The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-05

FoihiohOO tdlC. WcuI W OOuSlu
John. l told him I wanted some
thing to do. He asked me il / could
cook. Thanks to that course of les
sons | took of Signor Silverspoon,
was able to answer yes. Then he
told me that his cook was gone, and
asked me if | would come to his
house this afternoon and take her
place"
"And you7" gasped Mrs. Torrance.
II said yes, of course"
Eleanor" cried Lucetta, II am
scandalized by your conduct Yes,
perfectly scandalized! You will do
nothing of the Sort"
Certainly not" said Mrs. Tor
rance, developing hysterical symp-
toms. eff your Cousin Brown in
tends to insult US
But he DOESN'T" pleaded Nelly.
He intended the offer in good faith.
and | accepted it in the same spirit"
"You surely do not mean to de-
grade yourself" cried Lucetta, by
turning cook-for any man living"
81 don't see," argued Nelly, "that
it is any more degrading to cook for
Cousin John than it would be to
embroider slippers for him, or to
read the newspaper aloud to him of
an evening"
Eleanor never had any proper
PRIDE" said Mrs. Torrance, wringing
her hands.
"Neverw echoed Lucetta.
"And," added Nelly, "my cousin
would have every right to believe me
an imposter if | told him l wanted
work and then refused the offer he
made. 1t will be useless for you to
demonstrate, Lucetta, and | hope
mamma will not place any obstacles
in my way, for I am quite determined
to go to Grandover Park this after
noon"
And she adhered to her resolution.
1t was six exactly when Mr.. Brown
let himself into his house with the
latchkey which always depended
from his watch chain. The gas jet
burned softly behind the rose-colored
shade in the hall; the Ere clicked
cheerily in the CRATE of the parlor be-
yond.
"Humph!" he muttered; "she hasn't
come. Thought SOL There's no such
thing as practical woman nova
days."
At the same moment light, white
aproned little figure came out of the
dining room beyond, and Nelly Tor
RANGES voice uttered the words:
Dinner is ready, Cousin john.
The old man smiled. He had
pleasant expression on his face when
he smiled, and Nelly wondered that
she had not noticed what handsome
man he was.
"Oh," said he, you did come,
then?"
81 always keep my engagements"
said Nelly. "Punctuality is the soul
of business, isn't it, Cousin John2
At least, that's what l used to write
in my copy books"
Mr.. Brown patted her hand as she
helped him with his overcoat.
"You are good girl" said he.
And in his secret mind he deter
mined to put up with any deficiencies
in the cooking of girl who had
such excellent business principles.
But to his infinite amazement there
were no deficiencies to overlook. The
soup was on the table, clear as water,
favored like dream of Soyer's own.
The first course was baked trout, the
second pigeon on toast. A small
and compact roast of beef ribs was
fanked by dainty giblet pie, and
the dessert was fruit, peach tarts and
Bavarian cream.
Mr.. Brown ate and relished and
wondered by turns.
"My dear" said he, at last, when
the cloth was removed, "all is very
nice. I'll concede that you are a
tip-top housekeeper. But of course
you ordered all this from None rios
restaurant"
"But, of course, l didn't Cousin
Brown" said Nelly, decidedly. 81
cooked it myself"
"What, that soupi"
eyes, that soup"
"Did you prepare that trout sauce
and broil that pigeons"
eyes, Cousin Brown"
Sand the giblet pie, was that
yours7"
"Yes, and the giblet pie! Don't
look so astonished, Cousin Brown"
she added, laughing. 81 may as we'll
confess that I took a course of cook