The Western news., 1904-11-23
Her One Accomplishment

WI private once, Win MS Dack 10
| the fire and his coat-tails bal
anced on either hand. He was a bald
headed old gentleman with ruddy
complexion, keen, black eyes, and leg
of-mutton whiskers which were white
as snow.
And Miss Nelly Torrance sat look
ing at him timidly from the depths of
her big armchair in which he had
beckoned her to seat herself.
80 you are my Cousin Adrian's
daughter?" said he, after long
pause.
"Yes," 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 something to dor"
"Yes, please"
"Humphw said Mr.. Brown.
Nelly glanced shyly up into his face.
But" she added with some spirit,
II am not asking for charity. am
willing to work"
"You mean you would like to daub
canvas, or sew yellow sunfowers on
green plush screens" satirically OBJ
served the old gentleman. Il don't
call that work"
"Nor I, either" retorted Nelly.
"Then what do you mean2" said Mr..
Brown.
II mean that shall be glad to do
any sort Of honest work by means Of
which l can earn my own living"
''Humph!' again interjected Mr..
Brown. Can you cook?"
"Yes," Nelly answered.
II don't believe it,
"But l can
Very WELL" said Mr.. Brown, releas-
Ing his coat-tails and sitting down at
his desk, as If the question We're def
initely 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 his proposal, but she did nothing
. of the sort. She simply said, "Yes,
Cousin john" and asked for his pri-
; vate address.
Mind you're punctual," said he, as
he handed her the penciled card.
II am always punctual," calmly re-
torted Nelly.
Mr.. Brown watched her out of the
Office with quizzical twinkle in the
corner Of his eye.
sSShn hn
self. 1--WE seen the last Of my fine
relative"
Nelly Torrance went home to a little
} second-foor room. the cheapest the
widow and her daughters could find.
Mrs. Adrian Torrance was dressed
: In black. She was a fair. delicate
piece of human china, who had beer
: like the lilies Of the field in that sh,
''toiled not, neither did she spin." Lu
cetta. the elder daughter. was trying
t unsuccessfully enough, to trim a blacl
}. crepe bonnet, by the window.
They had come up from the countr.
;. at Lucetta's suggestion, to appeal. IL
Q their poverty. to this rich cousin Of tn,
dead father and husband. but none o
tuSA anticipates 0Ay SOAy o00O4uCIOII
/ results from the experiment.
''These rich people are always miser
ly," said Miss Lucetta.
"And I've understood" sighed tn,
:. gentle little widow. that he was no
= pleased when Adrian married me-"
= "Well?" cried Mrs. Torrance, eager
"a ly. as Nelly entered.
D what does he say" questioned Lu
Il cetta, dropping the folds Of crep
ID which she was vainly endeavoring t
N fashion into what the fashion-plat
70 called an "oblong bow"
I'd II have seen him." said Nelly, un
tying her bonnet strings, 'and I'm &c
ing to his house In Grandover Par
this afternoon"
n You don't mean." cried Mrs. Tol
rance. with spasmodic catching Q
her breath, that he Is going to adop
= = your"
"Not in the least" said Nelly. Nov
70 mamma. don't jump at conclusionl
- AA III 1A Al