Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-11-10

ut Mlttnti COuIu cOpk. ntIl ne
told me that his cook was gone. aud
asked me whether l would come to his
house this afternoon, and take her
place"
And you?" gasped Mrs. Torrance.
II said yes, of course"
Eleanor" cried I.ucetta. Il am
scandalzed by your conduct! Yes. per
fectly scandalized! You will do moth
ing Of the sort"
Certainly not" said Mrs. Torrance.
developing hysterical symptoms III
your Cousin Brown intends to insult
, U.s.
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 living MANI"
Il don't see" argued Nelly, that it
is any more degrading to cook for
Cousin John that it would he to EN-
broider slippers for him. or to read
the newspapers aloud to him Of an
evening
Eleanor never had any proper
PRIDE said Mrs. Torrance wrlnging
| her hands.
Never echoed Lucetta.
And" added Nelly. my cousin
would have every reason to believe me
an impostor if | told him | wanted
work and then refused the offer he
made. 1t will be useless for you to
demonstrate. Lucetta. and | hope NAM
ma will not place any obstacles in my
way. for am quite determined to go
to GrandOver Park this afternoon
| 1t WAS o'clock 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. and the fire clicked
cheeriy in the crate of the parlor be-
You'd.
'Humph!' he muttered: she hasn't
come Thought SO! There is no such
thing as practical woman nova
days"
AT the same moment a 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 a
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.
them
Il always keep my engagements"
| said Nelly. "Punctuality is the soul
of business, isn't it. Cousin John? 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 a good girl" said he
And in his secret mind he determin-
ed to put up with any deficiencies in
the cooking Of girl who had such ex-
cellent business principles But to his
infinite amaZement there were no de-
fciencies to overlook He ate and rel
ished and wondered by turns.
MY dear" said he at last when the
cloth was removed, "all is very nice.
I'll concede you are a tip-top house
keeper But, of course. you ordered
all Of this from MOneratO's restau-
rant?"
But of course didn't. Cousin
Brown said Nelly. decidedly. II
cooked 1t myself"
Mr.. Brown closed his eyes, and made
a hasty calculation. His life had been
worried out Of him." to use com
mon expression. by capricious house
keepers, inefficient cooks and untrain-
ed servants. At last here was gate
way out Of all his tribulatioins
MY dear" he said. II should like
to have you come and live here"
LAS cook Cousin BROWNE"
NO; as my adopted daughter and
hOusekeeper. | need some one to take
the helm of my affairs
"But my mother" hesitated Eleanor,
and my sister, Lucetta.'
Let them come. too. there's plenty
of room in the house. Can they cook,
too?'
mo. Cousin Brown" confessed
Nelly.
"Well, perhaps it's Just as WELL"
said Mr.. Brown; there can't be more
than one head to the household"
So the Torrance family found Il COM
Portable refuge for the soles of their
feet. and Nelly's despised accomplish
ment proved the sword wherewith she
opened the worlds oyster. Lucetta
sighed. and wondered why she too had
not taken cooking lessons.
Nelly is the old mans favorite."
said she. Hell leave her his money
when he dies. And all because she ac-
cepted the ridiculous offer Of turning
! cook for living!''
Mr.. Brown. however. looked at the
matter in a different light He said:
Nelly is not like the typical young
lady, too lazy to work and too proud
to beg She does with her might
whatever her hands find to do
Woman's Journal
1t Was No Dispute.
While Senator Pettus was strollinR
tl,, -,