Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-12-26
HER HUSBANDS NIECE.

glanced into her husbands face.
"On Wednesday," he said, with some
hesitation.
'And this is Friday" rebukingly re-
piled his wife. You carried 1t about
IN your pocket for at least two days.
il is from your niece. Fanny Atwood.
She left New York yesterday and will
be here on the s o'clock train this
morning, and it is 1880 now. This is a
nice state of uifairs. isn't it?"
1T was careless of me, Matte" the
young farmer regrctfully admitted.
He was n 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 impatience unusual with him.
II can't, | must have my milk ut
Beaver station on time. Why didn't
she come over tho road most con-
yenient to meP"
ii suppose she'll have 10 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. I'll venture to predict.
am a good deal more put out about it
than you are. There's the butter 10
churn. the clothes TO iron. the currant
Jelly to make and goodness ouly knows
what else. She'll he too dainty to lay
q hand 10 anything. and will spend her
time reading, sleeping and lolling in
the hammock. She might have waited
TO be asked"
II know it will prove an iniliction,"
the husband consolipgly said. but |
guess there's nothing to do but 10 bear
it. Things may not turn out so bad as
you fancy they will"
He got into the wagon and drove of.
Mrs. Henderson walked into the spring
house TO churn the butter. She was
seldom peevish and rarely complained.
but the visit really seemed inoppor-
tune. She was not very strong. aud as
che worked early and late aud took no
recreation il was beginning to tell on
her nerves.
Tho farm was not entirely paid for.
and they were not able To keep 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
house she fell aud sprained her ankle.
the pain being so great that she almost
tainted.
That means a week OF enforced
idleness" she despairingly thought.
''rime so precious, and that fashion
ably reared niece OF Georges more OF
hinderancc than help. Oh. dear!'
After much painful effort she sue
ceeded In reaching the sitting-room
and threw herself upon the comfort.
able lounge. She fell into doze. aud
when she opened her eyes there stood
Fanny Atwood looking down into heI
face.
She had on plain. sensible-looking
travelling dress. Her figure was COM
pact, her complexion healthy, her ali
cheerful. her demeanor self-posscssed
Her checks were dimpled. her mouth
indicated resolution, her soft. brown
eyes offered confidence aud invited It,
She had walked two miles through the
hot sun over dusty road. but Que
would hardly have thought so. sh,
looked so neat. clean and placid.
You are my Aunt Matte. sup
pose?" she said, in low. sweet voice
n smile lurking among her dimples.
Yes" Mrs. Henderson said. with ar
effort. Your uncle forgot to give INT
your letter until this morning. III
could not meet you. because he h~i tt
deliver the milk over at the other rail
road ut the hour you named. an
sorry you had to walk"
II wasn't vexed about il" replied tn,
visitor. Nor am l in hurry abou
my trunk"
Il sprained my ankle" Mrs. Hen
dcrson said. Il am afraid will no
be- about for three or four days"
That Is too bad" conmiscraiingly
rejoiued Miss Atwood. 1T seems
was Just in time. I can do ever 81
MANY tutuES iOi w.
Yes" grimly assentcd Mrs. Hender
sou.
..rll first look after that ankle" th
| VISITOR sala urisKIy. cHcarfuiiy.
She removed her dainty-looking cum
and then took OF her aunts shoe an
| stocking.
1T IS considerably swollen" sh
said.
Il am not surprised" replied Mrs
Henderson. You'll ilnd bottle Q
| liniment In the cupboard yonder."
IL wouldn't put liniment on IL jas
| yet" advised Fanny. ''IIave you an
sugar Of lead?'
Very likely. Look in that medicin
box in The cupboard. There's a littl
OF everything there. almost"
Fanny found the sugar OF load. an
then some linen suitable for u bandags
She put the sugar Of lead ia basil
added cold water. soaked the bandag
In II aud then wrapped 1t around u
swollen ankle. She went about It liz
= professional nurse.
..It feels very cooling" Mrs. Hendel
son gratefully said.
| There Is nothing reduces q swell
ing like sugar of lead water" reptile
Fanny. "lll wet the bandage ever
now and then with il. just you n
main quiet. dearic. aud don't bottle
yourself about anything. You have y
girIp" :.
"No. child" Mrs. Henderson SAID
I'VE cannot afford TO keep one."
| Eli got uncle his dlnner." q