Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-01-11
newspaper aloud to him in the even

pride," said Mrs. Torrance, wiring
ing her hands.
"Never!" echoed Lucetta.
"And,' said Nelly, s'my cousin
would have every right to believe me
an imposter if 1 had told him 1 want
ed work, and had then refused the
offer he made. 1t will be useless for
you to demonstrate, Lucetta, and |
hope mamma will not place any OBJ
stacles in my way. For | am quite
determined to 60 to Grandover Park
this afternoon.
And she adhered firmly to her res
olution.
1t was exactly six when Mr.. Brown
let him into his house with the latch
key #hich always suspended from
his watch-chain. The gas jet burned
softly behind the rose-colored shade
ia the hall, the fire clicked cheerfully
IN the CRATE of the parlor beyond, a
most inviting apartment.
"Humph!'' he muttered. "She
hasn't come. Thought so There's
no such thing as practical woman
nowadays -
At the same moment light white
aproned little figure came out of the
dining room beyond, and Nelly Tor
rance's voice uttered the words:
"Dinner is ready, Cousin John. "
The old man smiled. He had a
pleasant expression of the face when
he smiled, and Nelly wondered that
she had not before noticed what Il
handsome man he was.
"Oh," SAID he, ''you dld come,
then"
"Oh, l always keep nv engage
ments." said Nelly. "Punctuality is
the soul of business, isn't it, Cousin
John? At least, that is what | used
to write in my copy-books at school. y
Mr.. Brown patted her hand as she
helped him off with his overcoat.
''You are good girl" said he.
And in his secret mind he decided
to put up with any deficiencies in the
cooking of a girl who had such excel
lent business principles.
But, to his infinite amazement,
there were no Deficiencies 10 over
look F! The soup was on the table,
clear as water, favored like dream
of Soyer's own
The first course was baked trout,
swimming in wine sauce, the second
a pigeon on toast. A small and com.
pact roast of beef ribs was fanked
by dainty giblet pie, and the des-
sert was fruit, peach tarts and Bava-
rian cream!
Mr.. Brown ate, and relished. an6
wondered, by turns.
"My DEAR" said he at last, wher
the cloth was removed and the wine
and walnuts brought on, sail is very
nice. I'll concede that you are tip.
top house-keeper. But, of course
you ordered all this from Mouerato's
restaurant"
"But of course l didn't, Cousin
Brown" said Nelly decidedly. 81
cooked it all myself! p
"What. that soup?"
eyes, that soup!"
"Did you prepare that trout sauce
and broil that pigeon?''
:'Yes, Cousin Brown"
'sAnd that giblet pie? was thai
yours?''
''Yes, and the giblet pie. Dom
look so astonlshed, Cousin Brown,
she added, laughing. 81 may as
we'll confess that | took a course o
cooking lessons last summer. Ant
| like 1t of all things, especially in 6
household like this, where one car
command the very best materials. ,
Mr.. Brown closed his eyes an(
made hasty calculation. His life
had been "worried out of him, to ust
mediocre expression, by capriciou'
housekeepers, inefficient cooks, an(
unframed servants. At last, ther,
was a gateway out of all his tribula
tions
"My DEAR" said he, 81 shoule
like to have you come here and live.
GAS cook, Cousin Brown?"
"No-as my adopted daughte
and housekeeper. need some on
to take the helm of my affairs. B,
Jupiter p he added as he recollectet
the flavor of the giblet pie. 81 havn'
eaten such dinner in ten years"
but my MOTHER" hesitated Flea
nor, "and my sister Lucetta.'
''Let them come, too. said Mr.
Brown. "Bless your heart, my dear
there's plenty of room in the house
Can they cook, too?'
mo, Cousin Brown" confessed
Nelly.
"Well, perhaps it is just as we'll.
said Mr.. Brown. ''There can't b.
more than one head to household
hope you have preserved the recipe
of the giblet pie, my dear. 1t wa'
really something extraordinary"
So the Torrance family found :
comfortable refuge for the seles o.
their feet, and Neliy's despised ac
complishment proved the swort
wherewith she opened the world
oyster.
And Lucetta sighed and wondered
why she, too, had not taken cooking
lessons.
I'll = al, Ill NJ fu 70