Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-12-05

not broken, only badly sprained
Katy's drawing mo some hot water
to shower II with And now, dear,
as yourRunclelis away, 1 feel TINS you
and Alfred must be my main depend.
crce.n - sK
( "You and Alfred, 1t seemed an
odd conjunction But Laura only
murmured, as she laid her cheek
against Miss Southwell's. .What can
we do for you, dearest aunty r
Aunt Lefty kissed the girl afec-
tionately. asOur friends from New
York will be here this afternoon, as
you know, and am sure they will
spend at least a week with us. Judg-
ing from past experienced fear /
shall be laid up some time with this
sprain. Now, Laura, you have prov
ed yourself such capable little
housekeeper on one or two occasions
that / feel that can trust you even
with company in the house And
then our girls are SO sociable' with
another smile at Katy, who came in
just then with the hot water.
BLESS you, ma'am, wen do beauti
ful," said Katy, though it's sorry ]
am to see you laid up"
swell, Laura, I want you to go to
market first thing. Your cousin will
drive you over, / know. Don't be
afraid to call upon him for anything
I've always found him kind and
obliging And then he has such
good Judgment. Here is the list of
things / want you to order.p
Whatever misgivings Laura felt
she did not make them known. sIll
do just what you tell me, aunty,'sshe
said, with unwonted docility. ssNow
please attend to that poor ankle right.
away Sha'nt we stop at the doctors
and ask him to come round r.
"No, no; I'm an old hand at sprains'
and can treat it better myself =
aWell, don't worry, precious annty,
for we'll all do our very BEST" said
Laura. s i9s
| But as she assembled the stairs she
| felt half afraid, half rebellious, IT
hate to ask him. she murmured to
herself. Elbow did he treat me last
night, and this morning, too Why,
he would scarcely look at me-
Yet in her heart there was a secret
longing to be friends with her cousin.
She was too proud to apologize, but
an idea struck her just then. Her
face broke into a smile, as, taking out
her handkerchief she tied il to the
handle Of her parasol.
my flag of truce" she said, giving
it a flourish. Il shall ask for sus-
pension of hostilities till uncle gets
| back
fastening her steps, she tripped
off in the direction Of the arbor where
her cousin was wont to smoke his
morning cigar.
Yes, there he was, enjoying that
masculine luxury and the newspaper
together. Laura slackened her gait
now, as she approachen, waving her
white flag solemnly and slowly.
Alfred looked up, and his face re-
laxed into smile. "Well :" he asked,
glancing humorously at the handler
chief
"It's flag of truce" said Laura,
solemnly. 'I've come to request OF
my honorable enemy suspension Of
hostilities for twenty. four hours"
agreed" said Alfred, rising and
speaking with such cordial good hum
or that Laura felt her heart immense
ly lightened "But may I ask the
reason for this move on my fair
enemy's part!"
"Oh, it's a shame to joke when
poor aunty's hurt herself SO !" said
Laura, with a sudden change of tone.
"She's sprained her ankle badly, Just
when she's expecting company, too.
Uncle won't be back till tomorrow,
and she feels she must depend upon