The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-01-01
HER HUSBANDS NIECE.
BY FRANK II. srAuFrER.

George, when did you get this let
terri 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 il about
in your pocket for at least two days. It
IS from your niece, Fanny Atwood. She
LETT 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 a nice state of affairs, isn't tl"
1t was careless in me, Matte, " the
young farmer regretfully admitted.
lie was handsome, good d-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
tlon, where you are to meet her. Mrs.
Henderson said, her eyes once more ON
the letter.
on, pshaw, f." cried the husband with
an impatience unusual with him. 81
cant. | must have my milk at Beaver
station on time. Why didn't she come
over the road most convenient to mep,
i suppose she'll have to walk here, y
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. pll
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. 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.n
1 know it will prove an infiiction, -
the husband consolingly said. HBut |
guess there's nothing - do but to bear
1t. Things may not turn out so bad as
you fancy they will
lie got into the wagon and drove off.
Mrs. Henderson walked into the sprinp
house to churn the butter She was sell
dom peevish and rarely complained, but
the visit really seemed ihopportune. She
was not very strong, and as she worked
early and late and took no recreation, 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 a sensible little woman, and felt
that it was her dutysto 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 a 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 a 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-
tidence 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, tsupposel"
she said, in low, sweet voice, smile
lurking among her dimples.
"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 j"
II wasn't vexed about it, " replied the
visitor. "Nor am in hurry about my
trunk"
II sprained my ankle" Mrs. Hender-
'son said, 81 am afraid will not be about
for three or four days"
"That is too bad eommiseratingly
rejoined Miss Atwood at seems ! was
just to come. / can do ever so many
things for you.n
eyes, grimly assented Mrs Hender-
son.
'l'li first look after that ankle, the
visitor said, briskly, cheerinlly.
She removed her dainty-looking cuiIs.