Smyrna times., 1885-12-30
Her DeSpiSed Accomplishment.

Office, with his back to the fire and his
coat-tails balanced in either hand. He
was bald-headed old gentleman with
ruddy complexion, keen black eyes and
leg-Of-muttOn whiskers which were
white as snow. And Miss Nelly Tor.
rance sat looking at him timidly from
the depths of the big armchair in which
he had heakoned her to seat herself.
$50 you are my cousin AdTian'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 ?"
"Yes, please -
"Humph % said Mr.. Brown.
"But, she added, with some spirit,
II am not asking for charity. I am
willing to work for my bread
"YoH mean that you would like to
daub canvas, o. sew yellow sunfowers
on green plush screens" satirically
observed the old gentleman. II don't
call that work"
Nor either, retorted Nelly.
"Then what do you mean ?" said Mr..
Brown.
Il mean that I shall be glad to under
take any sort of honest work by means
of which can earn my own living"
"Humph!" !" again interjected 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 if the question were deflni,
tely disposed Of MY cook went away
this morning 1 haven't engaged 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, I"
said he, rs he handed her the penciled
card.
Il am always punctual, calmly re-
spondcd Nelly.
Mr.. Brown watched her out of the
office with 2 quizzical twinkle in his
eyes.
"She won't come, lac said to himself,
"Iye seen the last Of my fine relation, i"
And Nelly Tor ance went home to a
little second Aoor ro IN, the cheapest
which the widow aud her daughters
could possibly find.
Mrs Adrian Torr nee was dressed in
black, Il fair delicate piece of human
china who had been like the lilies of
the field, i'll that she toiled not, neither
did she spin and Luce Ia, the older
daughter, WAS trv;n uusuccessfully to
trlm 'F"eE tlap" bonnet, by the win
dow.
They had CONE ~ from ths country
at Luc"tta's "ngE' tion to appeal, in
their poverty, TO thi rich cousin of the
dead father aad husband, but none of
them anticipt ed any very satisfactory
results from t'l'"xperi nent.
These rich people are always
miserly, sai Miss Llc 'ttl.
"And I've understood" said the
gentle little widow, "that he was not
pleased when poor dear Adrian married
me instead Of Miss Goldbags, the rich
pawnbrokcr's dauqhter."
"Well ?" cried Mrs. Torrance eagerly.
as Nelly entered
What docs he say ?" questioned
Lueetta, dropping she fold of Grape
she was vainly nndeayoung to fashion
into what the fashion-plate called ian
oblOng bow"
L have seen him, said Nelly, unity
ing her bonnet strings, and I'm going
to his house in Gnndover Park this
afternoon.
You don't mean" cried Mrs. Tor
rance, with spasmodic catching in her
breath, that he is going to-adopt
you ?"
Not in the least, 4" said Nelly. Nov
mamma, darling, don't jump at con-
eiusions, just hear my plain, unvar-
nished tale. went to Cousin John. I
told him / wanted something to do. He
asked me If could cook. Thanks 10
that course Of lessons once took of
Signor Silverspoon, 1 waB able TO
answer yes. Then lie told mo that his
cook was gone, and asked me if I would
como TO his house this lftornoon and
take her place"
And you gasprd Mra. 9'orrance.
said yes Of course"
Eleanorl" cried Lucstta, IL am
scandalized by your conduct Yes. per.
fectly scapdalized. You will do moth
ing Of tho sortj"
Certainly not, said Mrs, Torrance.
developing strong hysterioal symptomg
If youF cousin Brown intends to in.
suit rs"
But he doesn't mean to insult rs -
pleaded Nelly. "He intended the offer
in all good faith. and I accanted "A 4, a.