The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-10-10
NELLY THE COOh.

from the depths of the big armchair.
so you are my cousin Adrin'a daugh
| terri said he, after long pause
eyes, 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 dor
Yes, please"
Humph!' said Mr.. Brown
Nelly glanced shyly up into his face.
But, she added, with some spirit. Il am
not asking for charity. l am working
for breadf'
You mean that you would like to
daub canvas, or sew yellow sunfiowers
on green plush screens satrically obser-
we'd the old gentleman. Il don't call
that work"
81 shall be glad to undertake any sort
ii work by means of which 1 can make
my own living"
"Oh!" again INTERCEPTED Mr.. Brown
Can you cook2"
Certainly" Nellie answered.
my cook went away this morning
haven't engaged any onc in her place.
You can come this afternoon and see
what you can do for me,
Mr.. Brown watched her out of the
Office with quizzical twinkle in the
corner of his eyes.
"She won't come" he said To him self,
1--WE seen the last of my fine relative,
And Nelly Torrance went home to II
little second floor room, the cheapest
that the widow and her daughters could
possibly find.
Mrs. Adrian Torrance was dressed in
l. g; 4:
china, who had been like the lilies of the
field, in that she toiled not, neither did
she spin, aud Lucctta, the eldest daugh
ter was trying, unsnccessfully enough,
to trim black Grape bonnet by the win
dow.
They had come up from the country at
Lucettas suggestion to appeal. in their
poverty, to this rich cousin of the dead
father and husband but none of them an
ticipated any very satisfactory results
from the experiment.
These rich people are always miscr-
a|cly,' said Miss Lucctta"
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"
"Wclln' cried Mrs, Torrance eagerly,
as Nelly entered.
What does he say?' questioned Lucet-
ta dropping the fold of Grape which she
was vainly endeavoring to fashion into
what the fashion plate called an ''oblong
bow"
81 have seen him." said Nelly, untying
her bonnct-strings, land I'm going to
his house in Grhndover park this after
noon"
"You don't mean" cried Mrs. Torr>
ance, 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 couclus>
ions. went to cousin John. l told him
| wanted something to do. He asked me
if | could cook. | 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 your gasped Mrs. Torrance.
II said yes-of course"
"Eleanorl' cried Lucetta, Il am scans
dalized by your conduct Yes, perfectly.
scandalized. You will do nothing of the
sortI'
"Certainly not" said Mrs. Torrance,
developing strong hysterica! symptoms.
'If your Cousin Brown intends to insult
US"
but he doesn't intend to insult us,
pleaded Nelly. 'I1e intended the offer
in all good faith, and accepted it in the
same good spirit
you surely do not mean to degrade
yourself" cried Lucclta, 'by turning
cook--for any man living.
Il don't scc,' argued Nelly, THAT it is
any more degrading to cook for Cousin
John than it would be to embroider Slip
pers for him. or read the newspapers
aloud to him of an evening.
1t was six exactly when Mr.. Brown let
himself into his house with his lateh-key,
which always depended from his watch
chain. The gas jet burned softly behind
the rose -colored shade iu the hall; the
fire clicked cheerfullv in the CRATE in the
parlor beyond
''IIumphi'' he muttered, "she hasn't
come. Thought so. There's no snch
thing as practical woman nowadays
At the same moment light, white
aproncd little figure came out of the dine
ing room beyond, aud Nellie Torrancc's
voice uttered the words;
Dinner is ready, Cousin John"
The man smiled. lie had Il pleasant
expression of the face when he smiled,
and Nellie wondered that she had not be-
fore noticed what n handsome man he
was.
"Oh," said he, "you did come. them"
"Oh, always keep my engagements
said Nelly:
Mr.. Brown patted her on the head as
she helped him off with his overcoat, and
he decided ito put up with any dciiclen-
ries in the cooling; but to his infinite
there were no deficiencies to
overlook. He ate and rclshed and won
Tered by turns.
NV dear" he said, at last. when the
cloth was removed and the wine and wall
nuts brought on, sail is very nice. I'll
,oncede that you are tip phousekeep-
n; but of course you ordered all this from
Monerato's restaurant?
But of course didn't. Cousin
Brown said Nelly. decidedly. Il cooked
t all myself.
did you prepare that trout sauce and
)roil that pigcon?
yes, Cousin Brown"
'And that giblit pie was that yours"
"Yes and the giblet pie. Don't look
30 astonished, Cousin Brown, she added,
Il may as well confess that
took course of cooking lessons last
summer; and like it of all things, espec-
ally in household like this, where one
AN command the very best materials"
MIR. Brown closed his eyes made Il hasty |
His life bad been worried |
out of him" to use IA mediocre expression,
W. caprcious housekcepcrs, inefficient
looks and badly trained servants.