The Red Cloud chief., 1889-11-15
HER NIECE.
She Proved Any Thing But q Silly,
Troublesome Thing.

George, when did you get this let
ter?" asked Matte Henderson. as she
glanced into her husbands face.
"On Wednesday" he said. with some
hesitation.
And this is Friday" rebukingly re-
piled his wife. You carried it about
in your pocket for al least two DAYS. 1t
is from your niece Fanny Atwood. She
left New York yesterday and will be
here on the eight o'clock train this
morning. and il is half-past seven now.
This Is a nice state Of affairs, isn't it?"
1T Tas careless in me. Matte the
young farmer regrettully admitted
He was . handsome, ~good-natured
fellow. sturdy in frame and pleasing in
speech He had a whip in his hand, and
his wagon. loaded with milk ans. was
standing al the gate
"She SAYS she'll get of at Forest
station. where YOU are to meet her"
Mrs. Henderson said. her once more
on the letter.
"Oh. pShaw," cried the husband. with
an impatience unusual with him. Il
can't. l must have my milk at Beaver
station on time. Why didn't she come
over the road most convenient 10 me?-
Il suppose she'll have TO walk here"
replied the young wife And "a she
SAYS that she intends 10 stay three
weeks. no doubt she has brought her
trunk with her-a trunk of no mean d.
mensions. III venture to predict. / am
a good deal more put out about il than
you are. There's the butter TO churn.
the clothes 10 iron. the cUrrant Jelly TO
make. and goodness only knows what
else. She'll De too dainty TO lay a hand
10 any thing. and will spend her time
reading. sleeping and lolling in the
hammock. She might have waited to be
asked
i know it viii prove an infection
the husband consolingly said But I
guess there's nothing to do but to bear
it. Things may not turn out 10 bad as
you fancy they will"
He got into the wagon and drove of.
Mrs. Henderson walked into the spring
house 70 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 rec
reation. IL was beginning to tell On her
nerve
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 ii was her duty 10 second her
thrifty husbands efforts. Leisure. if
not competency. 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 Time
SO precious. and hat fashionably-
reared niece of Georges more a him
drance than a help. On. dear"
After much painful effort she sue
ceeded in reaching the sitting-room and
threw herself upon the comfortable
lounge. She fell into a doze, and when
she opened he- eyes there stood Fanny
Atwood. looking down into her face.
She had on 2 plain. sensible-looking
travelling dress. Her figure was COM
pact, her complexion healthy. her air
cheerful her demeanor se~lf-possessed.
Her cheeks we're dimpled. her mouth in
dicated resolution. her soft brown eyes
offered confidence and invited it. She
had walked two miles through the hot
sun. over a dusty road. but one would
hardly have thought SO, she looked so
neat. clean and placid
You are my Aunt Matte. Isuppose?7
she said in a low. swee: voice, a smile
lurking among her dimples.
"Yes,- Mrs Henderson said, with An