The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1889-11-13
HER HUSBANDS NIECE.
She Proved Any Thing But a 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 at least two days. It
is from your niece, Fanny Atwood. She
left New York yesterday and will be
here on the eight o'clock train this
morning, and it is half-past seven now.
This is nice state of affairs. isn't it?''
ut rds 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 of at Forest
station, where you are to meet her,"
Mrs. Henderson said, her eyes once more
on the letter.
''Oh, pshaw," cried the husband, with
an Impotence unusual with him. 81
can't. 1 must have my milk at Beaver
station on time. Why didn't she come
over the road most convenient 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 d.
mansions, I'll venture to predict. 1 am
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 any thing, and will spend her time
reading, sleeping and lolling in the
hammock. She might have waited to be
asked
81 know it will prove an infection"
the husband consolingly said. But 1
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 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 rec
reation, it was beginning to tell on her
nerves.
The farm was not entirely 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. 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 q week Of enforced idle
ness" she despairingly thought. thine
so precious, and that fashionably-
reared niece of Georges more him
drance than help. Oh, dearr'
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 COM
pact, her complexion healthy, her air
cheerful, her demeanor self-possessed.
Her cheeks were 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 dusty road, but one would
hardly have thought so. she looked so
neat, clean and placid.
''You are my Aunt Matte. Isuppose?"
she said in low. sweet voice, smile
lurking among her dimples.
EYES," Mrs. Henderson said, with an