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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2136, 8 November 1875, Page 4

A DOMESTIC ROMANCE. Advibtising roit a. Oook, and securing aWiFE. ■ He was a bachelor who kept house in a fine street in a fine oityj both of irhiclv shall be nameless. One day he advertiied for a cook. Twenty<five young women and ten old ones answered the adY«rtisement. All of them had references in their pocket, as per requirement. Among the twenty-five young women was a slim creature in the shabbiest shawl and bonnet there, with exactly enough flesh on her bones lo hold them together, but a lady, every inch of her. : " he said to her >s ghe ■at before him. She took off amended gloye and showed him a fore-finger, rough as a nutmeg with much sewing. " There's the only proof I hare that I've been trying to earn an honest living," she said. "An odd reference for a cook," said he. ~ "That's for character," said she. "I'll show you how I can cook, I'll give practical proof of that." "You are not a servant," said he. "JSPotyet. I mean to be. I've been sewing fora living, and I am sick of it." ■aid she. He looked at her from top to tee. "Family?" " Myself only," said he. She nodded; '** " Dinner at six ? " She nodded again. " Soup every day ? " She nodded once more. -. " For the rest, : yariety." " All right." said she. He named the wages and took her down into the kitchen, when the young person who was general assistant received her with a bewildered s tare. . After that he did not see her for four weeks, but his meals were delicious. At the end of the time he went down stairs to pay her wages. It was late in the •vening. A plump lady, with pink ..cheeks, sat before the fire, stoning raisins. He did not know her at first, but as the knowledge dawned on him he realized how nearly she had been to starvation on the day;when he> hired her. .All he said was, .'■■• •,;.■; ■; .■ ■ •■• :' ;h •- " I'd like my steak broiled less. After that he saw her once in four weeks regularly. She never said anything, to him but "Thankye, sir." . He always foundjsome; fault with something, his eyes fixed on vacancy the while. He was a trim and big bachelor of forty, with handsome black side, whiskers. She was thirty, and a .warm-tinted blonde—not red-haired, though the kitchen girl thought so. Her hair was Titian's pet color. Inwardly she called her master " that bear." Secretly she thought him Y»ry handsome. . ; Oiw day the dinner came down untasted " What:fault has he found with it now ? " she asked. "None," said the girl." " He's sick." At breakfast no one came to table. Then the cook ascended the stairs, and finding a pair of boots outside one door, knocked at it. " Come in," said a faint voice. She went in, and the result of her investigations was a telegram to the doctor. Her master who had always been proud of not being vaccinated had caught the •mall-pox. ..;.'■ " You'd better go. You 11 catch it, said he to her. "I'mnot afraid," said she. " Somebody must stay, you know." . She stayed. As he got better ho rewarded her as convalescent men always do reward their nurse —by scolding her and finding'fault with everything. She had helped the doctor to save his life, and had done all that mortal could do, but he snapped and snarled at her. One day, however, he being well, though still in quarantine, had some vile concoction brought him for his dinner. "What is this ? " he asked. " It's the best I could do," said Bridget who, having been a victim to the disorder in her childhood j had no fear of it. " Cook has gone off." " Where has she gone P " asked the master. "To the hospital!" said Bridget. " She did be getting the small-pox, and ghe went." " It wasn't for one just out of a sick bed to use the language the master did after that," Bridget said, in relating the incident. . But he was an invalid, and he did not know his cook's name. She had never told it to him. He tried in vain to discover her whereabouts, but Bridget showed some sagacity. " The wages were owing, and the trunk in the bed-room. Cook would come back.'' So " th« master" waited ; a month passed ; another week ; then another; then one evening some one rang the bell. " Cook is back and wants to see you,'' said Bridget. "The master" went into the parlour. . There sat the long absent woman. Her hair had been cut short and up about her temples; but her complexion was not spoiled, though she was thin and worn again. " I've come to see whether you wanted me to cook for you again," she said. "No," he answered.. " Very well," she said. . You had no business to go off that way," said he. " Who'd have taken care of me ? she asked. ..-."■ "It was my duty to see to that, after all you'd, done for me," said he. "Not at all," said she. "And about the wages P I don't want to hurry you, but I need the money." "Oh, you do," said he. ' Then he sat down near her. " What a bear I was to you," said he. " Yes, indeed," said she. "Fretted and found fault with jou," " So unreasonable, too," said she. > • / ■ " And yet you'd cook for me again ? " aaid he. '" If I suit you," said she. " You do," said he. " You might have said so before," said ■he. . ■• . " Not as cook" said he . • - . " Oh !" said she. "The kitchen is no place for you," ■aid he. '• It's'better than sewing, said she. "But if I make you another offer?" said he. " Will you marry me ? I like you better than any woman I ever knew." „.'■■•., " But it's a matter of mutual liking said she. " Not of yours, _ alone."; " Answer my question,^ said he. '♦It is toounexpected," said she. " Don't believe it," said he. " Yes or ■no?" ■'.-■ ""■■ .■-■. (( oh' I said she. ' '■ Well, rib.''