Daily Republican., 1879-07-18
ROMANCE Of HOUSE-CLEAN
ING.

I
!, INC.
SIS she coming to visit you ?" said
Eric Hale, with aslight grimace. "That
simpering, fine lady, with the useless
white hands and shallow little society
laugh Oh, Aunt Della, pack my
pOrtnanteau and let me bs off ON q
leoturing tour until Flora Lees visit
comes to an end !"
| Mrs. Dove looked little disappoint-
ed. To confess the truth, she had
Especially arranged this visit with
reference to her nephew. Eric.
"Hs's fine young fellow" she had
said to herself, with true feminine d.
plomacy, with an excellent parish
and fine prospects--and it's high time
he was settled in life with q wife. And
| think Flora Lee would suit him, ex.
actly p
And here was the young man him
self upsetting this charming castle in
the air without the least scruple OF
conscience, like the modern icoaoclas st
that he was.
"Well, Eric." said Mrs. Dove, de-
spairinglv, "I'll write to her not to
come. or course, I don't want to put
you out, just when you're 80 busy, too,
with that course of lectures on the
"Book Of Revelations but really
thought that Flora would make the
house lively.
She's deal too artificial to suitme, )
said Eric Hale. "Ask her to come in
June, when shall bs off to Omaha and
Nevada on that conference business.
But as for visitor should much pre-
fer little Polly Peppercorn's big wax
doll, with the silky black hair and the
startling black eyes, that open and
shut by machinery"
So Mrs. Dove, choking back the tears
of disappointment for she had been
nursing this pet scheme in secret for
long while), sat down and wrote let
ter to her friend Miss Lee, proposed 80.
journ at Cedarbough Farm until roses
should be in bloom and straw berries
begin to ripen,
"Adonij jah," said she to the hired
man, "take this letter 70 the postOf-
fcs."
eyes, "em." said Adonijah and he
put the letter in his pocket and straight
way forgot all about it.
1t was dismal, rainy morning in
April, the yellow jonquils beaten to
the ground, the very wild violets shut
ting their eyes as II in unmtigated dis
gust at the unpromising state of the
weather. Overhead racks Of gray
cloud scudded across the heavens, and
the little sheafof silver lakelet under
the hill was dotted and dimpled all
over with the falling rain, as If pierced
with a thousand tiny javelins.
"It's no use trying" said Mrs. Dove
plaintively. "The fatss themselves
have conspired against me ~
The carpets were up, the pals Of
whitewash stood steaming in the mid
die of the parlor floor, and Mrs. Dove,
herself, with her gray curls tied up in
a yellow damask pocket handkerchief,
whicl. her great uncle had brought
from China half a century ago, sat cry
ing On the lower ledge of a stepladder.
For Betsoy the help, had fallen down
the cellar stairs and broke her leg, and
Mrs. Mulroney, the char. woman. had
sent a message that her son had Just
broken out "wid the maisels, sure
speckled over like q shower of red pep
per-an' sorra bit of clainin' could
she undertake tor until the wake's
over"
"And these three days of all Others"
sighed Mrs. Dove, ''whsn Eric had ex-
changed pulpits with Mr.. Washburn..
And he 80 dislikes house cleaning
and"
"Dsar me, Mrs. Dove, what is the
matter 7"
Mrs. Dove started to her feet with a
there, exactly rs If she had
rained down out of the gray, uncom
zenith, stood Flora Lee her
self, in trim brown travelling dress,
With neat little handbag, a gossamer
er-proof cloak and silk umbrella. G
"Why, Flora!'' cried she "how
,ams you here'"
"By the train, of course" said Miss
zee "and walked from the station !"
IL wrote to you not to come,' said Q
Mrs. Dove in CONSERVATION.
"But never received any such let
er," said Miss Lee. "Shall 60 away
gain ?"
"No, you darling, you shall do moth l
ng of the sort - said Mrs. Dove, en-.
husiastically. ''lt was only because /
'ecause Wa were house cleaning. |
IL am not afraid Of house. cleaning" b
aid Flora. 81 see how it is," with a s
glance around the scene T
t confusion, "and am going to help J
ou through with it,"
You ?" said Mrs. Dove.
Eyes. l." said Flora. "Why not (! 2
ust lend me one of Betsey's old dress o
>. Where is Betsey, by the way 2" ii
"llrr father has just carried her
one in the wagon" said Mrs. Dove.
She has broken her leg!
"And your charwoman ~ o
"Oh, dear oh, dear ~ said Mrs a
)ove. ." '. Z
''She's got visitation of measles, or Q
msllpox, or some other horrid disc asa o
a her family. And my nephew, Eric, q
J to be gone three days; and l made r
ure could finish the house cleaning e
IN ilu hu waa ahaont ~ :.