Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-11-09
ROMANCE OFHOUSE-CLEANING.

ROMANCE OF HOUSE-CLEANING.
us she coming to visit you ?" said
Eric Hale, with slight grimace. "That
simpering fine lady, with The useless
white hands and the shallow society
laugh? Oh, Aunt Della, PACK my
portmanteau and let me off on lectur-
ing tour until Flora Lees visit comes
TO an end ~
Mrs. Dove looked little disappoint-
ed. TO confess the truth she had es-
pecially arranged this visit with refer
ence to her Nephew, Eric.
''He's fine young fellow" she Ari
said to herself, with true feminine dip
lomacy, with an excellent parish and
fine prospects-snd it's high time he
was settled in life with a wife. And
think Flora Lee would suit him exact
ly.'
And there was the young man him
self upsetting this charming little castle
in-the-air, without the least scruple
of conscience, like the modern ioono-
clast that he was.
"Well, Eric" said Mrs. Dove, des.
pairingly, "Pll write her not to come.
OF course l don't want to put you out,
just when you're so busy, too, with that
course of lectures on the book of Rev
elations-but ] really thought Flora
could make the house lively.
"She's deal too artificial to suit me-
said Eric Hale. "Ask her to come in
June when shall be of to Omaha and
Nevada on the conference business.
But as for visitor i should prefer lit
tie Polly Peppercorn's big wax doll
with the silky black bair and staring
black eyes, that open and shut by
machinery.
SO Mrs. Dove choking back the tears
of disappointment flor she had been
nursing this pet scheme IN secret for a
long time), sat down and wrote a letter
to her friend, Miss Lee, poatponing the
proposed sojourn at Cedarhorough farm
until the roses should be in bloom, and
Strawberries beginning to ripen.
"Adonijah," said she to the hired
man, take this letter to the postofiice. !"
"Yes'm," said Adonijah, and imme-
diately forgot all about it.
1t was dismal, rainy morning in
April, the yellow jonquils beaten to the
ground, the very wild violets shutting
up their eyes as if in unmitigated dis
gust at the unpromising state of the
weather. Overhead, racks of great
clouds scudded across the heavens, and
the little sheet of silver lakelet under
the hill was dotted all over with the
falling rain, as if pierced with thous-
and tiny jayelins.
cts no use trying" said Mrs. Dove,
plaintively, "the fates themselves have
conspired against me-"
The carpets were up and the pals of
whitewssh stood steaming in the mid
die of the parlor floor, and Mrs. Dove,
with her gray curls tied up in yellow
damask pocket handkerchief, which
her great uncle had brought from China
half century age, sat crying on the
lower edge of q stepladder. For Bet
sy, the help had fsllen down the cellar
stairs and broken her leg, and Mrs.
Mnrony, the chairwoman, had sent a
message that her eldest son had broken
out vivid dc maizels, sure-speckled all
over like a shower of red pepper, and
sorra bit of clanin' could size under
take until the wakes ever"
"And these three days of all others, y
sighed Mrs. Dove, "when Eric has ex.
changed pulpits with Mr.. Washburnl
And so dislikes house cleaning, and
-"
"Dear me, Mrs. Dove, what is the
matter
Mrs. Dove started to her feet with q
little scream-for there, exactly as if she
had been rained down out of the zenith
stood Flora Lee, herself, in trim brown
travelling dress, with a neat little hand.
bag, a gossamer waterproof cloak and q
silk umbrella.
"Why, Floral" she cried, chow came
you here%
"8y the train of COURSE" said Mis-
Lee, "and | walked from the station.
But wrote you not to come" said
Mrs. Dove in CONSERVATION.
"But / never received any such
letter." said Miss Lee. "shall / GO
agan?"
"No, you darling, You shall do moth
ing of the sort!' said Mrs. Dove enthusi-
astically. at was only because-be-
cause we were house cleaning"
81 am not afraid of house cleaning, .
said Flora. 81 see how it is" with a
comprehensive glance around the scene
of confusion, "and I'm going to help
you through with it.
''You?" said Mrs. Dove.
Eyes, IL said Flora. "Why mott
Just lend me one of Bety's old dresses. .
Where is Betsey, by the way?'
"Her father has just carried her home
in the wagon" said Mrs, Dove. "She
broke her leg"