Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-10-17

hair. DWELL come she must, bad as it
looks. So here goesl" and she plunged
into the entry, and made for the door.
AS for Alice, the excitement, and
the shame, and the wonder, all
together, had brought sufficient color
TO her cheek to give the lie to all her
pretentions. Hair, dress, surround
ings, were all snatehed at, and that
was all. Nothing could be bettered-
dirt, untidiness, sickness, all remained
the same, as an awful shadow fell up
on her.
"Your girl says You are sick. Well,
Pm proper sorry. But You amt look
ing so dretful down in the mouth,
either. Perhaps you've heern John
speak of me. I'm Emery Jane Borie,
his oldest sister; fact, I'm his only
one now. You see, hain't set eyes
on John for fifteen years next Christ
mas; an so had to come. We'll, you
don't tell me to take of my things, but
| s'pose I'm welcome in my brothers
house."
Certainty, of course. Jenny, take
Miss Emily's things
Emery, child. Emery Jane. Been
in the family for ginerations an GIN
erations-tlia. is, the name has. Now,
don't let me put You out bit. II you
are sick, It's all the same. I'm used to
doing for myself; and, in fact, it
kinder comes second nature. Here,
young woman, be careful of that BON
net. have only had it five years, and
it's kept wonderful"
"You must be hungry" said Alice.
whose face had grown pale again from
excessive agitation
mot bit of il. knowed YOU might
be onpreparcd, so | took a bite and a
sup at the depot, and don't want YOU
10 fuss yourself a bit about me. Bless
me, can't | do something for you?n
"You must excuse the looks of the
ROOM" said Alice, almost crying; ''but
Jenny is so busy washing days, and
I'm SO sick!"
s'Now, don't say word. Not a
word. Ii won't take me minute to
put things leetle straight. You sit
still and take comfort. Why what's
the matter with you! Seems TO me
you are sort o. peekid."
81 haven't been well for years"
moaned poor Alice.
clip complaint, spasms, or anything
o. that sort?' queried Emery Jane,
who, as if charm worked al the tips
of her fingers, Strengthened and bright
encd everything she touched; then
placing a pair Of spectacles over her
prim little nose, proceeded TO work at
a stocking which she had picked from
some corner Of her dress. "Rheu-
MATES is dreadful prevalent in the parts
come from. Mebbe you've had a
fever, though. No matter what il is
I'll nuss you till you're well agin.
John is well, l hope. That boy never
had sick day in his life. alwus told
him he'd get a sickly wife. Got two
children, haven't you? Both to
school, ehY Oh, you're takin' your
medicinel What is il? Wine-bitters?
Don't believe il comes up TO my
summer cordial. Why, l could
make fortune out of it if ! was
so minded. Johns father was doc
tor, you know; one of the good, old
fashioned sort. I've got all his books,
and all his receipts. They call me the
doctor, down to home, and do lots O.
cures, can tell you"
Alice longed to scream-to fiy-to
do all sorts of impossible things, TO get
out of the way of this overlooking
babble, but there was nothing to do
but TO bear it. Her nerves were on
edge; and when John came home,
astonished beyond measure at this raid
on his household, she came near going
into Mysteries.
Aunt Emery James visit was benef-
cial in one way. Alice could enjoy the
luxury of solitude in her own room,
and stolen bits of her borrowed novels,
sure that the household would go right.
Emery Jane was prodigious worker.
John had never known what real COM
fort was since he left his prim New
England home to make his fortune in
the West. The little ones were kept
rosy and shining, for Emery Jane
adored children aud had the secret at
traction for them, so that they no longer
went about in soilcd pinafores; but the
neighbors ascribed il all to the odd,
quaint little Miss Emery Jane.
Emery was keen in her way. She
soon fathomed the trouble in her broth
er's household. Saying little TO his
wife for the time, never making light
of her ailments, she watched her
chances, and determined TO give the
self-styled invalid the benefit of her
wisdom.
"Doctors will be the death of you,
Miss Borie," she said one day. "That's
the seventh time you've taken medicine
this morning. How long hev You been
living on medicine as straight along
dietl'
"Im sure, Miss Emery, I'd do with
out it if | could. But you knew what
awful feelings | have. Sometimes !