Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-11-15

man, take this letter to the postomce.
Yes, en-" said Adonijah, and he
nut 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 shutting
their eyes as if in unmitigated disgust
at the unpromising state of the wealth
err. Overhead racks Of gray clouds
scudded across the heavens, and the ut
tie sheet of silver lakelet under the hill
was dotted and dimpling all over with
the falling rain as if pierced with a
thousand tiny javelins.
Its no use trying said Mrs. Dove,
plaintively. The fates themselves
have conspired against me"'
The carpets We're up.the pals OF
whitewash stood steaming in the mid
die of the parlor floor. and Mrs. Dove
herself, with her grey curls tied up IN
yellow damask pocket handkerchief,
which her great uncle had brought
from China half century ago. sat cry
ing on the lower ledge of stepladder.
For Betsey, the help, had fallen down
the cellar stairs and broken her leg,
and Mrs. Muloney, the charwoman. had
sent q message that her son had just
broken out "wid the maisels, sure
specified over like shower Of red pep
per-an' sorra Il bit of clanin' could she
undertake for her until the wakes
over"
And these three days of all the 9th.
ers," sighed Mrs. Dove. when Eric had
exchanged pulpits with Mr.. Wash
h,lrne. And he so dislikes house-clean-
:pr. ~
"Dear me, Mrs Dove, what is the
matter?"
Mrs. Dove started to her feet with
little scream-for there exactly as If
she had rained down out of the grey.
uncompromising zenith, stood Flora
Lee herself in a trim brown travelling
Dress. with neat little handbag. Cos
samer waterproof cloak and silk UNI
brella.
"Why. Flora" cried she, how came
you here?'
by the train. of course said Miss
Lee; land walked from the station.
Il wrote to you not to come, SAID
Mrs. Dove, in CONSERVATION.
but l never received any such let
ter" said Miss Lee. Shall / go away
again.
mo, you darling. you shall do moth
ing of the sort" said Mrs. Dove, enthu-
siastically. ut is only bccause-be-
cause we-were housekeeping"
Il am not afraid of housekeeping,
said Flora. Il see how it is with a
comprehensive glance around the scene
of confusion. and am going TO help
you through with it,"
"You?" said Mrs. Dove.
Yes, l." replied Flora. why not?
Just lend me one of Betsy's old dresses.
Where is Betsy, by the way"
Her father has just carried her home
in the wagon. She has broken her leg. !"
And your charwoman?'
"Oh, dear! Oh. dear" said Mrs.
Dove. "She's got visitation of measles
or smallpox or some other disease in
her family And my nephew. Eric,
is to be gone three days. and l am sure
[ could finish the house-cleanins While
he is absent"
And we WILL" said Flora, cheelily
How can we?'
"Oh, you shall see,' nodded Miss
Lee.
And. depressed though she was. Mrs
Dove began to feel the mercury rise
in her mental thermometer at once.
Flora Lee arrayed herself in one Of
Betsy's cast-off calicoes. tied up her
brown tresses in sweating-cap, and
went vigorously to work with scrub
bling brush, while Mrs. Dove bent her
attention to the windows. and Adoni-
jan, with more zeal than discretion,
splashed whitewash all over herself
and the floor with laudable impartial
ity.
Mrs. Dove, however. was unused to
the severe eXertions incident to house
cleaning time and went to bed with
sick headache in the middle OF the at
ternoon.
"Never mind, Mrs. Dove" said Flora.
IN get tea. and Ill make some OF
those cream waffles and shortcake TO:
Mr.. Dove, and you shall see how nicely
I can fry oysters"
Indeed! l don't know what ] should
do without you, Flora" said Mrs. Dove
fervently.
But us it happened. Daniel Dove was
unexpectedly detained on business at
Whiskills. the next town. and instead
of him. who should walk into the little
sitting room. tiinging down his carpet
bag, but Eric Hale himself. Just as the