The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-29
HER DESPISED ACCOMPLISH
 MENT.

was a bald-headed old gentleman with a ruddy complexion, keen black eyes, and leq-of mutton whiskeTs which were white as snow. And Miss Nelly Torrance sat looking at him timidly from the depths of the big al n chair, in which he had beckcned her to seat herself.
 "So you are my cousin Adrian's daughter [" said he, after tong 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 l" said MT. Brown.
 Nellie glanced shyIy up into his face.
 "But," she added, with some spirit, "I am not asking for charity. am willing to work for my bread !"
 "You mean that you would like to daub canvas, or sew yellow sunhowers on green plush screens" satirically observed the old gentleman. "i don't call that work"
 "Nor either" retorted Nelly.
 Then what do you mean?" said Mir Brown.
 "I mean that shall be glad to under take any sort of honest work by means of which can earn my own living"
 Humph !" again interjected MT. Brown. "Can you cook?"
 "Yes," Nelly answered..
 "I don't believe iii"
 But can"
 "Very well," said MT. brown, releas- ing his coat-tails and sitting. down al his AAeE sk tho AAGNtkAlxy dispos of My cook went away this morning. haven't engaged any one in her place. You may come this afternoon and see what yeu can do for me"
 Mir. Brown fully expected that his young cousin would recoil indignantly from his proposal, but she did nothing of the sort. She simply said: Yes. Cousin John,' and asked him for his private ad- dress.
 Mind you re punc.uai, my dear," said he, as h. handed her the penciled card.
 "l am always punc,ual," calmly re- sponded Nelly.
 Mir. Brown watched her out of the office with quiz-ical twinkle in the corner of his eyes.
 "She won't come," he said to himself, I've seen the last of my fine felation."
 And Nelly Torrance went home to a little second-hoor room, the cheapest which the widow and her daughters could possibly find.
 Mrs. Adrian Torrance was dressed in black, lair delicate piece of human china, who had been like the lilies of the field, in that she tolled not, neither did she spin, and Lucetta, the elder daughter. was trying, unsuccess ully enough, to trim black crape bonnet by the windo v.
 They had come up from the country at Lucetta's s 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 mi serly," said Miss Lucetta.
 And I've understood" said the gentle little widow, "that he was not pleased when poor dear Adrian married me in- stead of Miss Goldbags, the rich pawn brokers daughter"
 Well ?" cried Mrs. Torrance, eagerly, as Nelly entered.
 "What does he say2" questioned Lu- cetta, dropping the fold of crape which she was vainly endeavoring to fashion into what the iashion-plate called an "oblong bow"
 "I have seen him." said Nelly, untying her nnet-strings, "and I'm going to his house ;n Crandoye. park this alter noon."
 "You don't mean" cried Mrs. Tor rance, with spasmodic catching of her breath, "that he is going to-adopt you ?"
 "Not in the least," said Nelly; "now, mamma, darling, don't jump at conclu- sions. Just hear my plain, unvarnished tale. went to Cousin John. told him l wanted something to do. He asked me if could cook. Thanks to the course of lessons 1 once took of Signor Silver spoon, I was able to 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.
 said yes-of course"
 Eleanorl" cried Lucetta, am scandalized by your conduct! Yes, per- iectly scandalized. You will do nothing of the sorti"
 "Certainly not," said Mrs. Torrance, developing strong hysterical symptoms. If your cousin Brown intends to insult us"
 But he doesn't intend to insult us," pleaded Nelly. He intended the offer in all good faith, and accepted it in the same good spirit"
 You surely do not mean to degrade yourself" cried Lucetta, "by turning cook-for any man living"
 "l don't see," argued Nelly, that ii is any more degrading to cook for Cousin John than it would be to embroider slip. pers for him, or read the newspaper aloud to him of an evening"
 Eleanor never had any proper pride,o ? said Mrs. Torrance, wringing her hands.
 Never" echoed Lucetta.
 "And," added Nelly. - cousin would have every hghs to believe me an i'm postor if I told him wanted work and then refused the first offer he made. 1t will be useless for you to demonstrate, Lucetta, and I hope mamma will not