The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-01-09
HER HUsRANp,s NIECE.

ter p 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. 1t
is from your niece, Fanny Atwood. She
left New York yesterday and will be
here on the s o'clock train this morning,
and 1t is half past now. This is nice
state OF affairs, isn't it p
at was careless in me, Matte" the
young farmer regretfully admitted.
He was a handsome, good-narured
fellow, sturdy in frame and pleasing in
speech. He had a whip in his hand and
his wagon, loaded with milk cans, was
standing at the gate.
"She says she'll get off at Forest sta
ton, where you are to meet her." Mrs.
Henderson said, her eyes once more on
the letter.
"Oh, pshsw," cried the husband with
an impotence unusual with him. Il
can't. l must have my milk at Beaver
station on time. Why didn't she come
over the road most convenient to me 7"
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 has brought her trunk with
her-a trunk of no mean dimensions, III
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 ourrsnt jelly to make, and
goodness only knows what else. She'll
be too dainty to lay a hand to anything,
and will spend her time reading, sleep
ing and lollng in the hammock. She
might have waited to be asked"
81 know it will prove an infection"
the husband consolingly said, but l
guess there's nothing TODD but to bear 1t.
Things may not turn out so badly 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 sell
dom 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 re-
creation, it was beginning to tell on her
nerves.
The farm was not entirely paid for,
and they were not able to keep a girl.
She was sensible little woman, and
| felt that it was her duty to second her
thrifty husbands efforts. Leisure, il
not competency, would come by and by.
In descending the steps OF the spring
she fell and sprained her ankle, the pain
was so great that she almost tainted.
"That means a week of enforced idle
ness" she despairlngly thought. Thine
40 precious, and that fashionably reared
niece of Georges more of hindrance
than help. Oh, dear y
After much painful effort she succeed,
ed 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 COM
pact, her complexion healthy, her all
cheerful, her demeanor self-possessed
Her cheeks were dimpled, her mouth
indicated resolution, her soft brown
eyes offered confidence and invited it.
She had walked two miles through the
hot sun, over a dusty road, but one
would hardly have thought 80. she
| looked 80 neat, clean and placid.
"You are my Aunt Matte, supposeT
she said, in To-, sweet voice, a emile
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 be had to
deliver the milk over at the other rail.
road at the hour named. 1 am sorry
you had to walk.
| IT ohAt.f ~ " rnnIiaA tho
visitor. Nor am in hurry about my
trunk"
II sprained my ankle" Mrs. Hender-
son said. II am afraid / will not be
about for three or four days"
THAT is too bad" commiseratingly
rejoined Miss Atwood. 1T seems / was
just to come. can do ever 80 many
things for you.
eyes," grimly assented Mrs. Hender
son.
an 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.
at is considerably swollen" she said.
81 am not surprised" replied Mrs.
Henderson. you'll find a bottle of
liniment in the cupboard yonder
81 wouldn't put liniment on it just
yet," advised Fanny. "Have you any
sugar of lead p
Every likely. Look in that medicine
box in the cupboard. There's little Of
everything there, almost"
Fanny found the sugar of lead, and
then some linen suitable for bandage.
She put the sugar of lead in basin,
added cold water, soaked the bandage
in it and then wrapped it around The
swollen ankle. She went about it like a
professional nurse.
THAT feels very cooling" Mrs. Hen
jerson gratefully said,
"There ia nothing reduces swelling
like sugar of lead water" replied Fan
ny. I'm wet the bandage every now
and then with it. Just you remain
quiet. dearie, and don't bother yourself.
You have no girl ?"
"No, child" Mrs. Henderson said.
1--WE cannot afford TO keep one."
"I'll get uncle his dinner" announced
Fanny.
"Youll--get--George his dinner ~
repeated Mrs. Henderson.
Fanny noticed the incredulity in her
tone. laughed prettily and said !:
"Why shouldn't /? II you will allow
me to skirmish around I'll manage to
find things. However, it isn't near din
ner time yet. When l went to the
kitchen for the basin, saw you had
sprinkled the clothes. Shall l iron
them p
She saw the odd smile that came to
her tired aunt's lips and correctly inter
preted it.
Maybe you think can't iron ?" she
pleasantly said. Just you wait and
see."
But the dress you have on, Miss At
wood ? It"
WAS selected for SERVICE" completed
Fanny. "Of course I'll put on one Of
your aprons"
When George Henderson returned
from his erTand he heard some one sing.
ing cheerily in the kitchen. He stepped
in and cav his niece ironing away as
deity as il she had spent the best par
of her life at it. She made such pretty
picture that he stood still and looked at
her.
Glow do you do, uncle p a twinkle
of merrimeDt IN her brown eyes; then
she went and kissed him, standing on
tip toe to do 80.
Pm glad you've come, Fanny" he
said with heartIness. Il suppose Matte
explained why did not meet you at
the station ? But why are you ironing
Where is Matte ~
"She is lying down, uncle. She fell
and sprsined her ankle"
Mr.. Henderson stepped into the sitting
room, q look OF concern on his face.
"Why. dear, how did this happen ?"
"Oh, how doe' anything happen p
she replied little querulously. Through
my own swkardness, no doubt. / al
most tainted the pain was so great"