The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-12-05
HER HUSBANDS NIECE.
BY FRANK H. sTAUFFER.

George, when did you get this let
teri" asked Matte Henderson, as she
glanced into her husbands face.
Son Wednesday," he said, with some
hesitation.
"And this is Friday" rebukingly re.
piled his wife. "You carried it about
in your pocket for at least two days. II
is from your niece, Fanny Atwood. She
left New York yesterday and will be
here on the eight o'clock train this morn
ing, aud it is half-past seven now. This
is nice state of affairs, isn't ita"
ut 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 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
, sob, 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 convenient to me9"
81 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. | 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. Shell
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"
Il know it will prove an infiction, =
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 sci.
dom 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 recreation, il
was beginning to tell on her nerves.
The farm was not entirely paid for
and they were not able to keep a girl
She was 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 week of enforced idle
ness" she despairingly thought. "Time
SO precious, and that fashionably reared
niece of Georges more of hindrance
than help. Oh, dear"
After much painful effort she sue
ceeded in reaching the sitting room, and
threw herself upon the comfortable
lounge. She fell into doze, and when
she opened her eyes there stood Fanny
Atwood. looking down into her face.
She had on plain, sensible looking
travelling dress Her figure was compact,
her complexion healthy, her air cheerful,
her demeanor self possessed. Her cheeks
we're dimpled, her mouth indicated reso.
luton, her soft brown eyes offered con
fidence and invited it. She had walked
two miles through the hot sun, over
dusty road, but one would hardly hav,
thought so, she looked so neat, clean ant
placid.
'You are my Aunt Matte, SUPPOSED
she said, in a low, sweet voice, smile
lurking among her dimples.
YES" Mrs. Henderson said with al
effort. "Your uncle forgot to give m,
your letter until this morning. He coult
not meet you because he had to deliver
the milk over at the other railroad at tn,
hour you named. l am sorry you had t.
walk"
~ wasn't vexed about it, +" replied tn,
visitor. "Nor am in hurry about m,
trunk"
~ sprained my ankle" Mrs. Hender
son said, II am afraid will not be abou
for three or four days"
"That is too bad" commiseratingl,
rcjoined Miss Atwood. at seems | wa
Just to come. / can do ever so man,
things for you"
EYES," grimly assented Mrs. Hender
son.
"I'll first look after that ankle" the
visitor said, briskly, cheerfully
She removed her dainty looking cuffs
and then took off her aunts shoe ant
stocking.
1T is considerably swollen" she said
j am not surprised replied Mrs
Henderson. 'sYou'll find bottle o
liniment in the cupboard, yonder"
II wouldn't put liniment on it jus
yet" advised Fanny. "Have you an
sugar of lead2"
Every likely. Look in that medicine
box in the cupboard. There's little o
everything there, almost"
Fanny found the sugar of lead, an,
then some linen suitable for bandage
She put the sugar of lead in basin
added cold water, soaked the bandag
in it and then wrapped it around tn
swollen ankle. She went about it Xix
professional nurse.
THAT feels very cooling" Mrs Hen
derson gratefully said.
"There is nothing reduces a swelling
like sugar of lead water, }" replied Fanny
I'll wet the bandage every now and the
with it. Just you remain quiet, dearie
and don't bother yourself about any
thing. You have no girll"
''No, child Mrs. Henderson said
"Wc cannot afford to keep ONE
'I'll get uncle his dinner" announce
Fanny.
"You'll-get-George his dinner
repeated Mrs. Henderson.