The Republican journal., 1885-12-31
Her Despised Accomplishment.

Her DeSplsed Accomplishment.
| Old Mr.. Brown stood in his private office
with his back to the fire and his coat-tails bal.
anced in either hand. He was a bald-heaCled
Old gentleman with ruddy complexion. Keen
black eyes and leo of mutton whi>ker> which
Were as white As SNOW And Miss Nelly Tor
rance sat looking at him timidly from the depths
of the big armchair in which he had beckoncd
her TO seat herself.
$50 you are my cousin Adrians daughter, -
said he. after long pause.
.le>." said Nelly, wondering what was in all
| those mysterious tin boxes, and whether the
monster iron safe was full of gold and silver
piece.
And YOU want something to dor
"Ne>. please
'Iiumph!" said Mr.. Brown
''But." she added. with some spirit. II am
not asking for charity. am willing to work
for my bread.'
| ~ on mean that You would like to dHub CALI
| vas, or sew yellow Suniiower> on green plush
screen>.' >atiricaIy observed the old gentle
man. Il don't call that work.
| Nor | either, retoucd Ntv
| Then what do You mean" said Mr.. Brown.
Il mean that shall be glad to undertake amy
| sort Of honest work hy means OF which can
earn my own living"
tliumph.'' = again nterjected Mr. Brown.
| "tan You cOOk:"
| "le>." NellS answered.
| Il don't believe il -
| But | can.
Very WE'LL said Mr.. Brown, releasing his
coat-tail> and sitting down at his desk a. il the
| question was definitely disposed Of My cook
| t-l Il
any one Ill her place. You may come this at-
| ternoon and sec what You can do for me-
| Mr. Brown fully expected tIat his young
| cousin would recoil indignantly from this pro-
| po,al. but She did nothing Of the Sort. She
| simply said. Yes. Cousin john and asked
| him for hi> private address.
Mind you're punctuul, my dear said he. is
| he handed her the pencicd card.
u am always punctual calmly responded
Nelly.
}lr, Brown watched bar ont of the office with
a quZzical twinkle in hi eyes.
she won't come. he said to himself. ''I'lc
seen the last Of my fine rclation.
And Nelly Torrance went home tc i little
second floor room, the cheapest which the
widow and her daughters could possibly find.
Mrs. Adrian Torrance WAS dressed iii black
a lar delicate piece of human china. who had
been like the lilies Of the le in that she tOiled
not neither did >he spin, and i.uccta. the older
daughter. was trying. un,ucceSSfully. to trIn 4
black Grape bonnet, Icy the window.
lhry mad come up from the country at
l-ucetta> su%%, >tioh toappeal. in their poverty,
TO this rich cousin OF the dead father and hGl>-
band, but none of them anticipated any very
satisfactory results from the Experiment.
''Ihc>o rich people are always mi>erly." said
Miss l.urctta.
And I've under>tood.' said the gentle littI,
widow. that he was lot pleased when poor
Adrian married me instead of Miss Goldbag>
the rich paWmbroker> daughter.
"WellT' cried Mrs. Torrance eagerly t> Nelly
entered.
What does he say" questioned Lucetta
dropping the fold of Grape She vainly en-
deavoring to fashion into what the fashion
plate called IAN oblong bow.
II have seen him.. said Nelly. untyng her
bonnet-string>, land I'm going 10 his house i'll
Grandover Park this afternoon.
~ on don't mean. cried Mrs Horrance
with >pasnodic catching in her breath, THAT he
is going to adopt Nou:'
Not in the least. said NELLY. Nov mamma
darling, don't jump at conclusions. Just hear
my plain, unvar>hcd tale. | Went 10 Cousin
John. ! told him | wanted something to do
He asked me if could cook. Thanks to that
course of lessons | once took of Si9nor Silver
spoon. was able 10 answer YES. Then he told
me that his cook WAS gone, and asked me if
would come to his house this afternoon and
take her place.
And you-' gasped Mrs. Torrance.
Il said yes, of course.
''Eleanor," cried Lucetta, Il am scandalized
by your conduct Yes, perfectly scandalized.
on will do nothing of the >ort.'
Certainly not" said Mrs Torrance. develop
ing strong hy>terical symptoms. '.If your
cousin Brown intend, to insult Us
But he doesn't mean to insult us pleaded
Nelly. lie intencd the offer in all GOOD faith
and accepted it in the ~ame spirit"
"lou surely do Mot mean 10 DEGRADE YOUR
self, cried Lucetta, "hy turning-cook-fH
ANY man living"
II don't See urged Nelly, .-that it is any