The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-29
hard line. .bou. her mouth became liL.

hard lines about her mouth became like
/. fnfrows. - -.
! Il was now scrub, scrub from morning
70 night, until Hepsey's arms sched, and
nothing but the fact that the girl was de-
pendent upon her aunt kept her patient
7under the new rules which were con-
stantly made.
One hot summer day Mrs. Plummer
said: "Them horse blankets must be
washed today. It's been kinder neglect
ed of late"
"But, aunt" expostulated Hepsey, ''the
horses don't wear 'em now In this boiling
weather. They are just put away in the
carriage house."
II know It, but the dust gathers on
EN-" said her aunt, fixing her eyes as IL
looking at something in the distance, with
the tense expression they now wore.
II tell you l won't hev them blankets
washed again this summer. 1t just
wears 'em out" exclaimed Mr.. Plummer,
"and there amt no use In scrubbin and
washin ones life away"
~ don't keep the house half a ways
decent" replied his wife, bursting into
tears. am ashamed Of myself, but most
of the cieanin falls on me, for Hepsey's
that slack
II wonder that she lives" muttered
Jake so that no one but Hepsey heard
him.
When the men went out to the barn
the next morning, all the blankets were
hanging on the line, for Mrs. Plummer
always carried her point, and she had
been to the barn before dawn, found the
blankets and washed them.
= The sun rose red and fiery that morn
ing, and not breath of air was stirring.
The last acre of grass was to be cut down
that day, and the men set of early for
the fields.
About II o'clock Jake was startled by
the sudden appearance Of Hepsey in the
bayfield,, her face looking white and
scarA.
ION, Jake" she cried, seizing his arm,
"go for doctor! Aunt went up to scrub
the roof of the south piazza, and the mo-
ment she came in she fell in the upper
hall in dead faint. You call uncle,
while run back"
Jake gave the alarm, and while he rode
for n doctor Plummer lifted his wife,
with the help of Hepsey, and laid her on
the bed. The scrubbing brush was still
clutched firmly in her hand. They bathed
her head and her poor, rough hands and
succeeded in restoring her to conscious
ness, at least partially, before the arrival
Of the physician. When he came, he
said:
II fear It Is sunstroke or apoplexy,
and she must be kept very quiet. Has
she been out in the sun oil day."
"She was on the roof Of the south piaz-
"a, sir" said Hepsey, land when she had
finished scrubbng 1t she climbed back
through the hall, but fell on the hall floor
in kind Of faint"
"Out on tin roof such day as this"
exclaimed the doctor. at is pure case
of sunstroke."
He left remedies and gave directions
that she should be kept quiet and in a
dark room. Poor, frightened Hepsey pre-.
pared the dinner as best she could, and
after the men returned to the bayfield, she
kept watch over her aunt, who slept most
all the time.
That night about o'clock Mrs. Plum
mer reused and asked her husband to call
Hepsey. When she came, her aunt said:
II guess I'll clean the roof to the south
porch, and there is Il spot on the window
sill in the upper hall. l must git up and
rub it off"
ooh, no, aunt, I'll do it. You amt well
enough" said Hepsey.
II will do it myself" said the sick wo-
man, rising up in bed.
Fearing to cross her, the farmer aud
Hepsey were silent.
V(yif tho kruSh and Coma u-o FOR and no
spry now, Hepsey, she said, with some Of
her old decision.
Mechanically the girl obeyed and TAX
ing candle went to the kitchen and re-
turned with the desired articles. As her
aunt saw the brush her face lighted up
with look of pleased recognition.
MRS. p, don't git up. Jest let Hepsey
fix it all right"
'No, no. Help me on to my feet" she
said to her husband. So, leaning on his
strong arm, she managed to 60 into the
hall. Hepsey went before them with can
die, brush and pan.
As the light Of the candle fell upon
the spot on the window sill she gave a
faint cry of horror and, reaching for
the brush, fell back into her husbands
arms, gasping for breath. They carried
her to her room, and Jake was sent for
the doctor, but as the physicians step
was heard she breathed her last, a victim
to neatness.
Years after, when Hepsey and Jake
had little home Of their own, over which
she presided as nicely as any housekeep-
err in the district, Jake would frequently
say:
"Hev n care, Hepsey. Don't git too
neat and make an idol of that there
scrubbin brush"
And she would pleasantly retort:
'There amt no danger that I'll be too
neat. with four tearing boys to look aft
cr."-Caroline Frances Little in Chicago
Record.