The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-09-25

1
"Havin' who?" said Mrs. Dorking,
opening her eyes vide.
"Why, Abby Jane-the young wom-
an your husbands got down stairs to
help with the housework, you know, {"
explained Mrs. Getchey.
Mrs. Dorking sat up in bed.
"A young woman, she repeated, ITO
help with the homework? ?"
Mrs. Getchey nodded.
"Danl wasn't goin' to say nothin'
about il to you" said she. HE calcu.
lated il would only fret and worry you.
But he found he couldn't get along and
do everything himself. And Abby James
right smart. jest wish you could see
how white the clothes is out on the
lines. And how nice she's secured up
the kitchen tins and bleached the old
curtains and polished the brass candle.
sticks! She's one to turn off work, now
I tell you!"
"Well!" calculated Mrs. Dorking.
"She's bakin' pies, now," said Mrs.
Getchey; dried apple, with plenty Of
fennel seeds; and pumpkin, and q cram
berry tart for Elder Swift. Elder Swift
is to be here to tea, and he's dreadful
partial to cranberry tarts and short
cake"
Mrs. Dorking turned very red in the
face.
"Invitin' company, he they?" said
she; "and cookin, q lot O things in my
own house and never consultin' me!
Him snd his hired gal, indeed!"
"Danl calculated you was too feeble
to he bothered" said Mrs. Gretchey,
consol,ngly.
II amt so feeble as he'd like to make
out that I bel" muttered Mrs. Dorking.
II was thinkin' spell ago about sit
tin up little willie. Just hand me my
stockings. will You, Aurilla Amp"
II wouldn't try to sit up, said Aurilla
Ann; you amt able"
"Yes, BET" snapped the hyp ochon-
driac. "Who's the best judge of my
feelings, you or me? What sort of
lookin' gal is this that's bossin' my
kitchen while I'm in bed?"
"As pretty Us pink" said Mrs.
Gctchey; Cheeks as rcd as peonies;
hair as black as coal; and she steps
off as light as o thistle,lown."
"Humpl!" said Mrs. Dorking.
"Give me my double gown, Aurilla
Ann. mean to see after this business
myself; and if Daniel Dorking thinks
I'm eoin' to put up with such treatment
Us this"
Better take my arm," suggested
Mrs. Getchcy.
But the late invalid impatiently re-
jectsd her offered assistance.
"Lemme alone" said she; II can
walk as we'll IS ever could. Why
shouldn't II"
And Mrs. Dorking went down stairs
into the sitting-r room, where her spouse
sat very close to pretty young woman,
both engaged in examining the pages of
o Universal Atlas"
Mr.. Daniels hand rested Familiarity on
the pretty girls shoulder. and the pref.
ty girls braids Of black hair were close
to Daniels own iron gray locks.
"Danicl!" almost shrieked Mrs. Dork-
ing, I'm astonishcd at you, that bel"
Daniel Dorking started up, with an
exclamation of surprise; the atlas fell
from the pretty girls knee.
"Why, cried the farmer, cts Maria!"
ayes, it's Maria!" enrnciated Mrs.
Dorking; and about the last person in
the world that you wanted to see, I
guess!"
"But, to her surprise, Daniel Dork-
ing's face relaxed none of its beaming
chccrfulness'
The pretty girl, instead of fleeing
guiltily from tho room, came forward
with out stretched hands.
UvUo,,h
she.
"I?" gasped Mrs. Dorking. "Kiss
you!"
"It's Jenny" said Daniel; "my young
est sister, Abigail Jane, from the old
farm at home. Iwrote to her how bad
off We were here, and she's come, bless
her little heart, to stay all winter with
us. We WIS goin' TO surprise you, as
soon as you felt little particle better.
But We didn't expect any such good
luck as your comm down stairs your
self, did we, Jennie?"
mo, indeed! smiled the pretty girl,
"But now tina: you are here, Maria, we'll
make you comfortable!"
Mrs. Dorking now turned to Mrs.
aetchcy.
"You never told me she was Daniels
sister, from Vermont" said she.
"You never gave ME time," said Au-
rilla Ann, with an odd spark under her
eye-lashes.
That was the way in which Mrs. Dan.
iel Dorking was beguiled down stairs;
and she never "took to her bed" again.
But neither was she ever known to adj
init that she was fanciful and foolish.
No, mol Mrs. Daniel Dorking was not
to be caught in that trap She always
alluded to that season as "the time of
my dreadful illness!" and the doctor
called it 20 wonderful cure" and sent In
big bill.
II guess we we're tho true doctors!"
thought Mrs. Getchey and Jennie Dor
king, looking archly at each other
Helen Forrest Graves.