Hepsey Burke

rted on a six-weeks' vacation, which he had certainly earned; and as

s. Burke, I probably

announcement, and the effect seemed to send the blood to his head. Mr

l do all we can to make the old lady comfortable. I'm sure she'll be a great comfort

he blushed more fur

er here, and I strongly suspect that you

had never entered her head before. "Well, I am mighty glad of it. I only wish that I was goin' to be present t

gh I think you will find her very capable, and

The question is whe

r sober for a moment, and

t help li

ut that doesn't matter much. I have found it a pretty good plan not to expect a great deal of adoration, and to

in about six weeks, you know. Good-by, and thank

and watched Maxwell drive down the road. Then wiping her eyes

sband's friends, and tries to make trouble. It takes a lady saint to share her husband's interests with anybody, and maybe she 'aint to blame. Well, the next thing in order is to fix up the rectory in six weeks. The best way to r

use they had not been consulted in the matter, until Hepsey said she would be glad to receive any c

te keeping bachelor's hall by himself. At last Virginia had attained the height of her ambition and captured the rector! Consequently she was the center of interest in every social gathering, although, as the engagement had not been formally an

position in Durford's thirty gentry, felt that she was entitled to some definite info

nd that you are taking a great interest in it. You must b

in the dark for some time; but I am going to do wh

le parish ought to be informed about the matter, and share in the work; but I suppose Mr.

mostly done in secret, so that nobody ever finds it out. He is a modest man and wouldn't

-Jones retorted dryly; "but unde

stances?" Mrs. Bur

Virginia's father and would want t

upid about some things. You mus

know the common gossip of the town, and you must be in Mr. Maxwell's confide

e can you tell 'em? You might tell 'em that you tried to pu

ere was nothing left for her to do but ret

ole premises, they promptly "lit out" for parts unknown in order to get another job, and no mortal knew when they would return. It always seemed promising and hopeful to see a laboring man arrive in his overalls with his dinner-pail and tools at seven; but when two hours

as; where are you g

ck for my tool

chen pipes out of business two weeks ago, and you must have been goin' back for yo

and scratched his head

ob I begun for Elias Warden on the h

ory with me now, and if the job isn't finished by si

round and accompanied Hepsey back to the re

of the parish asking for such furniture as individual parishioners were willing to give. Late in the afternoon she arrived at the rectory with a very large load, and the next day Jonathan was made to set to work with his tools, and she started in with some paint and varnish, and

left on the kitchen chairs. Do for mercy sake wash the end of your nose. I don't ca

d, for which no one could account. As neither Mr. Bascom nor Miss Bascom had sent anything, and as neither had appeared on the scene, excitement was at fever heat. Rumor had it that Virgi

n to arrive and were placed in the cellar, or on the newly painted pantry shelves, or in the neat cupboards. Mrs. Talbot sent a bushel of potatoes, Mrs. Peterson a pan of soda biscuit, Mrs. Andrews two loaves of bread; Mrs. Squires donated a pan of soda biscuit, Mrs. Johnson some

hem where they belonged. Just about supper time Mrs. Loomis c

uld think of--something out of the ordinary t

ful of you, Mrs. Loomis," Hepse

I thought I'd bring 'em two pans

face straight, and r

l nice of you,

And if you want any m

on the last contributor, Mrs. Burk

ckson, come

d promptly, and a

, be yo

, on the parlor table. For mercy's sake take eight pans out to the chickens or stick 'em on the picket fence.