The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-05-21
Hermia's House-CIeaning.

HermIa'S HOuSe.CleanIng.
"But it's something that has got to be
done," said Hernia Vane, nodding her
| head.
"Some one must wash dishes, and
Helena does so hate kitchen drudgery."
'Tll do 'em DEAR" said old grand
mamma Vane AN apple-cheeked old lady.
"Run along TO your sewing. hate to
see your pretty, white hands in the dish
water"
"You, indeed?" cried Hernia. "Not
as long as l am here. Why, what are
young folks made for, ii not to wait on
the old peoplep
"Helena does not always reason so"
said the old lady little bitterly.
ual and Writes poetry. Now / haven't
the brains for that sort of thing, even II
l cared for (which Pm ashamed to
say, l don't-and SO it stands to reason,
you see, that l should be dish-washer."
Accordingly, Hernia had washed
the dishes and ranged them in neat order
on the whitely-scoured shelves, and now
had come out to have a little domestic
chat with Helena.
scot to be done? OF course IL has got
to be doneW retOrted Helena inpatient
ly. "And why can't we hire some one to
do itw
"Money reasons, Lena-money rea-
sons" sagely answered Hernia Vane.
awe can't afford it,"
"Oh, what q degradation it is to be
poor' sighed Helena, lifting her tur-
auoise-blue eyes to heaven. "Hermia,
why in the name of Midas, and Cresus,
and all those rich old heathens we read
about, didn't some rich old millionaire
lal in love with us when we visited Alice
Cope, last winter, in Philadelphia?
| Girls in novels never 60 anywhere with
out picking up at least half-dozen
beauX."
"But we're not girls in novels !"
| laughed Hernia.
"There was Mark HaZeltine-you re-
member him, don't you, Herny?-that
young man, with the splendid dusky
eyes and the white teeth.''
81 remember" said Hernia, blushing
little, in spite of herself.
81 knew he fancied one of us, or both.
Just think how often he used to come to
Alice's! If we could only have remained
would have become foregone conclu-
sion. And only think"
"What nonsense all this is!' impa-
tiently cried out Hernia. "And what
on earth has it to do with our spfianss
house-cleaning? There are all the lower
rooms to be whitewashed, the cellar to be
cleaned. the west bedroom TO be re-
papered, and"
"And who is to do all this hard house.
nlaidy sort Of work~ demanded Miss
.Vane, with shudder.
awe, of course, Helena, since we can't
afford to have it DONE"
81 sban't touch itP'
"Ehen must" said Hernia, with the
w pf
her nature; 'with what help grand
mamma can give me-"
"Hermy, have you sunk SO low as to
be q mere household drudgeW severely
demanded Helena.
81 haven't yet sunk sufficiently low,"
Hernia laughingly retorted, s'to lie In
the dirt, as long as am physically able
to purify my surroundings"
Il u
81 think this must be the house," said
| Mr.. Mark Hazeltine, ''as nearly as can
guess from the confused directions of
that old idiot at the railway station.
| And"
But the current of his soliloquy was
cus short by The sudden appearance of a
bright face at the dOor-Helena Vane
herself, in pale-blue muslin, with blue
tillets OF ribbon in her hair, sash pic
turesquely loopod at the side, and roset-
ted slippers, like dream OF Cinderella.
| "Mis5 Vane, can you pardon this in.
| truson" he began, courteously lifting
| his hat.
"Oh, Mr.. Eazeltine, 1 am SO glad to see
youv cried out Helena, extending both
her hands.
At the same moment Hernia and the
pail Of whitewash appeared around the
corner of the house. ln her surprise al
/ ha oil nj q n InnynnntaH n a
this unexpected visitor of all others
Hernia dropped her end Of the tub, col.
oring scarlet as rose.
s.On, my dearW cried old Mrs. Vane,
trying, but in vain, to save it. 'There
goes your whitewashV
SHOW do you do, Mr.. Hazeltine ?" said
Hernia, recovering her self-possession
and advancing with proffered hand.
s.My sister neutrality-suspicious. for a
masquerade" stammered the scandal
lied Helena; sand
"Ips no such thing" retorted Hernia
blushing more vivid scarlet than ever
81 am not masquerading at all, Mr.. Ha
! zelstlne. Pm in real earnest. / am 20
! ing to WhiteWash our back kitchen cell
; Ing"
zeltine, laughing. ~ used to be goo,
, hand at the brush in my schoolbo.
days."
. ''pve no objection to your trying
, said Hernia, gravely. "But you'll haY
to borrow white sheet rom grandmam
: ma to cover up your the Clothes"
s'I'll risk the fine clothes," said Mr
HazeItine resolutely.
| ssHermial Hernia! are you crazy p
protested Helena, turning pink AM
white by turns. $50 and change you
dress at once, and come down to tn
parlor."
"Not until I'm done my whitewasl
ing" insisted her obdurate twin sister
, "Kemember, Mr.. Hazeltine, it was you
oferp
And Mr.. Hazeltine looking into tn
sapphire depths of those sparkling eyes
stood to his colors.
"My own offerl" said he. "Of cours
1t was; andI feel too much honored by it
: acceptance"
, And to Helena Vane's infinite disgust
I Mr.. Hazeltine spent the whole morning
in the kitchen, disguised In ia paper cal
[ and piece OF an old sheet, helpin
i Hernia TO whitewash the ceiling.
t "Hermy," cried Helena, when MI
t Hazeltine was gone, and she oontrive
, to obtain audience Of her sister, II aI
t ashamed OF youl'-
~