Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-01-03
HER HUSBANDS NIECE,
BIZ FRANK II. sTAUFFEn.

George, when did you get this let
tcr.' asked Matte Henderson, as she
glanced into her husbands face
"On Wednesday, he said, with some
hesitation
"And this is Friday" rcbullingly re-
piled his wife. ''You carried it about
in your pocket for at least two days. II
is from your niece, Fanny Atwood. She
left New York yesterday and will be
here on the eight O'Clock train this mor,
ing, and ii is half past seven now. This
Is Il nice state Of affairs. isn't it2"
cit was careless in me, Matte" the
| young farmer respectfully admitted
He WAS n handsome, good -naturcd
fellow, sturdy in frame and pleasing in
speech. lie had whip in his hand, and
his wagon loaded with micii cans, was
standing ut the gate.
"Shc says she'll get of at Forest sta
| ton, where you are to meet her" Mrs
Henderson said, her eyes once more on
| the letter
sob, pshaw," cried the husband with
an impaticncc 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 mc2'
81 suppose she'll have to walk here, I"
replied the young wife. "Aud as she
says that she intends to stay three weeks.
no doubt she has brought her trunk with
hcr-a trunk of no mean dimensions, Iii
venture 10 predict. am a good deal
more put out about it than you arc.
There's the butter to churn, the clothes
10 iron, the currant jelly to make, and
goodness only knows wha, else She'll
be too dainty to lay a hand to anything,
and will spend her time reading, sleeping
and loling in the hammock. She might
have waited to be asked"
~ know it will prove AN iniliction,"
the husband consoingly said. "But
guess there's nothing to do but 10 bear
it. Things may moi turn out 50 bad as
You fancy they will"
He got into the wagon aud drove n!r.
Mrs Henderson walked into the spring
house 10 churn the butter She was Sc. !.
dom pcevish and rarely complained, hut
the visit really seemed inopportunc. She
was not very strong, and as size worked
rariy and late AMI took no recreation, il
was beginning to tell on her nerves.
The inrm was not entirely paid for,
and they were not able to keep IL girl.
She was "a sensible little woman, and felt
that ii was her duty to 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 sprancd her ankle,
the pain SO great that she almost
tainted.
"That means week Of enforced idle
ness she dcspairingly thought. "Timc
so precious, and that faslionably reared
niece Of Georges more OF hindrancc
than help. Oh, dear!"
After much painful effort she sue
cecdcd in reaching the sitting room, and
threw herself upon the comfortable
lounge. She fell into dozc, and when
she opened her eyes there stood Fanny
Atwood, looking down into her face
She had ON Il plain, sensible looking
travelling dress. Her figure was compact.
her complexion healthy, her air cheerful
her demcanor self possessed. Her cheeks
were dimpled, her mouth indicated rcso-
luton, her soft brown eyes offered con
iidence 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 arc my Aun! Matte, 7 supposc?'
she said, in low, sweet voice, smile
lurking among her dimplcs
''Yes," Mrs. Henderson said with an
effort. "Your uncle forgot to give nc
your letter until this morning. He a6uid
not meet you because he had to deliver
the milk over at the other railroad mt tho
hour you named. am sorry you had tc
J walk"
~ wasn't vexcd about it,, replied tho
visitor. "Nor am in a hurry about my
trunk"
81 sprained my ankle" Mrs. Hender
son said, 81 am afraid will not be about
for three or four days"
"That is too bad" commiseratincly
rejoincd Miss Atwood at seems wa.
Just to come / can do ever 80 many
things for you"
eyes" grimly asscntcd Mrs. Icndcr-
son.
"I'li first look after that ankle" the
visitor said, bris.ily. checrfuily.
She removed her dainty looking cuffs
and then took oil her aunt's shoe ans
stocking.
"It is considerably swollen, she said
81 am not surprised" replied Mrs
Henderson. "You'll iud bottle o
liniment in the cupboard, yondcr"
81 wouldn't put linimcnt on it jus
yet" advised Fanny. Have you an,
sugar OF lead?'
Very likely. Look in that medicine
box in the cupboard There's a little o
everything there, almost"
Fanny found the sugar OF lead, an(
then some linen suitable for bandaqc
She put the sugar of lead in a bash,
added cold water, soaked the band.o,