The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-01
HER UNCLE'S PET.

E# - uuuy complexion, Keen black
NeS' and leg-of- mutton whiskers
Mnich were white as snow. And
hlss Nelly Torrance sat looking at
Ehim tlmidly from the depths of the
w armchair in which he had heck
Vhed her to seat herself.
80 you are my cousin Adrian's
@ughter?" said he, after a long
pause.
Yes" said Nelly, wondering
Wnat was in all those mysterious
tlh boxes, and whether the monster
e9pn safe was full of gold and silver
,ptl4ts.
and you want something to do 2"
Yes. please ?"
"lumph ~ said Mr.. Brown.
Ney glanced shyly up into his
lace. -ut she added with some spirit,
i amot asking for charity. L am
Wiilihgo work for my bread !"
"4ounean that you would like to
daup caFass, or sew impossible vel
low sunoWers on green plush
screens, "atirically observed tine old
gentlemat ii don't call that work !"
"Nor l,ither." retorted Nelly.
'"Then, WAT do you mean >" said
Mr.. Brown
II mean hat l shall be glad to un-
dertake anysort of honest work by
means of which | can earn my own
living"
"Humph ~ again interjected Mr..
Brown. "Canyou cook 2"
"Yes," Nell answered.
81 don't beliere it !"
"But | can"
"Very well, ,"said Mr.. Brown, re-
leasing his coat-ails 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-"
y Mr.. Brown fully expected that this
young cousin would recoil indignant
~ from this proposal, but she did
nothing of the sort. She simply said
YES, Cousin john" and asked him
foE his private address.
Mind yon'ra sa.,aat.,ais $3.50 -
'tsSia.aaa ne handed her the pencille6
card.
81 am always punctual," calmly
responded Nelly.
Mr.. Brown watched her out of the
Office with a quizzical twinkle in the
corner of his eyes.
"She won't come" he said to him
self. "I'ye seen the last of my fine
relation.
And Nelly Torrance went home tC
a little second-fOor room, the cheap
est which the widow and her daugh
ters could possibly find.
Mrs. Adrian Torrance was dressed
in black, a fair delicate piece of hu
man china. who had been like tn,
lilies of the field, in that she toilet
not, neither did she spin, and Lucetta
the elder daughter, was trying, un
successfully enough, to trim blacl
Grape bonnet by the window.
They had come up from the coun
try at Lucetta's suggestion to appeal
in their poverty, to this rich cousin
of the dead father and husband, bu
none of them anticipated any yer.
satisfactory results from the expert
ment.
"These rich people are aIway
miserly," said Miss Lucetta.
"And I'ye understood. sighed tn
gentle little widow. "that he was nc
pleased when poor dear Adrian maj
ried me instead of Miss GoldbagS
the rich pawnbroker's daughter"
"Well 2" cried Mrs. Torrance eag
erly, as Nelly entered.
"What does he say ?" questione
Aucetta, dropping the Grape whic
she was yainly endeavoring to fash
ion into what the fashion plate calle
IAN oblong bow"
81 have seen him." said Nelly, III
tying her bonnet-strings. "And III
going to his house in Grandove
Park this afternoon"
"You don't mean," cried Mr.
Torrance, with spasmodic catchiu
OF her breath, "that he is going to-
adopt you ?"
mot in the least" said Nell.
Now, mamma darling, don't jun
at conclusions. Just hear my plai
unvarnished tale. L went to Cous
John, / told him wanted somethiI
to do. He asked me if | could coo
Thanks to that course of lessons
once took of Signor Silverspoon,
was able to answer yes. Then
told me that his cook was gone, al
4 asked me if | would come to
e house this afternoon and take h
place,O