Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-12-27
HER HUSBANDS NIECE.
HEN did you
get this letter.
a s ked NJ q title
Henderson as
she glanced in
to her h us .
bands face.

III she glanced in
bands face.
"On Wednesday," he said, with
some hesitation.
"And this is Friday" rebukingly
replied his wife. "You carried it
about in your pocket for at least
two days. 1t is from your niece,
Fanny Atwood. She left New York
yesterday and will be here on the s
O'Clock train this morning, and it is
halfpast 7 now. This is nice state
of affairs, isn't it?'
at was careless in me, Matte" the
young farmer regretfully admitted
He was handsome, good natured
fellow, sturdy in frame and pleasing
in speech. He had whip in his hand,
and his wagon, loaded with milk
cans, was standing at the gate.
"She says she'll get off at Forest
station, where you are to meet her, :"
Mrs. Henderson said, her eyes once
more on the letter.
ooh, pshaw," cried the husband
with an impatience unusual with him.
81 can't. / must have my milk at
Beaver station on time. Why didn't
she come over the road most con-
venient to me?"
Il 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 pre-
dict. 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 hand
to anything, and will spend her time
reading, sleeping and lolling in the
hammock. She might have waited
to be asked"
II know it will prove an infection, !"
the husband consolingly said. "But
| guess there's nothing to do but to
bear it. 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 spring house to churn the butter.
She was seldom peevish and rarely
complained, but the visit really
seemed inopportune. She was not
very strong, and as she worked
early and late and took no recrea-
ton, it was beginning to tell on her
nerves.
The farm was otentirely paid for,
and they were not able to keep girl.
She was sensible little woman, and
felt that it was her duty to second
her thrifty husbands efforts. Leis-
ure, if not competency, would come
by and by.
In descending the steps OF the spring
house she fell and sprained her an
kle, the pain was SO great that she
almost tainted.
"That means a week of enforced
idleness," she despairingly thought.
"Timc so precious, and that fash
ionably reared niece of Georges more
of q hindrance than q help. Oh,
dearl"
After much painful effort she sue
ceeded in reaching the sitting room
and threw herself upon the comforta-
BILE lounge. She fell into q doze, and
when she opened her eyes there stood
Fanny Atwood, looking down into
her face.
She had on plain, sensible look
ing travelling dress. Her figure was
compact, her complexion healthy, her
air cheerful, her demeanor self pos
sessed. Her cheeks were dimpled, her
mouth indicated resolution, her soft
brown eyes offered confidence and in
vited it.. She had walked two miles
through the hot sun, over the dusty
road, but one would hardly have
thought so, she looked so neat, clean,
and placid.
You are my Aunt Matte, l sup
poser" she said, in low, sweet voice,
a smile lurking among her dimp!es.
Yes Mrs. Henderson said with an
effort. "Your uncle forgot to give me
your letter until this morning. He
could not meet you because he had
to deliver the milk over at the other
railroad at the hour you named.
am sorry you had to walk"
Il WASH t vexed about il" replied
the visitor. Nor am l in hurry
about my trunk
Il sprained my ankle" Mrs. Hen
derson said. 81 am afraid | will not
be about for three or four days"
"That is too bad, COMMUNICATING
ly reioined Miss Atwood ut seems
was Just to come. can do ever sc
xany things for you