The Opelousas courier., 1890-02-08

see."
"But the dress you have on, Miss At
wood? tt"
was selected for service" completed
Fanny. "Of course I'll put on one OF
your aprons"
When George Henderson returned
from his errand, he heard some one sing.
ing cheerily in the kitchen. He stepped
in and saw his niece ironing away as
deity as if she had spent the best part OF
her life at it. She made such a pretty
picture that he stood still and looked at
her.
Chow do you do, u~ncle?" a twinkle OF
merriment in her brown eyes; then she
went and kissed him, standing on tip-toe
to do so:s
s'I'm glad you've come, Fanny" he
said with heartiness. II suppose Matte
explained why l did not meet you at the
s~tation2 But, why are you ironing
Where is Mattie?"
"she is lying down, uncle. She fell
and sprained her ankle"
Mr.. Henderson stepped into the sitting
room a look of concern on his face.
"Why, dear, how did this happen|
he kindly asked.
"Oh, how does anything happen?" she
replied, a little ENORMOUSLY. Through
nv own awkwardness, no doubt. l al.
most tainted, the pain was so great"
"Does.it pain you now, dear2"
81 am glad to say that it doesn't"
I'll battle it with sugar of lead water, "
he said. "There isn't anything better"
"Fanny has already done that" re
piled the wife. cit was her own sugges-
ton"
"Oh!" CALCULATED Mr.. Henderson, with
increasing appreciation of niece. u.
"And she insists upoA ironing. A
pretty mess she'll make of it,"
"Well maybe not" Mr.. Henderson
said in a quiet tone. 81 watched her a
little while. Matte, you are a good lroner,
but she is your equal"
"Oh, nonsense, George!" exclaimed
his wife. "Reared in the city, as she
has been"
Didn't necessarily make her a lazy,
silly, novel-reading imbecile," Interrupt
ted her husband. "Perhaps we haven't
been just to Fanny. I think she is 8
solid, energetic, capable sort of a girl,
and it is lucky that she came"
"Well l hope it may prove SO, "doubt.
ingly rejoined the wife. "George, there's
the butter!"
ssTu churn that" he said. "We1l gel
along. Just keep your mind at ease.
You will get about much sooner if you
do"
Fanny Atwood prepared dinner, now
and then slipping into the sitting-room to
wet the bandage, and to cha0ip hel
CHEEKY way with her patient.
On the third day Mrs. Henderson was
able to hobble to the kitchen, where she
found everything in most excellent
order.
EtLook at my currant jelly" Fanny
proudly said, as she held up n of the
glass jars to the light. It was translucent
and bright b ruby tinted wine.
@It is verJ pice, Mrs. Henderson said
"h4hmuch gar did you take2"
.'P5d11sa fofS0Apnd," replied Fanny,
81 wasnfe ut, was II"
"You We her ausP said with
a smile.
She opened the doSAliag into th'
cellar. ~
"Fanny, did you whitewash theoIIta
way2" she asked in surprise.
eyes, auntie. 1t needed it. / knew
you meant to do it, for l saw you ha6
! Stacked the lime. Isn't it nicely done2'
every nicely" Mrs. Henderson said
"But it wasn't right for you to do it
Surely your hands"
"Look at them," Fanny SAID, laugh
ing. "They are as white and soft a
any lady's. I put gloves on-and ther
I have a sort of dainty way of working
| can do it well without pitching into i
all over. If it was right for you t.
whitewash the celIar-way, it was RICH
for me to whitew 81 it. came here t.
help you and to aare -sto ride TIT
horses, to go to the mill with Uncl,
George, and to make myself useful an6
welcome. If you are not going to lie
me work, or have any fun, why, I'll g
right back to New York"
She spoke with voluble earnestness
her gestures rapid, her dimples dancing
Mrs. Matte Henderson sat down in
chair and cried.
"Why, aunt, what is the matter?'
asked Fanny, her brown eyes widening
81 hope / didn't say anything"
mo, dear, you didn't" replied Mrs
Henderson in a broken voice. 81 an
crying because | am ashamed of myself
because / have been SO unkind to you il
my thoughts. Isupposed that you would
annoy me, and hinder me; that 20,
would be helpless, selfish, fault-fnding
that you" s
"But you think more kindly of m,
now, do you nota" interrupted Fanny
her hands moving c~aressingly over he
aunt's hair.
"Most certainly I do" replied Mrs
Henderson, ex~plosively. "That is WIN,
I confess my injustice-why / want t,
make amends-why Il"
Don't mind it, aunty, said the sweet
forgiving, sympathetic voice. 81 DON
censure you, and it's all right now
There may be-and, in fact, there are
~listless, frivolous, helpless girls in New
York city-and in otner cities-but I an