West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-12
HER HUSBANDS NIECE.
BY FRANK II. srAUFFER.

$3.50" $3.50 ~ XIV AAAN III
teri" asked Matte Henderson. as she
glanced into her husbands face.
"0n Wednesday,, " he said, with some
hesitation.
"And this is Friday" ~rebukingly re-
piled his wife. ''You carried il about
in your pocket for at least two DAYS. II
is from your niece, Fanny Atwood. She
left New Yosk yesterday and will be
here on the eight o'clock train this morn
ing, aud it is half-past seven now. This
is a nice state of affairs, isn't it2'
ut was careless in me, Matte" the
young farmer regretfully admitted.
He was a handsome, good natured
fellow, sturdy in frame and pleasing in
speech. He had a whip in his hand, and
his wagon loaded with mich cans, was
standing at the gate.
"She says she'll get off at Forest sta
ton, where you are to meet her. Mrs.
Henderson said, her eyes once more ON
the letter.
"Oh, pshaw " cried the husband with
an impatience unusual with him. 81
can't. l must have my milk at Beaver
station on time. Why didn't she come
over the road most convenient To me?"
~ suppose she'll have to walk here"
replied the young wife. "And as she
says that she intends to stay three weeks.
no doubt she has brought her trunk with
her-a trunk Of no mean dimensions, I'll
venture to predict. l am a good deal
more put out about it than YOU are.
There's the butter TO churn, the clothes
to iron, the currant jelly to make, and
goodness only knows what else. She'll
be too dainty to lay a hand to anything.
and will spend her time reading, sleeping
and lolling in the hammock. She might
have waited to be asked"
~ know it will prove an infiction."
the husband consolingly said. ''But |
guess there's nothing to do but to bear
1t. Things may not turn out so bad as
you fancy they will"
He got into the wagon and drove off.
Mrs. Henderson walked into the sprinp
house to churn the butter. She was sell
dom peevish aud rarely complained, but
the visit really seemed inopportune. She
was not very strong, and as she worked
early and late and took no recreation, IL
was beginning to tell on her nerves.
The farm was not entirely paid for.
and they were not able TO keep a pirl
She wa a sensible little woman. and felt
that it was her duty to second her thrifty
husbands efforts. Leisure, If not com
potency, would come by and by.
In descending the steps Of the spring
house, she fell and sprained her ankle.
the pain so great that she almost
tainted.
THAT means a week Of enforced idle
ness" she despairingly thought. Cline
so precious, and that f~ashionably reared
niece Of Georges more Of a hindraucc
than a help. oh, dearl'
After much painful effort She suc-
ceeded in reaching the sitting room. and
threw herself upon the comfortable
lounge. She fell into a doze, and when
she opened her eyes there stood Fanny
Atwood, looking down into her face.
She had on a plain, sensible looking
travelling dress. Her figure was compact
her complexion healthy, her air cheerful.
her demeanor self possessed. Her checks
were dimpled, her mouth indicated reso-
luton, her soft brown eyes offered con
fidence and invited IL. She had walked
two miles through the. hot sun. over "a
dusty road, but one would hardly have
thought 50, she looked 50 neat, clean and
placid.
You are my Aunt Matte, 7 suppose7"
she said, In a low, sweet voice, n smile
lurking among her dimples.
yes, Mrs. Henderson said with an
effort. "Your uncle forgot 10 give me
your letter until this morning. lie could
not meet you because he had TO deliver
the milk over AZ the other railroad at the
hour you named. ! sm sorry you had TO
walk"
~ wasn't veKcd about It. REPLIED the
visitor. ''Nor am ! ina hurry about my
trunk. "
- sprained my ankle" Mrs. Hender.
son said, 81 am afraid ! will not bo about
for three or four days"
''That is too bad commisoratipolv
rejoined Miss Atwood. .It seems + Was
just 20 come. I can do ever so many
things for you.
"Yes, grimly assented Mrs Hender
con.
''T1l fret look sitter that ankle the
visitor said. britkly. chccrfulIy
She removed her dainty looking rug.
aud then took oil her STUNTS shoe and
stocking
'It b. considerably swollen. che said
~ am not surprised % replied Mr.
Henderson You'll fud a bottle OF
liniment in the cupboard yondarn
"I wouldn't put linimcnt ou it u.,
yet, advised Fanny. "Ilavc you any
sugar Of lcad3'
Every likely Loob i8 chat medicine
box boz the cupboard Thesss IittIc Of.
everything there. almost.
Fanny found the sugar Of lead. and
then some linen suitable Tor a bandaqe
She put The sugar of .Id in % basin
sdded cold water. soaked ting bandaQe