The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-02-07

hear thy tender thee S" and "thou, s.
The Manhattan.
HER DESPISED ACCOM-
PLISHMENT.
Old Mr.. Brown stood in his private
office, with his back to the fire and his
coat-tails balanced in either hand. He
was bald-headed old gentleman with
a ruddy complexion, keen black eyes,
and leg-of-mutton whiskers which were
white as snow. And Miss Nelly Tor
rance stood looking at him timidly from
the depths of the big armchair in which
he had beckoned her to seat herself.
$50 you are my cousin Adrian's
daughter?" said he after long pause.
YES" said Nelly, wondering what
was in all those mysterious tin boxes,
and whether the monster iron safe was
full of gold and silver pieces.
''And you want something to do?"
ayes, please!"
"Humphr' said Mr. Brown
Nelly glanced shyly up into his face.
'But," she added with some spirit,
81 am not asking for charity. l am
willing to work for my bread!'
''YOu mean that you would like to
daub canvass, or sew yellow sun-fow-
ers on green plush screens" satiricaliy
observed the old gentleman. Il don't
call that work.
Nor | either" retorted Nelly.
''Then, what do you mean?" said
Mr.. Brown.
Il mean that | shall be glad to I'M
dertake any sort of honest work by
means of which l can earn my own
living"
"Humph!' again interjected Mr..
Brown. ''Can you cook?"
yes" Nelly answered.
=. 4 don't believe it?''
''But can"
VERY WELL, said Mr.. Brown, re-
leasing his coat-tails and sitting down
at his desk as if the question were de-
finitely disposed of. My cook went
away this morning. | haven't en-
gagged any one in her place. You may
! come this afternoon and see what you
| can do for me"
Mr.. Brown fully expected that his
young cousin would :recoil Indignantly
| from this proposal, but she did nothing
of the sort She simply said, ''Yes,
| Cousin John,n and asked him for his
| private address.
mind you're punctual, my DEAR"
said he, as he handed her the pencilled
card.
Il am always punctual," calmy re-
sponded Nelly.
Mr.. Brown watched her out of the
office with a quizzical twinkle in the
corner of his eyes.
ssShe won't come" he said to him
self. ''pve seen the last of my fine re-
lation."
And Nelly Torrance went home to
little second-foor room, the cheapest
which the widow and her daughters
could possibly find.
Mrs Adrian Torrance was dressed in
black, fair delicate piece of human
china, who had been like the lilies of
the field, in that she toiled not, neither
did she spin, and Lucetta, the elder
daughter, was trying usuccessfully
enough, to trim black Grape bonnet,
by the window.
They had come up from the country
at Lucetta's suggestion to appeal, in
their poverty, to this rich cousin of the
dead father and husband, but none of
them anticipated any very satisfactory
results from the experiment.
''These rich people are always miser-
ly," said Miss Lucetta.
'And I've understood" sighed the
gentle little widow, ''that he was not
pleased when poor dear Adrian mar
ried me instead of Miss Goldbags, the
rich pawnbroker's daughter"
"Well?" cried Mrs. Torrance eager
ly, as Nelly entered.
''What does he say?" questioned
Lucetta, dropping the fold of Grape
inl, hn Spl. IN
fashion into what the fashion-plate call
IAN oblong bow"
81 have seen him." said Nelly, un-
tying her bonnet-strings. "And I'm
to 90 to his house in Grandover Park
this afternoon"
'tYou don't mean,'' cried Mrs. Tor
rance, with spasmodic catching for
breath, ''that he is going to-adopt
you?"
Mot in the least" said Nelly.
"Now," mamma darling, don't jump
at conclusions. just hear my plain,
John. told him wanted something to
do. He asked me if | could cook.
Thanks to that course of lessons | once
took of Signor Silverspoon, was able
to answer yes. Then he told me that
his cook was gone, and asked me if
| would come to his house this after
noon and take her place"
'And youp" Mrs. Torrance.
81 said yes-of course"
"Eleanor!" cried Lucetta, 81 am
scandaiised! You will do nothing OF
the sort"
Certainly not" said Mrs. Torrance,
developing strong hysterical symp-
lie
But he doesn't mean to insult us, -
pleaded Nelly He intended the Offer
in all good faith, and l accepted it in
the same spirit"
YOURSELF" cried Lucetta, ''by turning
-cook-for any man livingH'
81 don't see," argued Nelly, THAT il
. is any more degrading to cook fol
Cousin John than it would be to en-
broider slippers for him, or read the
, newspaper aloud to him of an even
ing
Eleanor never had any proper
PRIDE said Mrs. Torrance, wringing
her hands.
''Never!" echoed Lucetta.
ssAnd," added Nelly, my cousin
would have every right to believe me
an impostor if had told him l wanted
work, and had then refused the frs
offer he made me. 1t will be useless
> for you to demonstrate, Lucetta, and
hope mamma will not place any OBJ
stacles in my way. For am quite
determined to go to Grandover Parl
this afternoon"
And she adhered firmly to her reso
ton.
1t was six exactly when Mr.. Brown
let himself into his house with the
latch-key, which always dependes