The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-03-04


front path.
81 think this must be the house." said
Mr.. Hazeltine, Gas nearly as l can guess
from the confused directions of that old
idiot at the railway station, and"
But the current of his soliloquy was cut
short by the sudden appearance of a bright
welcoming face in the door-Helena Nane
herself, in pale blue muslin, with blue fl
lets of ribbon in her hair, sash pictur-
esqely Topped at the side, and rosetted slip
pers, like a dream of Cinderella.
"Miss Vane can you pardon this intru-
sion?' he began, courteously lifting his
hat.
"Oh, Mr.. Hazeltine, am SO glad to see
you"' cried out Helena, extending both her
hands.
At the same moment, Hernia and the
tub of whitewash appeared around the COZ
ner of the house. In her surprise at the
sight of an unexpected visitor-and the
unexpected visitor of all others-Hermia
dropped her end of the tub, coloring scar
let as rose.
"Ob, my dear"' cried old Mrs. Vane,
trying, but in vain, to save it. "There
goes your whltewash!'
" How do you do, Mr.. Hazeltine ?" said
Hernia, recovering her self possession, and
advancing with a protfered hand.
"My sister s-ahem-practicing for a
masquerade" stammcred the scandalzed
Helena; and
"It's no such thing." retorted Hernia,
blushing more vivid scarlet than ever.
81 am going to whitewash our back kitchen
ceiling"
" But can't help you 90 said MIR. Hazel
tine, laughing :" used to be good hand
at the brush in my school boy days"
"Ive no objection to your trying" said
Hernia, gravely. SCI But you'll have to
borrow white sheet from graudmamma to
cover up your fine clothes.''
"I'll risk the fine Clothes" said Mr. Ha-
zeltine, resolutely.
Hernia. Hernia. are you crazy" pro-
tested Helena, turning pink and white by
turns. eco and change your dress at
once, and come down to the parlor."
Mot until I've done my embarrassing,
insisted her obdurate twin sister. Re-
member, Mr.. Hazeltiue, it was your own
offer'
And Mr.. Hazeltine, looking into the sap
phire depths of those sparkling eyes, stood
to his colors.
"My own offer"' said he. "Of course
it was; and | shall feel too much honored
by its acceptance"
And to Helena Vane's infinite disgust,
Mr. Hazeltine spent the whole morning in
the kitchen, disguised in paper cap aud a
piece of an old sheet, helping Hernia to
whtewash the ceiling.
Hermy," cried Helena, when Mr.. Ha-
zeltine was gone and she contrived to OBJ
tain audience of her sister, "rm ashamed
of you
"And why ~
"To let Mr.. Hazeltine into the secret of
our poverty"
Hermias eyes flashed.
eff he despises us on account OF our
poverty" she said, "hs friendship is not
worth having. l shall not play the hypo-
critic to accommodate any man.
He will never come here again.
81 beg your pardon, Lena. He is COM
ing again tomorrow
And sure enough Mr.. Hazeltine made
his appearance the next day, "quite ready
for another job of work. as he himself ex-
pressed it.
"But you're not in earnest, Mr.. Hazel
tine ." Helena pleaded.
eyes, l am. l never enjoyed myself
more than l did yesterday. With Miss
Hernia permission I'll see the house clean
ing business through"
"You'll be of no use at all with the
scrubbing brush and the BROOM" said
Hernia, mischieviously; "but I've no OBJ
lection to your helping paper the little west
room when we get the paste ready"
1t was nearly week before they got to
the west room, but Mr.. Hazeltine came
every day. And when they had put on the
last strip Of brightly coored bordering,
Mr.. Hazeltine laid aside his paper cap.
"Hermia," said he (they had grown to
be great friends during this al fresco sort
of life), 1--WE question to ask YOU"
%
"Don't you think we work together
ncely?'
"Pretty well, considering" laughed
Hernia.
Would you object to me as partner"
"Not at all"
"Then may consider myself accepted"
he asked eagerly.
"Yes!" she answered, with half blush
and half smile.
That was Hernia Vane's last job of
house cleaning.
Helena is single yet. She says she can't
comprehend the men of the present age.