Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-02-21
, 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
rudy 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
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 10 do?'
Eyes, pleaser
':Humph!' said Mr.. Brown
Nelly glanced shyly up into his face.
But" she added with some spirit,
IL am not asking for charity. am
willing to work for my breadm
"You mean that YOU would like 10
daub canvass, or sew yellow sun-flow-
ers on green plush screens" satiricaliy
observed the old gentleman. II don't
call that work.
"Nor either" retorted Nelly.
"Then, what do You mean2" said
Mr.. Brown.
II mean that shall be glad to UNI
dertake any sort OF honest work by
means of which | can earn my own
living"
"Humph!' again ip;erjected Mr..
Brown. "Can you cook!"
Yes" Nelly answered.
II don't believe it?"
"But can
VERY WELL" said Mr.. Brown. re-
leasing his coat-tails and sitting down
at his desk rs ii the question were de-
tinitely 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" and asked him for his
private address.
Mind you're punctual, my dear"
said he, as he handed her the pencilled
card.
81 am always punctual, y calmy re-
sponded Nelly.
Mr.. Brown watched her out of the
office with. "A quzzical twinkle in the
corner of his eyes.
''She won't come" he said TO him.
self. i've seen the last %. my fine re-
lation.
And Nelly Torrance went home 10
little second-hoor room, the cheapest
which the widow and her daughters
could possibly find.
Mrs Adrian Torrance was dressed in
black, n fair delicate piece of human
china, who had been like the lilies OF
the field, in that she toilcd not, neither
did she spin. and Lucetta, the elder
daughter. was trying unsuccessfully
enough, To trim black Grape bonnet,
by the window.
They had come up from the country
ut Lucettas suggestion TO appeal, in
their poverty, 10 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"
"WellP'' cried Mrs. Torrance eager
", asANelly entered.
What does he say?" questioned
Lucetta, dropping the fold of Grape
which she was vainly endeavoring to
fashion into what the fashion-plate call
IAN oblong bow"
II have seen him." said Nelly, un-
tying her bonnet-strings. ''And I'm
10 90 to his house in Grandovcr Park
this afternoon
You don't mean," cried Mrs. Tor
rance, with spasmodic catching for
breath, ''that he is going to--adopt
youp"
mot in the least" said Nelly.
Now" mamma darling, don't jump
at conclusions. Just hear my plain,
unyarnished tale. / went 10 Cousin
John. [ told him / wanted something 20
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 look was gone, and asked nue. II
[ would come to his house this after
noon and take her place.
"And you?' Mrs. Torrance.
az said yes-of course.
"Eleanorri cried Lucetta, 81 am
scandalisedi You will do nothing oil
the sort"
Certainly not" said Mrs. Torrance
developing strong hysterical symp'
toms. III your cousin Brown intends
TO insult US /,
.But he doesn't mean 70 insult us.
pleaded Nelly. "He i'.tended the one
In all good faith. ~ ''~- pied IL II
the same spirit.
..You surely do no, ...ean to degrad'
YOURSELF" cried Lucetta, .by turning
Scook-for any man livingW
IL don't see" argued Nelly. THAT !
Is any more degrading to cook 10
Cousin John than 1t would be TO EN-
broider slippers for him, or read tn
newspaper aloud to him OF an even
s.Eleanor never had any prope
pride.n said Mrs. Torrance. wringin
her hands.
Never echoed Lucetta.
.And.m added Nelly, my cousi
~, - avarv riOhf IN bpliave IN