Middletown transcript., 1886-02-26

e, I 0u don't mean, crleQ MrS
Torrance, with spasmodic catching ir
her breath, "that he was going to-
: adopt you r
"Not in the least" said nellie,
"Now, mamma. darling, don't jump
at conclusions. just hear my plain.
unvarnished tale. I went to Cousin
John, I told him I wanted something
to do. He asked me if I could cook.
Thanks to that course Of lessons l
once took. of Signor Silverspoon, l was
able to answer yes. Then he told me
that his cook was gone, and asked me
ifI would come to his house this after
noon and take her place"
"And you" gasped Mrs. Tor.
rance.
81 said yes. Of course"
Eleanor u cried Lucetta, am
scandalized by your conduct! Yes.
perfectly scandalized. You will do
nothing of the sortl"
Certainly not" said Mrs. Tor
rance, developing strong hysterical
symptoms. If your cousin Brown in
tends to insult us"
"But he doesn't mean to insult u.s."
pleaded Nelly. aHe intended the
offer in ell good faith, and I accepted
it in the same spirit"
"You surely do not mean to degrade
yourself" cried Lucetta, "by turning
-cook-for any man livingp
"I don't see" urged Nelly, that it
is any more degrading 10 cook for
Cousin John than it would be to en-
broider slippers for him, or read the
newspaper aloud to him of an even
ing"
Eleanor never had any proper
PRIDE" said Mrs. Torrance, wringing
her hands
"Neverp echoed Lucetta.
"And," added Nelly, "my cousin
would have every right to believe me
an .imposter if I told him I wanted
work and then refused the first offer |
he made. It will be useless for you
to demonstrate, Lucetta and I hope |
mamma will not place any obstacles
in my way, for I am quite determined
to go to Grandover Park this. after
neon."
And she adhered firmly to her re.
solution.
1t vas 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 behind the rose colored shade
in the hall, the fire clicked cheerly in
The CRATE in the parlor beyond.
"HumphP be muttered. "She
hasn't come. Thought so 7 There's no
such thing as practical woman now
days"
At the same moment q light, white
aproned little figure came out Of the
dinDing-room beyond, Nelly Torrance's
voice uttered the words:
Dinner is ready, Cousin John"
The old man smiled. He had q
pleasant expression on his face when
he smiled, and Nelly wondered that
she had not noticed what q handsome
man he was.
"oh," said he, "you did come,
then ?"
"Oh, I always keep my engage
ments," said Nelly. "Punctuality is
the soul Of business, isn't it, Cousin
Jack? At least that's what I used to
write in my copy-books at school,"
Mr.. Brown patted her hand as she !
helped him off with his overcoat,
"You are good CIR" he said.
And in his secret mind be decided
o put up with any deiicienciesin the /
cooking Of girl who had such ex-
'ellent business principles. I
But to his infinite amazement there r
we're no Deficiencies to overlook. The
cup was on the table, as clear as
water, favored like dream Of soyer's
,wn! n
The first course was baked trout, b
he second a pigeon on toast. A small b
md compact roast of beefribs was I"
lanked BY dainty giblet-pie, and the t
lesert was fruit, peach tarts and Baya- g
ian cream. e
Mr.. Brown ate and relished and
wondered by turns. n
"My dear" said he at last, when d
he cloth was removed, call is very Il
ice, I'll concede that you are tip g
Op housekeeper. But, Of course, you Il
rdered all this from Monerato's res :
aurant?"
"But, Of course, I didn't Cousin
Brown" said Nelly, decidedly. 81 q
ooked it all myself2
What, that soupf' !,
"Yes, that soup" :, :.
"Did you prepare that trout sauce
nd broil that pigeon p &C
"Yes, Cousin Brown"
And that giblet pie, was that o.
ours p
Yes, and the giblet pieI Don't T
'ok SO astonished, Cousin Brown"
le added, laughing. az may as we'll