The Worthington advance., 1881-02-24
MRS. CLEPHANE'S LOSS.
BY HELEN TOWNLEY THOMAS,

MRS. CLEPHANE'S LOSS.
BY HELEN TOWNLEY THOMAS.
When pretty, good-natured little
Mrs. Clephanc went to housekeeping,
by some unaccOuntable. good fortune,
she fell into the hands of Polly Hoop
er, by which mean that Polly became
her nllid-of-all-work.
Polly was 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 50
rash as to venture there Durrowed in
a subdued, deprecating manner, rs if
desirous Of avoiding unpleasant notice.
Then, too, Polly was Il capital cook
her biscuits, pies, puddings and cake,
were suggestive Of festive occasions,
but they were everyday fare III the
Clephane cottage, so that Mr.. Clephailc
had come to consider his wife Il 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.
ly to do forever, for she appeared en-
tirely satisfied in II place where she
was allowed full sway in all household
matters. Mrs. Clepllane was also per.
fectly suited to be relieved of all re-
spOnsibility, and meekly obeyed Poi
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-
duce her to abject submission.
On the morning Oh 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 4 tramp
on horseback, and aldo to induce him
to hold the bride in q reasonably
graceful manner. This proved Il far
more difficult task than it would ap.
pear, and Mrs. Clephane proceeded to
try 50 many experiments on her vic.
tim that he seemed in danger Of utter
annihilation but Polly brought him
respite by opening the door in deci-
slve manner. and announcing,--
:: If we have any blackberrics to
put up this year. we've got to go af-
ter EN- 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, scause we was
goin after some ourselves: so Just
give that poor, unfortunate fellow
rest. What you want to put one of
the shiftless creeturs into picter for.
l 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 Il 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, and
she prepared herself for the jaunt
with all possible speed. that she might
not incur Polly's displeasurc by max.
ing her wait.
In remarkably short time all pre-.
paratiOns we're made. and Mrs. Cle-
plane and Polly were spinning along
the quiet country road leading to
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-
lucted himself according. lie knew
that when Mrs. Clcphane held the
lines, her eyes would be wandering to
the distant hills, watching the birds
and the shifting clouds and anything
but himself 50. like Il wise horse, he
took advantage of it to regulate his
gait to suit his OWL inclination. But
when Polly drove all that was changed;
she looked straight before her ut him
and the road, and consequently he was
obliged to give his attention to busi-
hess. when nearly at their destina.
tion, the road branclled, one path with
open meadows on either hand leading
to the east side Of the hill, and the
other winding through a dark forest
along the banks of stream. Polly
began to turn into the first, but the
other looked so delightful that Mrs.
Clephanc begged her to take it instead,
and, somewhat to her surprise, Polly
did so without demur.
After a half mile of forest, they came
TO newly" cleared field in which black
berries grew in rank profusiun. Polly
drew up ut the roadside, had Billy un-
hitched and tied III the shade in no
time, and then began the work Of the
day.
They worked busily, aud with the
most satisfactory results, until the
sun and Mrs. Clephane's 8 watch dcclar-
ed it to be luncheon time. They SC.
lected a pleasant spot just in the edge
Of the forest. where they were 50 fortu
ate as to find large stump to do duty
as table, and a convenient log for Il
seat. Polly proceeded to arrange the
luncheon, and when this was done to
her satisfaction she said.-
And now the next thing is to look
around for something to drink. Ef Id
known VIC were comm long enough,
beforehand, Id he'd some coffee
made, but we started 50 sudden like.
that there want no time for it. so I'll
hev to 60 down to that there house
and git some water, or some milk
that would be just the thing with
these berries and this apple. pie. I'll
bc back in u second" And she seized
a pail and bore down upon the ramb.
ling old house like incxorable fate.
Mrs. Clcphanc watched her dis:.p.
pear behind the lilac.bushes 1T the
gate, heard the sullen bark of q dog.
and then I'LL WAS quiet again, and she
sat down and waited.
She looked at the view until she
was tired. \ solitary horselnan p;,ss-
ing along the road reminded her of
the poor, unfortunate feller - in the
unfinished picture. and she rcyolvcd
i'll her mind plans for the Improvement
of his appearance. She watched 4
pair OF fWSSy squirrels. and thex re.