The Princeton union., 1881-02-17
MRS. CLEPHANE'S LOSS.
BY HELEN ToWNLEY THOMAS.

When pretty. good-natured little
Mrs. Clephane went to housekeeping
by some unaccountable good fortune
she fell into the hands Of Polly Hoop
er, by which [ mean that Polly became
her maid-of-all-work.
Polly was q wonder of capability
Whatever she had to do was done in
the best manner, and in the shortest
time possible. Dust and dirt of any
description were unknown in her do.
mains, and the few flies who were sc
rash as to venture there burrowed in
a subdued, deprecating manner, as if
desirous Of avoiding unpleasant notice
Then, too, Polly was capital cook
her biscuits, pies, puddings and cake
were suggestive of festive occasions,
but they were everyday fare in the
Clephane cottage, SO that Mr.. Clephane
had come to consider his wife model
housekeeper, when in reality it was to
Polly to whom the credit belonged.
But it made little difference as long as
Polly stayed, and this she seemed like
~ to do forever, for she appeared en-
tirely satisfied in a place where she
was allowed full sway in all household
matters. Mrs. Clephane was also per-
fectly suited to be relieved of all re-
sponsibility, and meekly obeyed Pol
ly's orders when her help was request
ed, her few suggestions being over
ruled by Polly with an air of conscious
superiority which never failed to re-
fuuce her to abject sIbmission.
On the morning on which our story
opens, Mrs. Clephane was seated at an
easel, endeavoring to make an individ-
ual whom she had introduced in a
highly-cOlored autumn landscape, look
like a gentleman, instead Of a tramp
on horseback, and aldo to induce him
to hold the bride in a reasonably
graceful manner. This proved far
more difficult task than. it would ap-
pear, and Mrs. Clephane proceeded to
try so many experiments on her vic.
tim that he seemed in danger of utter
annihilation; but Polly brought him
respite by opening the door in a deci.
sive manner, and announcing
S IF we have any blackberries to
put up this year, we've got to go af.
ter 'em to-day, for John Hollis says
it's gittin late for 'em. He was along
with some just now, and I told him
we didn't want none, cause we was
goin' after some ourselves; so just
give that poor, unfortunate fellow a
rest. What you want to put one of
the shiftless creeturs into a picter for
can't see, and that one looks as if he
was drunk and I'll put up the lunch
and harness Billy, and put him onto
the democrat, and be ready in a jiffy.'
Mrs. Clephane felt resistance to be
useless, and left the intoxicated look.
person to solitude and a days grace
She knew the remembrance Of his
condition would trouble her all day
| but there seemed no help for it, anG
she prepared herself for the jaunt
| with all possible speed, that she might
not incur Polly's displeasure by max.
ing her wait.
In a remarkably short time all pre-
parations were made, and Mrs. Gle.
phane and Polly were spinning along
the quiet country road leading tc
Blackberry Hill, some four miles dis.
tant. Polly drove, and gave her mind
to it, as she did her housekeeping
From much previous experience Billy
understood this perfectly, and con.
Quoted himself according. He knew
that when Mrs. Clephane held the
lines, her eyes would be wandering te
the distant hills, watching the birds
and the shifting clouds and anything
but himself SO, like a wise horse, he
took advantage of it to regulate his
gait to suit his own inclination. Bu1
| when Polly drove all that was changed
she looked straight before her at hin
and the road. and consequently he was
obliged to give his attention to bust
| ness. when nearly at their destina
| ton, the road branched, one path with
| open meadows on either hand leading
to the east side of the hill, and The
| other winding through a dark fores
along the banks of a stream. Poll,
| began to turn into the first, but tht
other looked so delightful that Mrs
Clephane begged her to take it instead
and, somewhat to her surprise, Polly
did sowithont demur.
! After half mile of forest, they cam,
to aneWly- cleared field in which black
berries grew in rank profusion. Polly
drew up at the roadside, had Billy un
hitched and tied in the shade in NJ
time, and then began the work Of the
day.
They worked busily, aud with tn,
most satisfactory results, until th,
sun and Mrs. Clephane's 8 watch declar
ed it to be luncheon time. They Sc