The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-02-20
Select STORY.
HER DESPISED ACCOMPLISHMENT.

Old Mr.. Brown stood in his private of:
flee. with his back to the fire and his coat
tails balanced in either hand. He was a
bald-headed old gentleman with ruddy
complexion, keen black eyes and leg oi
mutton whiskers which were white as
snow. And Miss Nelly Torrance sat look.
ing at him timidly from the depth of the
big arm chair in which he had beckoned
her to seat herself.
$50 you are my cousin Adrian's daugh,
ter?" 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 want something to do?''
ayes, pleaser'
"Humpw said Mr. Brown.
aBut," she added, with some spirit, ~
am not asking for charity. l am willing
to work for my bread !'
"You mean that you would like to daub
canvas, or sew yellow sunfowers on greer
plush screens" satirically observed the old
gentleman don't call that work"
.Nor either" retorted Nelly.
'Then what do you mean?' said Mr.
Brown.
II mean that l shall be glad to under
take any sort of honest work by means OF
which can earn my own living"
"Humpr' again interjected Mr. Brown
pCan you cook ?"
eyes," Nelly answered,
II don't believe itl''
0But cam
every well, said Mr.. Brown, releasing
his coat-tails and sitting down at his desk
as if the question were definitely disposed
of. "My cook went away this morning
l 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 Indignantly from this
proposal, but she did nothing of the sort.
She simply said, eyes, Cousin john" anc
asked him for his private address.
"Mind you're punctual, my dear ?" sale
he, as he handed her the penciled card.
II am always punctual," calmly respond
ed Nelly.
"Mr. Brown watched her out of the of.
fee with quizzical twinkle in his eye.
"She won't come" he said to himself
give seen the last of my fine relation"
And Nelly Torrance went home to little
second floor room, the cheapest which thu
widow and her daughters could possibly
find.
Mrs. Adrian Torrance was dressed ii
black, fair delicate piece of human china
who had been like the lilies of the field
in that she toiled not, neither did she spin
and Lucetta, the older daughter, was try
ing, unsuccessfully to trim black Grape
bonnet, by the window.
They had come up from the country al
Lucetta's suggestion to appeal, in theil
poverty, to this rich cousin of the deac
father aud husband, but none of them an
ticipated any very satisfactory results from
the experiment.
aThese rich people are always miserly,
said Miss hucetta.
aAnd I've understood" said the gentle
little widow, 'sthat he was not pleased wher
poor dear Adrian married me instead O.
Miss Goldbags, the rich pawnbroker'i
daughter"
aWell?" cried Mrs. Torrance eagerly, al
Nelly entered.
aWhat does he say?" questioned Lucet
ia, dropping the fold of Grape she wa
vainly endeayoring to fashion into what the
fashion-plate called San oblong bow"
AZ have seen him" said Nelly untyins
her bonnet strings, 'and I'm going to hi
house in Grandover Park this afternoon.
| aYou don't mean," cried Mrs, Torrance