don't you know she is entertaining Major Loriiner - the Major Lorimer - at dinner tonightf He is passing tbrough Woodthorpe on his way to the Carews for the regimental ball. Mrs. Hughes is an old friend - so she saya - so he's staying a couple of days with them. She's got all theeatables in the house for the ineals, and can't get any one to cook them ! Isn't it rich?" Betty rose suddenly, to the great detriment of the toque, a lovely rose íhish rising ia her pretty cheeks, her eyes sparkling. "Nell, I've an idea!" she eaid solemnly. "lam going to cook that dinner if I perish in the attempt. " "Betty, are you quite naad?" incredulously. " Wbat willMrs. Hughes think? And if any one eaw you you'd never hear the end of it, and father would be wild if he kuew. " "I don't care," Betty said stoutly. "I want the money, Mrs. Hughes wants her dinuer decently cooked. Why shouldn't we mutually oblige each other? Besides, it would buy me a new gown for the ball. My pink crepon is too disgracefully shabby for anything!" An hour later saw her bard at work in Mrs. Hughes' well arranged kitchen, ordering, inaking, ruixing asfast as her little hands could go. Her harassed employer had seized npon her offer with avidity, and the ruaids falliug into the spirit of the thing, all bade fair to go smoothly. Betty had not overrated her capabilitiea. Each dish was sent np perfectly cooked, garnished and served piping hot, and she gave herself no rest till the tiny cups of black coffee had been safely dispatched up stairs and her evening's work was done. She had scarcely slipped out of her big apron and sleeves when Mrs. Hughes herself carne rustling down stairs, with a beaming smile on her fat face. "Miss Lovell, yon'rea genius," she cried fnssily. "The dinner was perfect - perfect! Tomorrow night - is it too much to expect? I could wire to town, of course" - "Do you mean you'd like me to come again?" Betty asked good naturedly. "I am quite willing to do so. After all, it is a mutual convenience. " Accordingly, though sorely against Nell's will, Betty again presented herself at the court, but earlier in the afternoon. Findiug herself destitute of parsley, and no one about to fetch it, she decided to be her own messeuger, and, running hastily round a corner of the spacious kitchen garden, shecollided heavily with some one at the other side. "Good heavens! I - I hope I haven 't hnrt you;" a man's deep voice asked concernedly. And Betty lifted up her eyes to find herself face to face with a tall, soldierly man about 80, whose handsome eyes met hers anxionsly. "I - oh, not at all, thankyou," she murmured confusedly. "It was my fault. I - I never drearned you would be here. " "I'm afraid I carne prettily heavily against you. Were you looking for auything?" "Yes," Betty said, intensely conscious of her pink cotton frook and large liuen apron, "I came for some parsley. I - I'm Mrs. Hughes' cook, you know. " "Indeed. May I help you?" gravely. And in a moment Betty beheld Major Lorimer - the hero, the gallant V. C. - stooping to gather enough parsley to stock a regiment. "Thank you very much, and - and good afternoon. " "Good afternoon, and - ia case I have hurt you" - He pressed something into her band, and Betty fled. Safe in the innermost recesses of the pantry she opened her hand and with a burning blnsh and stifled laugb gazed long on its contents, for in her palm lay a bright, sbiniug goldpieoe. The regimental ball wasat its height. To Betty Lovell it was just one long drearu of dolight, and her pleasure in it reached a oulminating point wbea an offlcer approached ber, in bis rear one vividly remembered figure, and Captain Lee said : "Miss Lovell, Major Lorimer desires the pleasure of your acquaintance. Major Lorimer - Miss Lovell." Betty bowed, a wave of color dyeing her fair faoe crimson. Would he recognize her? She dared not raise her eyes as he asked : "Am I too late for the honor of a dance? Are you engaged for the next?' ' "I was, bnt my partner has been oompelled to takean important dowager into supper. Yon - you may have it, if yon wish. " "I thank yon!" His voice was perfectly level and oomposed, and Betty took conrage. Why ebould he remember a cook? On the strength of this assnrance, sbe looked at him swiftly as he placed his arm lightly around her waist, but his eyes were flxed on her face with a cnrionsly intent, pnzzled scrutiny, and she lowered her own hurriedly. "Are yon making a long stay?" she asked hastily, as tbeir steps glided round in perfect unisón tothe strains of "Beauty's Eyes. " "That altogether depends on circumstances, " he answered quietly. "I had I intended leaving toruorrow, but iiow - I cannot say. Shall we sit down?" He led the way to a delicious little corner framed in by palms and ent off altogether froin the laughing crowd beyond. Siuking iuto a cushioned lounge, he opeued her fan lazily. The handle caught and brougbt into prominence a thin gold chain she wore round her white throat, but at the end, instead of the heart which fashion dücrees, dangled a gold coin, gleaming brightly in the lamplight. She made a hasty movement to thrnst it out of sight, but his eyes had fallen npon it. Leaning forward abruptly, he took it between his fingers. "A curious ornament, is it not?" he asked searchingly. "Surely it must have some special interest to be far honored. ' ' "Oh, it has !" she said demurely. "It was once given me as - a tip!" His eyes lighted up. "An, then - you are indeed she?" eagerly. "She? Wbo?" innocently. "Don't tease me! You know - I'll swear you kuow ! I recognized you at once. Surely there cannot be two such faces in the world! Teil me, did you not last week act as - as Mrs. Hughes' cook?" She burst into a peal of laughter, though the color rose warm in her face. "I did indeed, and you must own" - naively - "that I cooked well for her!" Then frankly she told him the story, adding: "I was awfully hard up - we alvrays are, we Lovells - and it seemed a heaven sent chance. You see, I never dreamed I shonld see youl" "No, so you said," laughing guyly. "Shall I make a coufession? I sonnded Mrs. Hughes all I knew to learn something more abont you, but the old lady was as discreet as a Hindoo idol. I could get nothing out of her and departed rather out of temper, I'tn afraid. I did not know" - slowly - "when I should see you again. " It was ten days later, and they were strolling idly among the roses in the Lovells' big, old fashioned garden, Betty holding one or two buds in her hand. He was speaking quickly, eamestly: "I can't stand it any longer, Betty. The fellow is always hanging round you, and it inakes me wild. I'm jealous - madly jealous!" "Are you?" Betty asked shyly. "Why?" "Because I love you - have always loved you since the moment I saw you. Be my wife, darling ! I swear I'll love you and be good to you till I die!" "Even if you weren 't," Betty whispered breathlessly, "I should love you just the same - always!" Then, as he caught her in his arms and kissed her, she added demurely : "And I'll have that goldpieoe framed I"- Porget Me Not.