Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-01-17
HER HUSBANDS NIECE.

"And this is Friday" rebukingly replied
his wife, "You carried it about in your
pocket for at least two days. 1t is from your
niece, Fanny Atwood. She left New York
yesterday and will be here on the o'clock
train this morning, and it is half-past now.
This is nice state of affairs, isn't it2"
SIT was careless in me, Mattie," the young
farmer regretfully admitted.
He was a 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 off 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.
must have my milk at Beaver station on
time. Why didn't she come over the road
most convenient to me2"
81 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 las
brought her trunk with her-a trunk of no
mean dimensions, I'll venture to predict.
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 anything, 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 infiction," 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"
i,,tr f1,ar1 md roVy off Mysc,
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 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 duty to second her thrifty husbands eff
forts. 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.
'sThat means a week of enforced idleness,"
she despairingly thought. "Time SO precious,
and that fashionably reared niece of Georges
more of a hindrance than help Oh, dearT n
After much painful effort she succeeded in
reaching the sitting room and threw herself
upon the comfortable lounge. She fell into a
doze, and when she opened her eyes there
stood Fanny Atwood, looking down into her
face.
She had on plain, sensible looking travel
ing dress Her figure was compact, her COM
plexion healthy, her air cheerful, her demean-
or self possessed Her cheeks were dimpled,
her mouth indicated resolution, her soft
brown ewes 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, SUPPOSED" she
said, in a low, sweet voice, a smile lurking
among her dimples.
eyes" 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"
81 wasn't vexed about it, replied the Wis
itor. "Nor am I in a hurry about my
trunk
'sI sprained my ankle" Mrs Henderson
said. 81 am afraid will not be about for
three or four days"
'sThat is too bad," commiseratingly re-
Joined Miss Atwood. sit seems l was just
to come can do ever SO many things for
you"
eyes, grimly assented Mrs. Henderson.
CPL first look after that ankle" the visitor
said briskly, cheerfully.
She removed her dainty looking cuffs, and
then took off her aunt's shoe and stocking.
SIT is considerably swollen" she said.
ST am not surprised" replied Mrs. Hender'
son. you'll find bottle of iniment in the
cupboard yonder."
81 wouldn't put linimept on it just yet.
advised Fanny "Have yon any sugar oil
leads"
Every likely. Look in that medicine box
in the cupboard. There's little of every
thing there, almost"
Fanny found the sugar Of lead, and ther
some linen suitable for bandage. She put
the sugar of lead in basin, added cold water
soaked the bandage in it and then wrapped il
around the swollen ankle. She went about il
like professional nurse.
"That feels very COOLING" Mrs. Henderson
gratefully said.
'sThere is nothing reduces swelling like
sugar Of lead water" replied Fanny. ''TI
wet the bandage every now and then with it,
Just you remain quiet, dearie, and don'1
bother yourself about anything. You have
no girls'
"No child" Mrs. Henderson said. "Wt
cannot afford to keep one"
sTll get uncle his dinner" announced
Fanny.
you'll George his dinner |" repeat
ed Mrs, Henderson.
Fanny noticed the incredulty in her tone
laughed prettily and said:
"Why shouldn't II If you will allow rae *
ekirmish around I'll manage to find things
However, it isn't near dinner time yet
When vent to the kitchen for the basin,
SAW YOU had sprinkled the clothes. Shall
iron them:'
She saw the odd spile that came to he
tired aunts lips and correctly interpreted it
''Maybe you think can't irona" she pleas
baatly said. "Just you wait and see."
"But the dress you have on, Miss Atwood
IT.
s'Was selected for service,s completed Fan
ny. "Of course I'll put on one OF you
sprons."
When George Henderson returned from
his errand he beard some one singing cheeri
ly in the kitchen He stepped in and saw hi
niece ironing away as deity as if shs hst
spent the best part of her life at it. She mad,
such pretty picture that he stood still ane
| looked at her.
'How do you do, unclef' 8 twinkle Of mer
| riment in her brown eyes; then she went ant
kissed him, standing on tip-toe to do SO.
sfTi,,, crlad vou,va oo,,oa Fonpv1 la. col,