Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-01-11
Her UnCle'S Pet.

eyes," said Nelly, wondering
what was in all those mysterious box
es, and whether the monster iron
safe was full of gold and silver pieces.
"And you want something to do?"
eyes, please %
"Humph - said Mr.. Brown.
Nelly glanced shyly up into his
face. But she added with some spirit,
81 am not asking for charity. | am
willing to work for my bread !"
"You mean that you would like TO
daub canvas, or sew impossible yel-
low sunfowers on green plush
screens," satirically observed the old
gentleman. 81 don't call that work -
':Nor I, either" retorted Nelly.
"Then, what do you mean?' said
Mr.. Brown.
81 mean that shall be glad to un-
dertake any sort of honest work by
means of which l can earn my own
living"
"Humph p interjected Mr.. Brown,
"Can you cook?''
EYES," Nelly answered.
81 don't believe it!
''But can"
Every well," said Mr.. Brown, re-
leasing his coat-tails and sitting down
at his desk as if the question were
definitely disposed Of. "My cook
went away this morning. haven't
engaged any one in her place. You
may come this afternoon and see
what you can do for me-"
Mr.. Brown fully expected that his
young cousin would recoil indignant
ly from this proposal, but she did
nothing of the sort She simply SAID,
eyes, Cousin JOHN and asked him
for his private address.
"Mind you're punctual, my DEAR"
said he as he handed her the penciled
card.
"I am always punctual," calmly
responded Nelly.
Mr.. Brown watched her out of his
office with quizzical twinkle in the
corner of his eye.
"She won't come," he said to him.
self. "I've seen the last of my fine
relation"
And Nelly Torrance went home to
little second-foor room, the cheap
est that the widow and her daughter
could possibly find.
Mrs. Adrian Torrance was dressed
in black, fair delicate piece of hui
man china, who had been like the ILL
les of the field, in that she toiled not,
neither did she spin, and Lucetta, the
elder daughter, who was trying. un-
successfully enough, to trim q black
Grape bonnet by the window.
They had come up from the coun-
try at Lucetta's s suggestion to appeal,
in their poverty, to this rich cousin of
the dead father and husband. but
none of them anticipated any very
satisfactory results from the expert
ment.
s'These rich people are always mis-
erly," said Miss Lucetta.
"And I've understood" sighed the
gentle little widow, "that he was not
pleased when poor Adrian married
me instead of Miss Goldbags, the
rich pawnbroker's daughter.
"Well?" cried Mrs. Torrance ca
gerly as Nellie entered.
"What does he say?" questioned
Lucetta, dropping the fold of Grape
which she was vainly endeavoring to
) fashion into what the fashion plate
called "an oblong bow"
"I've seen him. said Nelly, unity
ing her bonnet-strings. And now
I'm going to his house in Grandovel
Park this afternoon"
"You don't mean,' cried Mrs.
Torrance, with spasmodic catching
her breath, 'sthat be Is going to-
adopt you?''
t s:Not in the least" said Nelly
"Now, mamma darling, don't jump
at conclusions. Just hear my plain,
2 unvarnished tale. l went to Cousin
John. I told him [ wanted some
thing to do. He asked me if | could
cook. Thanks to that course of les
sons l once took of Signor Silver
e spoon. l was able to answer yes.
5 Then he told me his cook was gone,
and, and asked me if | would come
to his house this afternoon and take
her place."
"And you?" gasped Mrs. Tor
rance.
81 said yes-of course
r ssEIeanor cried Lucetta, 81 an
scandalized by your conduct! Yes
perfectly scandalized? You will dc
nothing of the sort p
Certainly not" said Mrs. Tor.
e rance, developing strong hysterica
e symptoms.
e ssIf your Cousin Brown intends to
insult us
ssBut he doesn't intend to insult
u.s." pleaded Nelly. "Hc intended tht
offer in good faith, and | accepted i
y in the same spirit
n "You surely do not mean to de
: : grade YOURSELF" cried Lucetta, '.b.
&c turning cook-for any man living !
', II don't see," argued Nelly, '.tha
II it is any mpre degrading to cook TO
Inh,, n