The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-02-20

'Sthat he was going to-adopt you z
''Not in the least" said Nelly. snow,
mamma, darling, don't jump at conclusions
Just hear my plain, unvarnished tale.
went to Cousin John, told him 1 wanted
something to do. He asked me if could
cook. Thanks to that course of lessons
once took of Signor Silverspoon, l was able
to answer yes. Then he told me that his
cook was gone, and asked me if I would
come to his house this afternoon and take
her place"
"And you" gasped Mrs. Torrance.
II said yes, of course"
"Eleanor !" cried Lucetta, II am scan
dalized by your conduct Yes, perfectly
scandalized You will do nothing of the
sortp
"Certainly not, said Mrs. Torrance, de-
veloping strong hysterical symptoms. II
your cousin Brown intends to insult us
"But he doesn't mean to insult us,
pleaded Nelly. "He intended the offer in
all good faith, and 1 accepted it in the SAME
spirit"
"You surely do not mean to degrade
yourself" cried Lucetta, "by turning
cook-for any man livingl'
II don't see" urged Nelly, that it is any
more degrading to cook for Cousin John
than it would be to embroider slippers fol
him, or read the newspaper aloud. to him
of an evening"
"Eleanor never had any proper pride,
said Mrs. Torrance, wringing her hands.
"NeverI" echoed Lucetta.
"And," added Nelly, "my cousin would
have every right to believe me an impostei
if l told him 1 wanted work and then re-
fused the first 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 deter
mined to 90 to Grandover Park this after
noon"
And she adhered firmly to her resolu-
ton.
1t was six exactly when Mr.. Brown let
himself into his house with his latchkey
which always depended from his watch
chain. The gas jet burned softly behinc
the rose colored shade in the hall, the fire
clicked cheerily in the crate in the parlol
beyond.
HHumph !" he muttered "She hasn
come. Thought sol There's no sucf
thing as practical woman nowadays"
At the same moment a light, white
aproned little figure came out of the dining
room beyond, Nelly Torrance's voice utter
ed the words:
'Dinner is ready, Cousin John"
expression on his face when he smiled, ant
Nelly wondered that she had not noticed
what handsome man he was.
"Oh," said he, 'you did come, then ?"
"Oh, always keep my engagements,
said Nelly. "Punctuality is the soul o.
business, isn't it, Cousin Jack? At leas
that's what 1 used to write In my copy
books at schocl."
Mr.. Brown patted her hand as she help
ed him off with his overcoat.
''You are good girl, he said.
And In his secret mind he decided Il
put up with any deficiencies in the cooking
of a girl who had such excellent business
principles.
But to his infinite amazement there were
no deficiencies to overlook. The soup wal
on the table, as clear as water, favored lik'
dream of Soyer's own
The first course was baked trout, th'
second pigeon on toast. A small anc
compact roast of beef-ribs was fanked BY
dainty giblet-pie, and the desert was fruit
peach tarts and Bavarian cream.
Mr.. Brown ate and relished and won
dered by turns.
"My DEAR" said he at last, when thu
cloth was removed, ''all is very nice. II
concede that you are tiptop housekeeper
But, of course, you ordered all this from
Monerato's restaurant ??
~But, of course, / didn't Cousin Brown,
said Nelly, decidedly II cooked it al
myself
"What, that soup?"
eyes, that soup"
'Did you prepare that trout sauce ant
broil that pigeon ?"
ayes, Cousin Brown"
"And that giblet pie, was that yours p
"Yes, and the giblet pie Don't look Sc
astonished, Cousin Brown" she added
laughing. "I may as well confess that
took course of cooking lessons last sum
mer. And 1 like it of all things, especial.
in household like this, were one can com
mand the very best material"
Mr.. Brown closed his eyes and made {
hasty calculation. His life had beer
"worried out of him" to use a mediocre
expression, by capricious housekeepers
inefficient cooks and unframed servants
At last was a gateway out of all his tribu
lations
"My DEAR" he said, II should like t.
have you come here and live.
:'As cook, Cousin Brown"
"No, as my adopted daughter and house
keeper. l need some one to take the helm
of my affairs, By Jupiter p he added, al
he recolIected the flavor Of the giblet pie
ssI have not eaten such dinner in tel
years"
"But my mother, hesitated Eleanor
''and my sister Lucetta.
aLet them come, too, said Mr. Brown
aBless your heart, my dear, there's plent.
of room in the house. Can they cook
too ?"
"No, Cousin Brown" confessed Nelly.
swell, perhaps it's just as WELL sai'
| Mr.. Brown. ''There can not be more thai
one head to household. 1 hope yor
have preserved the receipt of that gible
pie, my dear. 1t was really something ex
traordinary."
So the Torrance family found comfor
table refuge for the soles of their feet, ant
Nelly's despised accomplishment proved tn
sword wherewith she opened the world
oyster.
And Lucetta sighed and wondered VIII,
she, too, had not taken lessons.
'iNelly is the old mans first fayorite,
she said. "He'll leave her his money whel
he dies. And because she accepted hi
ridiculous offer of turning cook for a living.
Mr. Brown, however, looked at thi
matter in different light.
@Nelly is a trump" he said. 'Nelly
not like the typical young lady, who is to-
lazy to work, and too proud to beg. Sh
is one who ennobles the humblest task, ant
does with all her might whatever her hand