The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-06-02
Her One Accomplishment

| ~ LID MIR. BROWN stood in his
| IL u private office, with his back to
the fire and his coat-tails bal
anced on either hand. He was bald
headed old gentleman with a 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.
$50 you are my Cousin Adrian's
daughter!" said he, after a 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 do?"
Eyes, please"
''Humphv' said Mr.. Brown.
Nelly glanced shyly up into his face.
But" she added with some spirit,
II am not asking for charity. l am
willing to work."
"You mean you would like to daub
| canvas, or sew yellow sunflowers on
green plush screens" satirically OBJ
served the old gentleman. Il don't
call that work."
Nor I, either" retorted Nelly.
''Tben what do you mean?" said Mr..
Brown.
II mean that l shall be glad to do
| any sort Of honest work by means Of
which can earn my own living"
''Humph" again interjected Mr..
Brown. "Can you cook?"
ses," Nelly answered.
Il don't believe it."
But can"
VERY weu," said Mr. Brown, releas-
Ing his .oA tails and sitting down at
his desk, as II the question were def
initely dispos I'd Of. my cook went
away this MOI uing. 1 haven't engaged
any one in her place. You may come
this afternoon, I1d 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.
81 am always punctual," calmly re-
torted Nelly.
Mr.. Brown watched her out Of the
Office with a quizZical twinkle in the
corner of his eye.
"She won't come" he said to him
self. 1--WE seen the last Of my fine
relative"
Nelly Torrance went home to little
second-f1oor 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 been
like the lilies of the fe1 in that she
''toiled not, neither did she spin" Lu-
cetta, the elder daughter, was trying.
rnsuccessfully enough, to trim & Mack
crepe bonnet by the window.
They had come up from the country
at Lucetta's suggestion, to appeal in
their poverty, to this rich cousin of che
dead father and husband, but mona Of
them anticipated any very satisfactory
results from the experiment.
'These rich people are always miser-
ly," said Miss Lucetta.
"And I've understood" sighed the
gentle little widow, that he was not
pleased when Adrian married me-"
"Well?" cried Mrs. Torrance. eager
ly, as Nelly entered.
What does he say" questioned Luz
cetta, dropping the folds of crepe
which she was vainly endeavoring to
fashion into what the fashion-plate
called an ''oblong bow"
II have seer him. said Nelly, I'M
lying her bvu,ret-strings, land I'm go
Ing to his house In Grandover Park
this afternoon"
you don't meAn." cried Mrs. Tor
rance, with a spasmodic catching Of
her breath, that he Is going to adopt
you"
Not in the least" said Nelly. "Now.
l MAMMA, don't jump at conclusions.
Just hear my plain. unvarnished talA.