The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-01
Il said yes-of course"

scandalized by your conduct Yes,
perfectly scandalised You will do
nothing of the sort ~
Certainly not" said Mrs. Tor
rance, developing strong hystericaI
symptoms. "If your cousin Brown
intends to insult5us-"
''But he dOsen't mean to insult
u.s." pIeaded Nelly. He intended
the offer in all good faith, and 1 ac-
cepted it in the same spirit.n
You surely do not mean to de-
grad YOURSELF" cried Lucetta, "by
turning cook-fOr any man living ~
II don't see," argued Nelly, "that
it is any more degrading to 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"
"EIeanor never had any proper
PRIDE" said Mrs. Torrance, Wringing
her hands.
"Never !" echoed Lucetta.
"And," added Nelly, my cousin
would have every right to believe
me an impostOr if [ had told him |
wanted work, and had then refused
the first offer he made. 1t will be
useless for YOU to demonstrate, Lu.
cetta, and L hope mamma will not
place any obstacles in my way. For
am quite determined to 90 to Gran
dover Park this afternoon"
And she adhered firmly to her reso-
luton.
1t was six exactly when Mr.. Brown
let himself into his house with the
latch-key, which always depended
from his watch chain. The gas jet
burned softly behind the rose-colored
shade in the hall, the fire clicked
cheerfully in the CRATE of the parIor
beyond most inviting apartment.
"Humph !" he muttered, "She
HASN'T come. Thought SC! There's
no such thing as a practical woman
noW-a-day,"
At the same moment a light,
White-aproned little figure came out
of the dining-room beyond, and
Nelly Torrance's voice uttered these
words:
DINNER is ready, Cousin John"
The old man smiled. He had a
pleasant expression of the face when
he smiled, and i,,7s5 Nelly Wondered, 9TH that
handsome man he was.
"Oh," said he you did come, then
"Oh | always keep my engage
ments," said Nelly. "Punctuality is
the soul of business, isn't it, Cousin
John? At least that's what 1 used
to write iE my copy books at SCHOOL,
Mr.. Brown patted her hand as she
helped him off with his overcoat.
"You are good GIRL" said he.
And in his secret mind he decided
to put up with any deficiencies in the
cooking of girl who had such ex'
ceIIent business principles,
But, to his infinite amazement
there were no deficiencies to over
look. The soup was on the table as
clear as water, Favored like a dream
of Soyer's own.
The first course was baked trout
swimming in wine sauce, the secOnC
a pigeon on toast. A small and com
pact roast of beef ribs was fanked by
dainty giblet-pie, and the desser
was fruit, peach tarts, and Bavariar
cream.
Mr.. Brown ate, relished and won
dered, by turns.
"My dear" said he at last, Whel
, the cloth was removed and the win
and walnuts brought on, "all is yer,
} nice. I'll concede that you are a tip
top housekeeper. But of course, yo
ordered all this from Moyerato'S res
taurant ?"
But of course I didn't, Cousi
Brown" said Nelly decidedly. I"
cooked it all myself"
| "What, that soup ?'
/ Eyes, that soup"
= ibid you prepare that trout sauc
/ and broil that pigeon ?''
"Yes, Cousin Brown"
: "And the giblet-pie? Was thu
n yours ?"
r "Yes, and the giblet-pie f.! Don
look so astonished, Cousin Brown,
). she added, laughing. II may as we
g confess that | took a course of cool
= ing lessons last summer. And lii
it of all things, especially in hous
:. hold like this, where one can con
p mand the very best material.
/, Mr.. Brown closed his eyes ar
II made a mental calculation. His Ii
g had been "worried out of him."
(. use mediocre expression, by capr
/ cious housekeepers, inefficient cook
l and unframed servants. AT las
le was a gateway out of all his tribul